Knowing Your New Identity in Christ
Eph 2:13 - But now in Christ Jesus you who once
were far off are made near in the blood of Christ.
Many believers are like
the man who purchased a ticket for a long voyage but almost starved to death
simply because he did not know that the ticket
provided for meals. Knowing the what you are and have in Christ sets you
free. ‘My people perish because of lack of knowledge’-(Hosea 4:6). Paul prayed
that believers would know their identity, rights, privileges and benefits
(Ephesians 1:15-22). You were chosen, saved, sealed, brought near and elevated in
Christ (Ephesians 1-2). Here are some truths you must know about yourself when
you receive Christ as your savior and Lord.
a)
You are forgiven (Acts 10:43; 26:18). In Christ
your sins have been forgiven (Psalm 103:12; Colossians 1:13,14; 2:13, 1 John 1:9;
2:1,2). Forgiveness is the greatest gift you have received after life. Without
it, sin stands in the way of everything else (Isaiah 59:1-2; Psalm 66:18). Sin separates from God
and hinders prayer and fellowship with God (Psalm 66:18, Isaiah 59: 1-2).
b)
You are a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1
Peter 1:23). You are born again (John 3:3). You are a child of God and a member
of God’s family (John 1:12, Mat. 6:9). He cares for you and hears and answers when
you pray. 2 Peter 1:4; Romans 6
c)
You
have become righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 1:9). You are restored to a right
standing or right relationship
with God (Romans 5: 10-11). Right
standing leads to right living, which leads to right ending. You are fully accepted by God through the
cross. Have full access to God for his
mercy an grace. Every barrier was removed (Ephesians 2:13-16; Hebrews 4:16).
You are set apart for holy living
(Romans 6:2; Galatians 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; Colossians 3:5-10). You are being transformed (sanctified) into his
likeness/spiritual maturity by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:1-2)
through his word and the work of the Holy Spirit in you.
d)
You have
received eternal life (1 John
5:11-12. Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:17). You have abundant life (John 10:10). You have a newness of life (Romans 6:4).
e)
You are chosen and blessed with every spiritual
blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3,4). You were given everything pertaining to
godliness and life (2 Peter 1:3, 4). You
are a partaker of the divine nature.
f)
You are positioned in Christ and He in you (Colossians
1:19, 27; 2:9; 3:1-4). Even a zero is significant if positioned in a multi-digit figure. You are indwelt
by the godhead. IN HIM as he is so are you in this world (1 John 4:17; 2
Corinthians 1:20; Colossians 2:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:12; 1 John 2:6). Jesus
said, ‘If you dwell in me and I in you then you will
bear much fruit’ (John 15:5). You take your place in him by trust and
obedience. By submitting to his leading and, letting Him control your life.
g)
You are free indeed from the power of Satan (John 8:32, 36; Acts 26:18;
Colossians 1:13). You no longer have to obey him. You are free in every area of
life - Spirit, Soul, Body, Relations, and Wealth (1 Thessalonians 5:23). You are no longer a slave to sin (Ephesians 5:8-9; Romans 6:11, 12,
14). You are free from sickness
(Mathew 8:17; Isaiah 53:4-6). You are free from curses (Galatians 3:13, Deuteronomy 28:15-68). You are free from fear of demons, witchcraft, etc (2
Timothy 1:7; James 4:7). You are free from everlasting punishment (John 3:16;
Hebrews 9:26-27).
HOW TO OVERCOME SIN
Know that your sins have been forgiven.
You are free to live for God. You now have power to overcome sin. Remember that
you are accepted before God on the basis of Christ’s righteousness only. You were declared righteous on the
basis that Christ has paid for your sins (2 Corinthians 5:21). It’s a free gift
to you from God. You are righteous by grace not by keeping rules or by your
performance or feelings. You can never be worthy of God’s favor by self-effort
(Ephesians 2:8, 9). It is not that we avoid sin to become righteous, BUT that we do not sin
because we are righteous.
Paul asked, “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1b,
2). His answer was NO (Romans 6:2; Galatians 5:13). Gods grace gives power to
say no to sin (Titus 2:12). Sin is like an aerial that attracts the signal and
works of the evil one. Obedience manifests God’s blessings
To overcome sin:
a)
Live
in awareness of the truth that Christ’s righteousness was given to you (Galatians
6:14a). You are a new person. Stop living like the old person. You are too
clean now to go back to the vomit of sin (2 Peter 2:22). You are now too good
and too high to stoop so low. You are no
longer a sinner but a saint – someone set aside for Gods purpose and pleasure.
You are no longer a slave to sin. Sin no
longer has power of control over you. Even
though you don’t perfectly experience this all the time, it does not change the
reality (Romans 6: 3, 6, 9).
b)
Count
yourself dead to sin but alive to God - Romans 6:11. “In the same way, count/consider yourselves
dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
Through your union with Christ, in His death and resurrection you died
to your old sinful nature and were made alive through his resurrection to
newness of life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4). Stop seeking to die to the
old nature and consider yourself already dead and resurrected in Christ.
c)
Fill
your heart and mind with the Word of God (Psalm 119:11; John 8:32). Filter material and people you watch, read,
listen to and associate with . Cut from your life that which makes you sin
(Mark 9:47). What you let into your mind will determine your behavior and
destiny. Our defense against sin is God’s word.
Meditate on it, and obey it. Jesus overcame Satan’s temptation by the
word of God (Mathew 4:4f). Temptation is not sin and can be overcome (1
Corinthians 10:13; James 1:13,14). The mind is the battleground against
sin. Sinful patterns of thinking or
mindsets must be "transformed by the renewing of the mind" through
God’s word (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 10:5,
d)
Walk
in the Spirit (Romans 8:9, 5-7, Galatians 5:16). Walking in the Spirit is pursuing
holiness and asking the Holy Spirit to empower and control your life.
e)
If
you sin, be quick to confess your sins and receive forgiveness (1 John 1:9;
Romans 8:1), and forsake your sinful behavior or attitude.
Water Baptism
Water Baptism refers to the practice of immersing new converts
into water (Acts 8:36 – 39; Rom.
Why you must be baptized?
1) Identification with the death, burial
and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:3-5)
2) Obedience to the command of Jesus (Matthew
28:19).
3) Following the example of Jesus (Mark
1:9).
4) A testimony of belonging to God
(Matthew 3:13-17)
Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.
Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center
Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building
204B Bram Fischer drive,
Randburg, Johannesburg , South Africa
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