" . . . and raised us up together, and made us sit together
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians 2:6
The newspaper story told of a woman who had been in an accident. She took a blow to the head. At the hospital, she could not identify herself. They discovered her identity through her driver's license. Her family was found. However, after several weeks, she still could not identify herself. The medical team gave the family hope that one day she could recover her memory. As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, it is possible for us to forget our identity. The apostle Paul constantly reminded believers to find their real identity in Christ. He wrote, "For to me, to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21).
The apostle Paul instructs all believers to discover their identity in Christ. We are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20). We are made alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:5). What does this mean in practical terms? We died to our old life through the cross of Christ. We are raised from spiritual death to new life in Christ. We are in fellowship with Christ, as we "sit together in the heavenly places in Christ." The living Christ has become the focus of our lives. If we lose that focus, we may easily become confused about our true identity.
Our identity in Christ results in the fruit of our lives. We experience love, joy and peace. The Holy Spirit enables us to experience the love of God. We have the joy of fellowship with God our Father. We know what it means to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts (Galatians 5:22; Colossians 3:15). Jesus summarized this experience as the abundant life (John 10:10). God gives the abundant life in Christ. He is our identity.
Father, we desire to live the abundant life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
