In Christ

 I had a friend once challenge me to read this list below out loud everyday for 30 days. If you grew up in a legalistic religious environment this exercise can completely change your life. What we do we do as secure, complete, adopted, justified, chosen, channels, whom are purchased, redeemed, appointed, seated, re-born, friends and co-workers of Christ.

~~~~~~~~

One of THE most important things to any and every believer and disciple of Christ is to know who we really are in Christ. The scriptures are packed absolutely full of validations of our new identity in Him. The passages below are my favorite and do not belong to any one denomination, sect, or movement. This list might have been made popular by Neil Anderson in the 90s, but the list is not Evangelical, Charismatic, or other. These belong to you and to me. They are direct quotes and what God really says -- and means when he says it -- about your new Life and adopted status as a Child of God. 

Think of this: If you adopted a child and that child received your last name he or she would begin only as your child on paper. Over the years, however, you would hope and pray that your new son or daughter would come to accept their adopted status, as a full member of your family, equal to your other children (if you have them), and loved completely by you, their new parents. In the same way we are adopted into God's family. But so many Christians never take to heart the full meaning of this new status! WE have not only had a name change -- our position has changed as well. The atonement of Christ did not ONLY wash away our sins, it made way for us to come to God; We are now PART of God's family through that sacrifice. And that is why reviewing this list of important scriptures below is SO completely life-changing.
 

Whenever I think of my favorite scriptures I have trouble narrowing the hundreds of great ones down to a one or two page list. There are intimate, relational passages like, "He who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:17); and "Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). And there are verses of incredible trust like, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13); and "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." (Romans 10:11). Finally, there are scriptures of passion and dedication such as, "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17); and "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power" (1 Corinthians 4:20).

Then there is this list of scriptural affirmations, a list of passages telling us WHO we are. These are amazing, because they help us see ourselves the way God sees us. And if we see ourselves the way God sees us, we will see each other this way too.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST (also available for download here)

I Am Accepted
John 1:12 -- I am God's child.
John 15:15 -- I am Christ's friend.
Romans 5:1-- I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17 -- I am united with the Lord, and I am one spirit with Him.
1 Corinthians 6:19,20 -- I have been bought with a price. I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:2 7 -- I am a member of Christ's body.
Ephesians 1:1 -- I am a saint.
Ephesians 1:5 -- I have been adopted as God's child.
Ephesians 2:18 -- I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 1:14 -- I have been redeemed and for¬given of all my sins.
Colossians 2:10 -- I am complete in Christ.
I Am Secure
Romans 8:1,2 -- I am free forever from condemnation.
Romans 8:28 -- I am assured that all things work together for good.
Romans 8:31 -- I am free from any condemning charges against me.
Romans 8:35 -- I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21,22 -- I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:3 -- I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6 -- I am confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected.
Philippians 3.20 -- I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7 -- I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.
Hebrews 4:16 -- I can find grace and mercy in time of need.
1 John 5.18 -- I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me.
I Am Significant
Matthew 5:13,14 -- I am the salt and light of the earth.
John 15:1,5 -- I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life.
John 15:16 -- I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
Acts 1:8 -- I am a personal witness of Christ. 

1 Corinthians 3.16 -- I am God's temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17 -- I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
2 Corinthians 6:1 -- I am God's co-worker (1 Corinthians 3:9).
Ephesians 2:6 -- I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10 -- I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12 -- I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4.13 -- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I never get tired of reading this list. And I can never read it enough. I am 100% convinced that every lie Satan tells us is something contrary to the above list of truths! That is why we should never stop reading and studying these scriptures. Even more important, we should never stop reading it to our children. And even MORE important than even that -- the Body of Christ, that is, every church, must read this together, replacing the "I" with "WE!"

WE are the salt and light of the earth.
WE are a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life.
WE have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
WE are a witnesses of Christ.
WE are God's temple.
WE are ministers of reconciliation for God.
WE are God's co-workers (1 Corinthians 3:9).
WE are seated with Christ in the heavenly realm.
WE are God's workmanship.
WE may approach God with freedom and confidence.
WE can do all things through Christ who strengthens US.

There is wonder working power when WE know who WE are!

Finally, of course, there is the "Greatest Commandment:" Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,' and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself. " This verse, which Christ said, "sums up the entire law," still sums everything up today. In my opinion, a statement of faith is only as good as our application of this greatest command. The reason why this is the greatest command is because it is precisely what the world is holding its breath to see. The world holds its breath to see Christians do one vital thing with this great commandment: Apply it.

" I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.." -John 14:12

What we do we do as secure, complete, adopted, justified, chosen, channels, who are purchased, redeemed, appointed, seated, re-born, friends and co-workers of Christ.