Who You Are In Christ

In Christ you are somebody who is loved and cherished. Your life has meaning because of who you know. When you know Jesus as your Lord, you are a child of God. That's who you are as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ now and forever.

You have a Father who made all things. You have a Lord who died in your place to take away all of your sins. You have eternal life with an eternal family, the family of God. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name" (John 1:12).

As a believer, you have a right to be called a child of God. You are born again into the family of God. No one can take that right away from you. That right was paid at the cross by the blood of Jesus. It is your birthright. You are a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ.

Some may doubt. Others may be confused and uncertain. Many would like to know for sure. Yes, you can know who you are as a believer. You are a child of God by what is written in the Bible, what happened at the cross, and what Jesus has done for you. Doubt confesses, "I hope I'm a child of God. I'm just not sure." Faith says, "I am a child of God, because I'm a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe what the Bible says about me."

What Is God's Glory?

The word glory (Grk: doxa) in the New Testament is used in two ways, depending on the context. First, it may be used to give God glory. That is expressing praise and adoration to God in worship. However, the word glory may also express the manifest presence of God. Of course, God is omnipresent. He is present everywhere and all the time. Nevertheless, God does not manifest His presence everywhere.

In the eternal state of God's redeemed people, the apostle John has a vision of the glory of God on the new earth and in the New Jerusalem. John saw "the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God" (Rev. 21:9-11). He saw the light of God's glory. "The city had no need of the sun nor of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is the light" (Rev. 21:23). Certainly, the Lamb is our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the eternal state and the New Jerusalem, there will be one eternal day. "There shall be no night there. They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever" (Rev. 22:5). Indeed, that is the glory of God with His people in the eternal state. The new earth and city are illumined by the light of God's glory.

This old earth will pass away (2 Peter 3:10). Jesus has gone to prepare the new place for all who are redeemed (John 14:1-3). The New Jerusalem on the new earth will reveal the light of God's glory to every believer. We shall see God in our glorified bodies.

God Speaks to Us

God speaks to us through the Bible, written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. All scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16). That's Holy Scripture, most often known as the Bible. Inspired means God-breathed. The Bible is a book set apart from all others, because it is inspired by the Holy Spirit. The word Scripture means writing. The Bible is inspired writing, which is God's written word to us.

God speaks to us through the Bible, able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15). Christ is the Word become flesh to save us (John 1:14). Only the Holy Spirit is able to give us the assurance of our salvation. He gives assurance to us through the Bible, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

God speaks to us through the Bible, bringing the gift of faith (Romans 10:9). So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). The gift of faith comes through the Holy Spirit. The Bible is inspired and used by the Holy Spirit to impart that faith (Romans 10:17).

God speaks to us through the Bible about the issues of life. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Holy Scripture is God's inspired word to us in the Bible. The Bible is God's will revealed to us. The Holy Spirit instructs us how to live through the Bible.

Pray with Boldness

Charles Spurgeon said, “There is no pleading with God like reminding Him of His Covenant! Get a hold of a promise of God, and you may pray with great boldness, for the Lord will not run back from His own Word—but get a hold of the Covenant and you may plead with the greatest possible confidence!”

Bold prayer stands on the covenant promises of God. Yes, God has sworn with an oath to fulfill every last covenant promise in the Bible. Take God at His word. Stand upon His promises. That's how you pray boldly. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Bold prayer is based upon the will of God. Bold prayer is sure about the will of God as revealed in the Bible. You will not struggle with doubt, because your faith is standing firm upon the word of God (Romans 10:17). As Spurgeon said, "You may plead with the greatest possible confidence!"

The covenant promises of God are everlasting, because the covenant is everlasting (Hebrews 13:20-21). They are for all of God's children, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. That's the reason Spurgeon could say, "There is no pleading with God like reminding Him of His Covenant!" Boldness in prayer stands on the covenant promises of God.

The Elect In Christ

"Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame" (Isaiah 28:16). Christ is the elect of God, as the cornerstone of every believer's salvation. Therefore, believers are elect in Christ.

The elect are in Christ. He should always be the focus to understand our election. Christ is the Elect of God, precious to the Father and all who believe in him. Our election is sure in Christ alone. The Bible tells us to "make your calling and election sure" (2 Peter 1:10).

In eternity God purposed to justify people, who by grace believe in and through our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:4-5; 2 Timothy 1:9). Our election includes all true believers in Christ. Our election is sure in the elect one, even Christ Jesus our Lord.

To be in Christ means you are a believer, baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). The body of Christ is the church. The word church does not refer to a denomination nor a sectarian group. It refers to all of God's people, saved through the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The love of God to save believers from condemnation has its eternal purpose and fulfillment in Christ. God's purpose to save is to the praise of His glorious grace in Christ (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). Make your election sure by God's grace, through faith in Christ. The elect are in Christ.

Saved In Christ Alone

God saves us by grace through faith in Christ alone. We can never earn nor deserve our salvation. We have all sinned (Romans 3:23). Christ alone saves sinners from the condemnation and curse of sin. God saves sinners by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10). Salvation is God's workmanship in Christ.

The Bible teaches that God saves us in Christ alone (Acts 4:12). The Gospel of Christ is the message of salvation (Romans 1:16). Christ died for our sins. He is risen for our justification. Old Testament believers were saved by the promise of Christ coming. New Testament believers are saved because Christ has come.

God saves us through faith alone in Christ. Our faith is trusting and relying upon Christ alone. Faith is relying upon Christ Jesus our Lord to save us to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25). Faith is trusting Christ to begin and complete our salvation (Philippians 1:6). 

God works all things to the praise of His glory. That includes our salvation in Christ. God saves sinners to the praise of His glorious grace (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). Christ is the fulness of God's grace (John 1:14-16). God saves us by grace through faith in Christ alone. That gives all the praise and glory to God. 

How God Forgives You

God will forgive you, when you believe the gospel of Christ. Your sin debt was paid in full, "through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). The gospel of grace is Christ crucified for your sins and risen from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Grace is what Christ alone did for believers on the cross. His resurrection is assurance that your sins are taken away.

God will forgive you by faith in Christ. You are not forgiven of some sins. It's far better than that. You are forgiven of all sin. The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you receive the forgiveness of all your sins. 

God will forgive you, as you confess your sins. Christians are not perfect, just forgiven (1 John 1:8-10). When you confess your sins to God, fresh cleansing is available. The promise of God is sure. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

God will forgive you in Christ to the praise of the glory of His grace (Ephesians 1:6). If you have any doubt about God's willingness to forgive you, look at the cross of Jesus. "Mercy there was great and grace was free." Because of God's mercy and grace in Christ, your sins are forgiven.