Our
True Identity
Ephesians 1:3-8 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ
“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing
in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of
the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he
predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the
purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has
blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he
lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.” (ESV)
When I hear a believer announce, “I’m just a sinner,” I feel like
saying, “That’s what you 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 contradicts that opinion: “If anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away, behold, new things
have come” (2 Cor. 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 (Rom. 1:7),
disciples (Matt. 28:19), and fellow heirs with Jesus Christ (Rom. 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 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.