Embracing Who I Am In Christ Part 3

The price of my new life: Our new identity in Christ is freely given to us by God, but it was purchased at a costly price. Jesus’ death on the cross and shed blood was the price to pay for our sins, and to purchase our new life, freedom, and identity. This indescribable gift is free to us, but our freedom was not free. Consider the lengths that Jesus went to for us through His death, burial, and resurrection. He paid for our sin, and purchased our eternal salvation. But there is more! He also purchased our freedom, new identity, and offers us abundant life (John 10:10). As we dwell on His sacrifice, it compels us to put forth the mental effort required to understand the freedom, responsibility, position, and identity that we have as a child of God. 

PRAYER TIP #19 - Remember that our Freedom was not Free.

When we are reminded of the cost of our freedom in Christ, purchased by our Savior's blood, we are called to action to study what God's Word says about our identity in Christ. Just as a person might take time to look up their family history through hours of online searching, scouring ancestry websites, or reading old newspaper articles for clues to their families' past, to understand their heritage, so we must search the Scriptures to understand our lineage of faith and our inheritance in Christ. Psalms 16 tells us that we have a beautiful inheritance in Christ.

Psalm 16:5-6

O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

You maintain my lot. 

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;

Yes, I have a good inheritance.

It all starts with God. By studying Scripture, we gain a better understanding of Who God is. As we come to know Him better, we have a greater understanding of who we are in Him. Making the mindset shift that you have a rich inheritance through faith in Christ, is vital to walking in victory, experiencing abundant life, and living out your faith. This truth grounds us to live out the life that Jesus calls us to.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

The following quote is from the book “Who Am I” by Jerry Bridges: 

“Many, if honest, would answer the following question “Who am I?” 

in terms of their negative or sinful experiences. As Christians, however, 

our identity is to be found in our relationship with Christ, 

not in our subjective and often negative life experiences.”

- Jerry Bridges

To become the woman that God created you to be, you must stop evaluating yourself through the opinions of others, your sin, your failures, or your past. That identity is built on shifting sand. I am reminded of Lot's wife, who was told to move forward to a better future that God had for her. However, she chose to disobey God and look back at her old life. You can't stay where you are and go with God. An identity built on the things of this world are only temporary and can be taken away. Your identity must be rooted and grounded in Christ and Christ alone. That is the only sure foundation that will not change. 

Colossians 2:6-7a

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, 

so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith...

Are you ready to let go of all the untrue things that you have believed about yourself, things others have said about you, your sinful past, your mistakes, and start believing what God says about you? Are you ready to move forward into the abundant life that God has for you, or will you continue to look back? Embracing our identity in Christ doesn't erase our past mistakes, or our sin, but it does mark our sins as forgiven. A huge stamp of GRACE has been placed over our life because of the blood of Jesus and we are assured that all things will work together for our good and His glory.

Charles Stanley shares in His book, Discovering Your Identity, "It is critically important today for us to know who we are in Christ. The reason is because it is only when we know who we are that we can properly discern: 1) How we are to respond in any situation. 2) How we are to make decisions in the face of any problem or opportunity. 3) How we are to answer any question. 4) How we are to treat other people. 5) How we are to schedule our priorities in life. 6) How we are to witness about Jesus Christ.

"If anyone asks you "Who are you?" your answer should be this: "I am a believer in Christ Jesus. I am in Christ." - Charles F. Stanley

Here are some of the truths that God says about you: (Adapted from The Bondage Breaker, by Neil Anderson)

I renounce the lie that I am worthless, inadequate, helpless, or hopeless 

because in Christ I am deeply significant. God says…

• Matthew 5:13,14 - I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world

• John 15:1,5 - I am a branch of the True Vine, Jesus, a channel of His life

• John 15:16 - I have been chosen and appointed by God to bear fruit

• Acts 1:8 - I am a personal, Spirit-empowered witness of Christ

• 1 Corinthians 3:16 - I am a temple of God

• 2 Corinthians 5:17-21- I am a minister of reconciliation for God

• 2 Corinthians 6:1 - I am God’s coworker

• Ephesians 2:6 - I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm

• Ephesians 2:10 - I am God’s workmanship, created for good works

• 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 encourage you to read these out loud, write them out on notecards or in a journal. You can even combine them and make a truth statement to read over yourself each morning or before you go to bed. Choose to believe by faith what God says is true of you, because you are "In Christ."

 Prayer Points:

• Lord, I praise You for the high price You paid to purchase my new identity in Christ. My freedom was not free, and I thank You for redeeming me with Your precious blood - I am Yours.

• Jesus, help me to be rooted and grounded in You alone, and find my identity in You. Not in my past, my mistakes, my accomplishments, or anything in this world that can be taken away from me.

• Lord, equip me with Your strength to move forward with the life You have for me and not look back. I know that I can't stay where I am and go with You.

• God, I praise You that I can approach Your throne with freedom and confidence that I am Your child and You hear my prayers.

Suggested Prayer -

Dear Lord Jesus,

I come before You in prayer and praise for the freedom and abundant life that was purchased through Your shed blood on the cross of Calvary. As I reflect on this, I understand that my freedom was not free. A high price was paid. As Your life was poured out on the cross, You secured my new life in You. Jesus, You alone are my everything. Everything good in my life is because of You and for Your glory. Help me to understand my true identity in Christ. I long to know You more and understand more of who I am in You. Open my eyes to the truths of Your Word. I praise You for the rich inheritance of faith that is possible for me through Your death on the cross and resurrection.

In Your mighty and powerful Name I pray, Amen.

In Christ Alone,

Michelle Staubs