OUR TRUE IDENTITY Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4). According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5). Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6). To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7). In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8). Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; EPHESIANS 1:3-8 When I hear a believer announce, “I’m just a sinner,” he/she SHOULD be saying, “That’s what I used to be.” A lot of folks cling to a view of themselves as a patched-up, slightly-better-than-before version of their old self. The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). In fact, according to Scripture, we’re dramatically different once we are complete in Christ.
The question is whether people will trust in what they feel or believe what God says about them. His Word calls us saints, disciples, and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). If your opinion is that you are “just a sinner,” then you cannot fully experience and enjoy your identity in Christ.
Believing what God says about our new self is a choice. Satan certainly conspires to convince believers that God’s Word doesn’t apply to them. He knows that people held captive by spiritual poverty back away from opportunities to share the gospel and serve the Lord’s kingdom. It’s much easier to spiritually bankrupt someone who already thinks of him- or herself as “just a sinner” than it is to conquer a disciple who knows God is his loving Father.
Our true identity is defined not by our past actions but by the Savior’s. Jesus purchased our lives with His blood and brought us into a relationship with God the Father, who adopted us as beloved children. We have every reason to hold our heads high, stand firm, and courageously proclaim the gospel.
-IBC
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