IDENTITY: PROMISED

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life 

through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, 
so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, 
having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
2 Peter 1:3-4

In Christ, followers are promised abundant and eternal life.   God has given us everything required for a temporal godly life and a spiritual eternal life.  We have grace here and glory after, all absolute, free and unconditional.  God’s very great and precious promises encourage faith and hope.

God intends for followers to live bearing a likeness to the image of His Son and to abstain from the corruption and vices prevalent in the world.  To live sober, righteous and godly lives under His influence, set aside for God and His service.  

Identity references to search on your own: 
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Colossians 3:12
Hebrews 3:1
I Peter 2:9-10

Joyce

IDENTITY: SANCTIFIED

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. 
May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless 
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

In Christ, followers are sanctified or saved from the power of sin.  God sees us in a progressive, gradual work beginning with dying with Christ and progressing over a lifetime to be wholly sanctified or perfect in every respect – all of you.  This is God’s work to be fulfilled in His time.

God intends to preserve His followers, changed at the core, to live blameless lives – body, soul and spirit.  He keeps us from falling short so that at the coming of Christ, the faithfulness of God is our security to persevere to the end.  We will be presented faultless, and without blame, without spot or wrinkle.

Identity references to search on your own: 
1 Peter 2:5
Philippians 1:6
John 15:16
1 Corinthians 6:17

Joyce

IDENTITY: ROOTED

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, 
continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, 
strengthened in the faith as you were taught, 
and overflowing with thankfulness.
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, 
which depends on human tradition 
and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”
Colossians 2:6-8

In Christ, followers are rooted in the faith.  God sees us strengthened by walking closely with Christ – the more we walk with Him, the more we are grounded in our faith.  We walk in His Spirit, under His influence, by His direction and through His assistance and derive all our nourishment and strength from Him as our root.

God intends for us to continue to live by faith with thanksgiving, always looking

to Him, leaning on Him and deriving grace from Him.  Followers are to guard

against being deceived and ensnared by the world, especially by hollow and

deceptive philosophy.  It depends on the wisdom and traditions of man rather

than of God, with no solid foundation and robs us of our rich treasure in the

wisdom and knowledge of Christ.

Identity references to search on your own: 
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Ephesians 2:18

Joyce

IDENTITY: HELPED

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, 
Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, 
but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, 
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:14-16

In Christ, followers are helped.  God sees our need and knows our weaknesses, even when we do not.  Jesus sympathizes with us and understands every temptation, so that He can be merciful and compassionate with His people. 

God intends for followers to live with the confidence to draw near to Him, so

that we can receive His mercy and find grace.  We have the boldness to enter by

the blood of Jesus.  He wants His followers to hold fast to our faith and hope in

our heads, hearts and lives and never deny Him.

Identity references to search on your own: 
2 Corinthians 6:1 
1 Corinthians 3:9
Romans 8:28
Philippians 4:19

Joyce

IDENTITY: ENABLED

“Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content
in whatever circumstances I am.
I know how to get along with humble means, 
and I also know how to live in prosperity; 
in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret
 of being filled and going hungry, 
both of having abundance and suffering need.
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:11-13

In Christ, followers are enabled to do all things.  God sees strength in our living union and identification with Christ to do whatever He calls his followers to do.  We are strengthened in our souls, internally, to perform duties as a Christian and bear sufferings, afflictions, reproaches and persecutions for the sake of it.

God intends for us to be content in our circumstances, not sufficient in self but

in Christ.  Followers are to be dependent on His provision, satisfied with His

presence and able to make the best of each and every situation with His help. 

Identity references to search on your own: 
John 15:5 
Ephesians 2:8-10
I Corinthians 2:16
James 1:5

Joyce

IDENTITY: FREED

 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free 
from the law of sin and of death.
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: 
by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, 
and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, 
who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Romans 8:1-4

In Christ, followers are freed from condemnation and from the law of sin and death.  God see us as acquitted - set free from sin’s penalty and power plus we are assured that we will not be condemned at the judgement.  Followers are justified or freed from sin’s penalty by grace through Jesus Christ.

God intends for followers to walk according to the Spirit not the flesh.  Reliance

on the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit gives us new life to overcome

judgement and sin in daily life.  Followers grow in obedience and holiness plus

are increasingly distinguished by the fruit of the Spirit.

Identity references to search on your own: 
Romans 8:31

Colossians 1:22

I Timothy 6:15

I Peter 1:16

Joyce

IDENTITY:RAISED

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—
it is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ 
and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,
 expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:4-7

In Christ, followers are raised. God sees us as if it were already so because of

our union with Christ.  In Him, we experience a spiritual resurrection – a

resurrection from death in sin to a spiritual life of freedom having ascended

with Him above this world.

God intends for followers to set their hearts on things above, not on earthly

things. We are to begin to die to sin and live to God.  The world is nothing in

comparison to the blessing of heavenly places and the hope that God’s work

will fully be brought to an end. 

Identity references to search on your own:

Ephesians 3:12

Philippians 3:20-21

Colossians 2:9-12

Joyce

IDENTITY: ADOPTED

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, 
he gave the right to become children of God—
children born not of natural descent, 
nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:12-13

In Christ, followers are adopted children of God’s spiritual family with all the

privileges of joint heirs with Christ. He has given us this ultimate privilege

solely through His unconditional love and grace.  Followers have this intimate

relationship with the Father through Christ which begins the moment they

believe and receive the Spirit of His Son into their hearts. 

God intends for followers to live like brothers and sisters of Christ, who do

the will of our Father guided by the Holy Spirit.  He sees His children as being

like Him and being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.  This transforms

our way of life as followers when our family responsibilities change plus

we take on the attitude and love of God, our new Father.

Identity references to search on your own:

Romans 8:17

1 Corinthians 12:27

Ephesians 1:5

I Thessalonians 5:5

1 John 5:18

Joyce

IDENTITY: REDEEMED & FORGIVEN

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness 
and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13-14

In Christ, followers are redeemed and forgiven, so God sees us as set free

from captivity or slavery to sin and evil.  The death and resurrection of Christ

is the means of redemption and provides not only forgiveness of sin, but

spiritual transformation.  God knows us completely – loves us as if we already

have reached His promised perfection in Christ, even though it will not be

complete until Christ returns.

God intends for us to live filled with the knowledge of His will, worthy of the

Lord and pleasing to Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work,

growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with His power and

giving joyful thanks to the Father. (Col 1:9-12) 

Identity references to search on your own: 

Galatians 3:13  
Ephesians 1:1
Ephesians 1:7
Hebrews 2:11
1 Peter 2:24

Joyce