A Believers identity in Christ means they are…………….
**Saved
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21
**Sealed
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise,
Ephesians 1:13
**Sanctified
Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11
**Sent
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,”
James 2:1-3
The Apostle moves to the subject of favoritism in chapter 2. James condemns favoritism in all its forms in these verses. The particular emphasis seems to be on class and financial status in verses 2-3.
This Scripture teaches us to treat others justly and equally. Everyone is to be treated with dignity and grace no matter the differences in societal class, money, or position. In the church, everyone is a part of the body and no one is more important or less important.
Christ is the head of the church and all who make up that body are saved and sanctified forevermore. Even our guests who are not a part of the church should be treated with dignity and love. No one is favored above the others. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
One of the great tenets of the Christian faith surrounds the person of Jesus Christ. We proclaim that He is all God and all man. Somehow, through the miraculous power of God, Jesus received humanity in the incarnation.
Today, let us think about the one who came to identify with us. He felt the emotions we feel and Christ experienced life as we experience it. Let us look as some examples.
**He became hungry.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. Matthew 4:1-2
**He became tired and rested.
So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. John 4:5-6
**He was thirsty at times.
There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”
John 4:7
**Jesus cried.
“Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept.
The mystery of the incarnation is deep and profound. Jesus experienced the entirety of humanity and yet remained without sin for us. He loves us today. And He understands because, He’s been there.
James , a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1:1-3
The Book of James was written around 45-50 AD according to most scholars and teachers. The date of this writing makes it one of the earliest (if not the first) of the inspired writings of the New Testament. It was most likely written by James, the brother of Christ (Acts 12:17, 15:13, 21:18) and has been attributed to him in most every point in church history.
The recipients of the book are primarily first-century Jewish Believers. The reference to the scattered tribes of Israel in James’ day makes this point clear.
The book of James deals with practical matters and expressions of Christian living. James is not bereft of doctrine and didactic teaching as the book contains both. However, the emphasis seems to be on how to live out one’s faith day by day in light of the doctrine that has been revealed.
The Principle that James first takes up is this—problems are a part of the Christian life. Life is difficult. Life is hard. I know those statements are actually understatements, but, they make the point of these verses clear. It is not a matter of if, but, when troubles come to our lives. The Bible never sugarcoats the trials and tribulations of life. It is wonderful to know that Christ is with us in the midst of these calamities. It is great to realize that we are not alone.
James tells us that God’s uses problems (tests) in order to grow our trust in Him. We learn to trust Him more and more as He brings us through each trial and each heartache. Problems are a part of life, but, God is not using them to destroy us. He is using them to grow us and make us more dependent on Him.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11
Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 2:16 that Christians have been given the “mind of Christ.” He takes that principle further by instructing Believers to live in that reality in Philippians 2. “Let this mind be in you” is the command given to God’s people. Let us examine three precepts about Jesus life that He demonstrated for us. And may we pursue the mind of Jesus in our own lives as well.
First, Jesus was willing to serve. Christ served by teaching, healing, and loving the outcasts. Then, He took upon Himself the posture of a servant and completed His earthly ministry dying as a common criminal for the sin of humanity. He served the people of the world by giving up His life for them. Greater love cannot be shown. (John 15:13)
The Savior also humbled Himself. Christ left behind the glory that is rightfully His as the Son of God and took upon Himself human flesh. He humbled Himself and condescended to this planet so that those who believe might be saved. He lived for our righteousness so that we might be made righteous through His life. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Finally, the Son of God fulfilled the will of His Father. Even though Jesus is co-equal with the Father, nevertheless, He was obedient unto death for our salvation. Jesus is our example of obedience and we ought to follow that trajectory in our lives as well.
One day the entire world will acknowledge Jesus as Lord. There is coming time in which every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess the lordship of Christ. Christian, let us acknowledge the glory and lordship of the Savior every single day. It is the least that we can do.
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,
Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good and perfect in all of His ways. His goodness remains in all times and in all places. The Lord is good, great and holy forevermore.
The Lord is protects His people. Even during times of difficulty, Jesus is our refuge who never changes. He is our place of safety in a dangerous world.
The Lord cares for His children. He knows those who trust in Him. And Christ never forgets His own.
The Old Testament prophet gives us great truth here. God is good, protective, and compassionate towards those who are His. That truth is what we need to live for Him each day of our existence on this planet.
As Jesus’ teaches in Scripture, He calls for a response. His teaching has authority and power. It cannot be ignored. The hearer will either reject Christ’s teaching or follow Christ and be changed. There is no middle ground.
The same is true of us. We have a choice to make when confronted with the truth of God’s Word. We will obey it or we will forsake it. Jesus gives a helpful, practical principle to drive home His point in this verse of the Bible.
What will you do with Jesus’ message? Will you appropriate it and obey it? Or will you reject the Word of the Savior?
And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
Matthew 7:3-4
Here is the heart of the matter about this passage in Matthew 7. Jesus’ main point is characterized in these two verses. His main point is don’t be a hypocrite.
We must deal with our own issues before we can help others. We must remove the plank (hyperbole) from our own eye before we can remove the speck from the eye of others.
Hypocrisy (pretending to be something you are not) is very offensive to Jesus. It was one of Christ’s main criticisms of the religious leaders of His day. Very little seemed to raise the ire of Christ more than hypocrisy.
“Lord, help us to be authentic and gracious in our dealings with all. Help us to discern with purity and righteousness. Grant us the wisdom to be who you have created us to be in Christ Jesus!”
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
God’s grace is undeserved. God has saved and transformed us not because we were worthy. We were certainly unworthy. Christ died for us out of His great love—a love that is undeserved in every way.
God’s grace is unearned. No amount of human effort can merit God’s grace. Salvation is not of works and there is no boasting.
God’s grace is unyielding. God’s grace saves us, supplies us, and secures us forever. His grace never ends.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
Romans 5:1-2
What do Christians have in Christ Jesus? What has been credited to the account of the Believer as a result of their salvation? Let’s seek to find a brief answer in this post.
Christians are justified through the blood of Christ. The justified are forgiven and their guilt is removed forever. No matter what may come, the saved are clean before the Lord.
Those who have received justification are also righteous in the righteousness of Christ. The righteousness of Jesus is applied to the Christian’s account while the sin of the Believer is transferred to Jesus account. This is a powerful, divine exchange born of God’s love.
Saved people are reconciled to God. All of this takes place through the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8-9) and is secure forevermore. The Lord will in no way cast out His children.
This is just a small sampling of all that we have in Christ. But, it is more than enough to bring Jesus glory and honor forever. What a Savior!
mrtonyfrench 