We are in a major identity crisis in our world today! We have males identifying themselves as females and females calling themselves males, and some of both genders identifying as cats or some other animal!
And the church has not escaped this either. For decades, and perhaps longer, we have had born-again individuals calling themselves ‘sinners’ when they have been forgiven and made new in Christ. And this can easily happen when one does not know who they are and what they possess in Christ.
The New Testament from Romans 1 – Revelation 1 reveals 168 things that the believer IS or POSSESSES in Christ! It is self-defeating or arrogant for a disciple of Jesus to call or speak about himself differently than what the Word of God says about him/her.
The book of Ephesians gives 42 of those things that we are or possess in Christ and they are given below. Read and re-read them until you actually start believing them! When you do, you will consciously and unconsciously start speaking them about yourself.
Ephesians 1
vs.3 blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
vs. 4 chosen in Him…that we should be holy and without blame.
vs.5 predestined to be adopted as sons of Jesus Christ.
vs. 6 He made us accepted in the Beloved.
vs. 7 We have redemption through His blood…the forgiveness of sins.
vs. 9 He has made known to us the mystery of His will.
vs. 11 In Him we have obtained an inheritance.
vs. 13 In whom, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit.
vs. 14 we are His purchased possession.
vs. 17 given the spirit of wisdom and revelation through knowing Him.
vs. 18 the eyes of our understanding being enlightened that we may know the hope of His calling…what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.
vs. 19 What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.
vs. 20 we are seated with Him above all principality and power, and might and dominion.
Ephesians 2
vs. 1 Made alive from trespasses and sins.
vs. 5 made us alive together with Christ.
vs. 6 raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
vs. 8 By grace you have been saved through faith.
vs. 10 We are His workmanship.
vs. 13 We have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
vs. 14 He is our peace who has made Jew and Gentile one in Christ… and broken down the wall of separation.
vs. 15 abolished in His flesh the law so He could create in Himself one new man from the two.
vs. 16 reconciled both to God through the Cross.
vs. 19 we are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
vs. 20 we are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus as the cornerstone.
vs, 21 we are being fitted together and growing as a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 3
vs.6 we are fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the Gospel.
vs.10 the manifold wisdom of God to be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in heavenly places.
vs. 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
vs. 16. that He would grant you to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.
vs.17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love…
vs.18 that you are able to comprehend with the saints the greatest of the love of Christ.
vs. 19 that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
vvs. 20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or thin, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever, and ever. Amen.