Does the Church have an Identity Problem?

Psalm 103:1-16

“My soul, praise Yahweh, and all that is within me, praise His holy name.  My soul praises the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits.  He forgives all your sins​; He heals all your diseases.   He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfies you with goodness; your youth is renewed like the eagle. The Lord executes acts of righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.   He revealed His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel.  The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in faithful love.  He will not always accuse us or be angry forever.  He has not dealt with us, as our sins deserve or repaid us according to our offenses.

 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His faithful love toward those who fear Him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.  As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.  For He knows what we are made of, remembering that we are dust.”

Could it be the Church has an identity problem, and I’m talking about the Holy Catholic Church, the universal Church, that is living on planet earth today?  It is not a denomination no it’s not Roman Catholic or the Southern Baptist, it is anyone that has by faith entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Do we know who God is, not who we want Him to be, but do we grasp even a small understanding of His attributes?  It seems to me most do not for if they did, there would be more praise, and less complaining and more acts of righteousness taking place.

Not only is the Church ignorant about who God is, but they also have little understanding of who they are in Christ.  What is your true identity in Christ?  Let me list a few that come from one of my mentors.

Romans 1:24   You are now justified and redeemed

Romans 6:7     Free from sin’s power

Romans 8:1     Indemnified (God does not reject you, just your sinful  

                        Performance)

Romans 15:7   Accepted in Him

1 Cor. 1:30      Have wisdom, righteousness sanctification, redemption

1 Cor. 2:16      Mind of Christ is in you

1 Cor. 6:11      Washed, sanctified, justified

1 Cor. 6:17      One with the Holy Spirit

1 Cor. 15:22    Alive (formerly dead)

2 Cor. 3:3        His laws are written on your heart

2 Cor. 3:14      Your hardened mind is removed (mind transplant)

2 Cor. 5:21      The righteousness of God (cannot get more righteous)

Gal. 4:7           A son and heir of God

Eph. 1:3           Blessed with every spiritual blessing

Eph. 1:7           Redeemed, forgiven

Eph. 1:10,11    Have an inheritance in heaven

Eph. 2:6           Seated in heaven (now)

Eph. 2:10         Created for good works (which He can do through you

Col. 3:3            Your life is hidden with Christ in God (see this by faith)

That’s not all that the Bible states about your identity in Christ, but I hope that you explore more about who you are in Christ and who God is.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

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