Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
—1 John 4:17 (NKJV)
The Word is God’s powerful truth of His love for you. In the passage of Ephesians 1:1-14, Paul reveals truths about who you are in Christ. And these truths reveal the fact that when God sees you, He sees what Jesus has done in your life. When you invited Christ into your heart, you were completely reborn into His new life. You received His righteousness in your spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17, 21). Your old life is now dead. When you spiritually understand and believe this in your heart, you live the truth of your new life.
Knowing who you are in Christ is knowing how God sees you.
People who know who they are in Christ are people of faith. They don’t ever forget the miracle of the grace of Jesus that has set them free. Their identity is not based on the opinions of others or on circumstances that are forever changing. Their identity is based on the finished, redeeming, and unchanging work of Christ.
People of faith know how God sees them—holy and set apart—blameless and pure—redeemed and forgiven—cleansed and covered by His grace—overwhelmingly blessed—chosen to be His before He created the world—called to be His children—unconditionally loved and accepted. They know that the grace of Jesus has given them a wonderful inheritance of every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:1-14). They are confident that their lives will work out according to His plan and purpose. They know that these promises are who they are in Christ and that His identity is theirs. As Christ is, so are they in this world (1 John 4:17).
People who know who they are in Christ are not just satisfied with the status quo. They are hungry to understand all Jesus has given His precious life for them to have. They know that what God has for them is as great as what He gives them to envision. They choose to believe and walk by faith as if that vision has already come to pass in their lives.
People who know who they are in Christ praise God for His love for them. They know He never leaves or forsakes them (Hebrews 13:15). They don’t live by their emotions. They praise Him for what they can’t see but know is real. The peace of God holds them steady through the ups and downs of life (Philippians 4:6-7). Joy in the faithfulness of God gives them the power to stand strong no matter what happens. Their love for God abounds because they know God loved them before they ever loved Him (1 John 4:19). They receive God’s unconditional love without hesitation because they believe in who they are in Christ.
When you appreciate what Jesus has given you, it keeps on appreciating and flourishing in your life. You know the value of the gift of His life for yours.
People who know who they are in Christ know that God has given them wisdom and revelation in the knowledge and understanding of who He is (Ephesians 1:17). They know that God wants to reveal Himself to them. They believe that the Holy Spirit guides them into all truth. They know the Holy Spirit doesn’t speak on His own authority. Whatever He hears from God, He speaks (John 16:13).
People who know their identity in Christ know how important it is for them to live by faith. Faith calls for our response (James 2:26). Our believing response to what Christ has done for us pleases Him. Living our faith boldly with the power He has given us (Matthew 10:8; 28:18-19) reveals that we believe that as He is so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). We believe that He rewards those who diligently seek to know the person Christ has made them (Hebrews 11:6).
The love of Christ has been perfected among us. Those who belong to Him have already been judged righteous by His finished work of Grace. When we start to understand who we are in Christ, then we start to understand the Resurrection power of His new life within us. What Christ accomplished on the Cross is already ours. We see that His finished work is done. We know Christ has won. And we walk confidently not as the world defines us, but as He defines us.
You live what you believe. God sees the finished and perfect love of Jesus in you. When you know who you are in Christ, you live out of that truth. You are a person of faith. You have the power of Christ within you to live who He says you are.
“And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:10-11, NKJV).
You are everything the Word says you are. Anyone who has been reborn by the Spirit of Christ is His (Romans 8:9). Knowing who you are in Christ sets you free to receive the abundant life through the Holy Spirit that dwells in you (John 8:32, 10:10).
It is with your heart that you believe Christ has given you His righteousness (Romans 10:10). Be a person of faith. Your old person is no more. Learn who you are in Christ, and believe it in your heart.
© 2022 Lynn Lacher
www.lynnlacher.com/2022/06/a-person-of-faith.html
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