“You’re stupid. You’re ugly. You’re smart. You’re pretty. You’re strong. You’re broken. You’re a coward. You’re a failure. You’re fat. You’re skinny. You’re funny. You’re boring. You’re disgusting. You’re mean. You’re good. You’re bad.” We’re given a lot of labels in life. But who and what do we think we are?
It’s hard to be someone, if you think you’re someone else.
It’s hard to be someone, if you think you’re someone else. What we believe we are deep down directly affects the choices we make, our reactions, our responses, our moods, our relationships, our life.
How often has a child been told they’re stupid and been haunted by it for years– if not they’re entire life. If we believe we’re stupid we’ll make choices based on that belief. We’ll be less likely to try new things or face challenging circumstances. We’ll avoid moments that test us, already believing that we’ll fail. Does our belief that we’re stupid mean we are stupid? No. We may have the potential to be brilliant and accomplished. But our belief that we are stupid limits or even eliminates our chances at pursuing and living out the life of a brilliant, accomplished person. Our belief becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. We live out stupid, because we believe we are.
Who is the Christian?
The Bible has a lot to say about who we are as human beings and as Christians. And discovering God’s promises to us of who we are is one of the real joys of reading Scripture. However, it’s all too easy to forget or doubt or not realize what God has said.
“The whole trouble with us, says the New Testament, is that we do not realize what we are,” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
The New Testament tells us that anyone who was baptized into Jesus was baptized into his death and buried with him. Why? So that we could then be raised with him and walk in a new, amazing life (Rom 6:3-4). This is who the Christian is– someone altogether new. But it doesn’t always seem like that, does it?
Here’s another quote from one of the most famous and influential preachers of the 20th century, D.Martyn Lloyd-Jones:
“I died to the realm and rule of sin when I became a Christian, and I am dead to it now. And if I fall into sin, as I do, it is simply because I do not realize who I am.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
If we don’t realize who we are we won’t live like it. If a prince thinks himself a pauper it won’t occur to him to enter the palace. If we believe we’re someone we’re not, we’ll go around living a lie– living in confusion and frustration.
But if we do realize who we truly are, we will begin to live life truly. And in this case, friends, it is very good news. The Bible tells us that if you believe in Jesus, God has spiritually remade you into someone really, really wonderful.
Here are just a few of the labels God has given every Christian:
- You are never alone. Matt 28:20, Heb 13:5, John 14:16-17
- You are loved. Romans 8:38-39
- You are fully and forever forgiven and justified. Eph 1:7, Romans 3:23-24
- You have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Col 1:12-14
- You are a new creation in Christ. 2 Cor 5:17
- You are pure and holy and freed from sin. 1 Cor 1:30, Col 1:22
- You are a child of God. Rom 8:15-16
- You are a sibling with Jesus. Heb 2:11
- You are an heir with Christ to the Father. Gal 4:7, Rom 8:17
- You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. 1 Peter 2:9
- You are full-fledged citizen of heaven. Phil 3:20
- You are a dwelling for the Spirit of God. 1 Cor 6:19, Rom 8:9
- You are an ambassador for Christ here in this world. 2 Cor 5:20
None of these things are things you might one day achieve. Or things that, if you’re really good, you might receive. These are things which are true right now for every single person, no matter what, who confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God raised him from the dead. (Romans 10:9) These things are true for every Christian in Christ not because of anything we did, but because of what he did– these things are true of Jesus and he has brought us with him into them.
“If you are a Christian, the man that you were in Adam has gone out of existence; he has no reality at all; you are in Christ.
If we but saw this as we should, we would really begin to live as Christians in this world. We would all hold up our heads, we would be able to defy sin and Satan, we would rejoice in Christ Jesus as we ought.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Faith Comes First
Christian, do you realize who you are? When you wake up in the morning and consider your day, your life, whose life do you think it is? Do you know you are a child of the Maker and Ruler of the Universe? Do you know you are an eternal citizen of heaven, here in this world, in this body, but for a short time on a mission for your Father? Do you know the Lord and King of all things calls you brother or sister?
When other names and labels are thrown at you or whispered in your ear do you believe them?
When other names and labels are thrown at you or whispered in your ear do you believe them? When you’re called unloved, unsafe, unchanged, unimportant, unsuccessful, unclean, unforgiven, impure, enslaved, broken, worthless, pointless, and alone do you know those things to be lies? Do you with sadness agree with them? Or do you, by faith in God’s promises, deny them and refute those lies with the truth?
To truly live the Christian life we must realize who we truly are. It’s not always obvious to us with our eyes. Sometimes we look more like the pauper than the prince on the surface. But the more the prince realizes he is royal the more he will begin to live like it. Faith comes first. So here are four challenges:
1. Have faith – believe your Heavenly Father when he tells you just how amazing Jesus is and who you are now because of all he has done.
2. Pray – for greater revelation of who we are now in Christ, so you might know it deep in your heart by the power of the Spirit.
3. Look to Christ – because in him we see who we truly are.
4. Remind yourself – your soul and mind and body every chance you get that because of the love of God and the glory of your Lord Jesus, who lives and reigns:
I am never alone and I am forever loved.
I am fully and forever forgiven and justified.
I have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.
I am a new creation, free from my past.
I am pure and holy and freed from sin.
I am a child of the living God.
I am a sibling and heir with King Jesus.
I am part of a chosen people, a royal priesthood and a holy nation.
I am a dwelling for the Holy Spirit.
I am a citizen of heaven and an ambassador for Christ here in this world.
