Our identity in Christ

 READ: Isaiah 51,52; Psalms 88; Galatians 3

SCRIPTURE: Galatians 3: 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,
27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

OBSERVATION: Paul tells us about our new identity that we receive from God when we put our faith in Jesus. In Christ, we become children of God. People who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, but  Christ redeemed us from the curse.  Through faith, we are all children of God. Notice the verb here. The bible does not say that you will become a child of God someday in the future. Instead, by faith in Jesus Christ, we are already a son or a daughter of God. Sadly, many Christians do not think in this way. So, they do not live in the way a child of God should live. An author who identified himself as “Unknown Christian” narrates an incident in his book, in which a village man just heard John 1:12. He repeatedly asked the missionary who read the scriptures about whether he could really become a child of God. When he understood the meaning of the verse, his joy was so much and uncontrollable. Eventually, after seeing his happiness, all who lived in his village accepted Jesus and became the children of God. Let us think: what must we do to live as God’s child.

When we are baptized into Christ, we identify with Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection to live for him (Rom.6:3-4). We become one in Christ. By clothing ourselves with Christ, we start to live our new life in Christ, which makes the world see Christ in us. In Christ, there is no national, social, and sexual distinction. Regardless of our backgrounds, we are all one in Christ. We are all equal in the sight of God. “For God does not show favoritism” (Gal.2:6). All who are in Christ can experience these blessings of accepting God’s grace for our salvation. Seeing who we are in Christ enables our minds to live as God’s children and identify with Christ in our day-to-day lives. Moreover, this new identity in Christ helps us to see the image of God in each individual. The world can experience true equality only in Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION: Whomever I may be, living as a child of God is not an option I can choose based on my personal interest. I am already a child of God.  As a child of God, I clothe myself with Christ. I want the world to see nothing but Christ in me. I will not discriminate against people on any basis. I will love all as God loves everyone without any favoritism or partiality.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for the new life, new identity, and new heart that enable me to live as a child of God. Jesus, I depend on you for everything. Jesus, you must become greater; I must become less. Holy Spirit, help me to maintain the unity in Christ and live for the glory of God. Amen.

- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573

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