Do You Know Who You Are In Christ?

[Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks, PsyD]

If you have accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, do you REALLY know who you are in Him? We are righteous new creatures through Christ! Christ has also redeemed us from the curse of the Law and all effects from the curse of the Law. This is what the Word says about who we are and what Christ has done for us:

Romans 3:21-26 says, “²¹ But now the righteousness of God has been clearly revealed [independently and completely] apart from the Law, though it is [actually] confirmed by the Law and the [words and writings of the] Prophets. ²² This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction, ²³ since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] ^[a]grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God displayed publicly [before the eyes of the world] as a [life-giving] ^[b]sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation (propitiation) by His blood [to be received] through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness [which demands punishment for sin], because in His forbearance [His deliberate restraint] He passed over the sins previously committed [before Jesus’ crucifixion]. ²⁶ It was to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus [and rely confidently on Him as Savior].

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]” (biblegate.com – Amplified Bible [AMP]). 

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness]” (biblegate.com – Amplified Bible [AMP]).

Christ has already fought and won the war for us and gave us the victory in every area of our lives; Jesus has made us more than conquerors (Romans 8:31-39)! We are to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12), keeping our eyes on God and not what the devil is doing; God will reveal to us what the devil is doing if He wants us to know! We must stop allowing the devil to distract us with his mess! Distraction is one of the devil’s major tactics!

Jesus is our High Priest; He has entered into the Holy Place of God, secured our eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12)! We must keep our eyes on Jesus’ finished work. This is what Hebrews 9:11-12 says,

“But when Christ appeared as a High Priest of the good things to come [that is, true spiritual worship], He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not a part of this [material] creation. ¹² He went once for all into the Holy Place [the Holy of Holies of heaven, into the presence of God], and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, having obtained and secured eternal redemption [that is, the salvation of all who personally believe in Him as Savior]” (biblegate.com – Amplified Bible [AMP]).

This is what Hebrews 4:14-16 says about our High Priest Jesus:

^“14 Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior]. 

¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin. ¹⁶ Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment]” (biblegate.com – Amplified Bible [AMP]).

These Scriptures clearly shows us that Jesus, our High Priest, has already entered into the Holy Place of God on our behalf and secured safe passage for us all to enter into God’s presence. Hebrews 10:19-22 says,

^“19 Therefore, ^[a^]believers, since we have confidence and full freedom to enter the Holy Place [the place where God dwells] by [means of] the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by this new and living way which He initiated and opened for us through the veil [as in the Holy of Holies], that is, through His flesh, ²¹ and since we have a great and wonderful Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, ²² let us approach [God] with a true and sincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (biblegate.com – Amplified Bible [AMP]).

Christ defeated the power of sin and death and made the way for you and me to be the new temple of God’s holy, powerful presence. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 states, “^16[a^]Do you not know and understand that you [the church] are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells [permanently] in you [collectively and individually]? ¹⁷If anyone destroys the temple of God [corrupting it with false doctrine], God will destroy the destroyer; for the temple of God is holy (sacred), and that is what you are” (biblegate.com – Amplified Bible [AMP]).

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “¹⁹ Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? ²⁰ You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body” (biblegate.com – Amplified Bible [AMP]).

1 Corinthians 6:20 commands us to “honor and glorify God with our body” as a response to being filled with the presence of God through the work of our high priest, Jesus Christ.

Never forget who you are through Christ! You are a new creation since you have accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and you are righteous in God’s sight. Meditate on these Scriptures and don’t allow the devil or anyone else to tell you anything different.

You can go to God in prayer for yourself anytime you need to; Jesus our High Priest, has made it possible for you to go boldly before the throne of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]” (biblegate.com – Amplified Bible [AMP]).

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness]” (biblegate.com – Amplified Bible [AMP]). Click here to read the complete Chapter of 2 Corinthians 5.

Hebrews 4:14-16 says, “¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (biblegate.com – New King James Version [NKJV]).

Be encouraged and stay encouraged using the Word of God; get to know God on a deeper level for yourself. Let Holy Spirit teach you all things; He is your Teacher and much more! Depend on Holy Spirit, not a man! Go to God for yourself and get to know Him better; God wants a relationship with you.

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NOTE: This message came about as a result of me reading my daily devotion for May 18, 2017, from First15.org, titled “Holy of Holies.” 

God bless you and keep you,

Dr. Dorothy E. Hooks