Nehemiah 12-13
Acts 4:23-37
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-6
Who are we? So often in our world, the voices of accusations, the voices of others make us forget who we are. The media and culture are all saying these negative “you are” statements and what happens is that we listen to them and these negative “you are” statements become “I am” statements. For example, the world says if we do not look a certain way or dress a certain way, we are not beautiful; or if we do not act a certain way, talk a certain way, then we are not valuable. Some of us may internalize these things and begin to speak it over ourselves: “I am not beautiful. I am not valuable. I am not worth it.”
For believers in Christ, Paul tells us, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Our most fundamental identity, the very core of who we are, is found in Christ and who He says we are.
As we study Scripture, we are told, We are a new creation. We are justified, declared right with God. We are made children of God. We have access to God. We are reconciled to God. We are forgiven. We are placed in Christ. We are acceptable by God. We have a heavenly citizenship. We are made members of the family of the household of God. We are living securely on the rock because of Jesus Christ. We are part of the eternal redemptive plan of God. We have been redeemed, bought back with the price of the blood of Jesus. We have a living relationship with God. We are free from the condemnation of the law. We have been adopted into the family of God. We have been brought near to God. We have been delivered from the power of darkness. We have entered a new kingdom, the kingdom of His Son. We are members of the royal priesthood. We are a chosen people, a holy nation. We are the light of the Lord to spread His fame in the world. We are victors over all the forces of darkness by the merits of Jesus Christ. We are complete in Him.
As we anchor our identity in Christ, not only is it the core of who we are, but as believers under the headship of Christ, this is where the oneness, the unity of the Church begins. Jesus prayed, “…that they may be one as We are one—I in them and You in Me—so that they may be brought to complete unity” (John 17:22-23). In recognizing our shared identity in Christ with our fellow believers, we are made one.
Dear Jesus, who I am is defined by who You say I am. Thank You for accepting me just as I am and bringing me into oneness with other believers.
Acts 4:23-37
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:4-6
Who are we? So often in our world, the voices of accusations, the voices of others make us forget who we are. The media and culture are all saying these negative “you are” statements and what happens is that we listen to them and these negative “you are” statements become “I am” statements. For example, the world says if we do not look a certain way or dress a certain way, we are not beautiful; or if we do not act a certain way, talk a certain way, then we are not valuable. Some of us may internalize these things and begin to speak it over ourselves: “I am not beautiful. I am not valuable. I am not worth it.”
For believers in Christ, Paul tells us, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Our most fundamental identity, the very core of who we are, is found in Christ and who He says we are.
As we study Scripture, we are told, We are a new creation. We are justified, declared right with God. We are made children of God. We have access to God. We are reconciled to God. We are forgiven. We are placed in Christ. We are acceptable by God. We have a heavenly citizenship. We are made members of the family of the household of God. We are living securely on the rock because of Jesus Christ. We are part of the eternal redemptive plan of God. We have been redeemed, bought back with the price of the blood of Jesus. We have a living relationship with God. We are free from the condemnation of the law. We have been adopted into the family of God. We have been brought near to God. We have been delivered from the power of darkness. We have entered a new kingdom, the kingdom of His Son. We are members of the royal priesthood. We are a chosen people, a holy nation. We are the light of the Lord to spread His fame in the world. We are victors over all the forces of darkness by the merits of Jesus Christ. We are complete in Him.
As we anchor our identity in Christ, not only is it the core of who we are, but as believers under the headship of Christ, this is where the oneness, the unity of the Church begins. Jesus prayed, “…that they may be one as We are one—I in them and You in Me—so that they may be brought to complete unity” (John 17:22-23). In recognizing our shared identity in Christ with our fellow believers, we are made one.
Dear Jesus, who I am is defined by who You say I am. Thank You for accepting me just as I am and bringing me into oneness with other believers.
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