WHO GOD SAYS I AM IN CHRIST
The Christian's Identity Faith Shield


By: Norm Rasmussen, Director

Romans Chapter 6 pointedly addresses who believers are in Christ (although the chapter would seem to address tackling sin issues as it's main thrust).  But also in this chapter the symbolism of water baptism is being addressed.  I personally believe that God wants us to understand more what water baptism represents and teaches about our identity in Christ than just obeying the command to be water baptized, though that doesn't lessen the importance of being water baptized.  From how I perceive Romans 6, water baptism is God's way of helping us realize HOW we are given our identity in Christ.  It is from that launching pad all else follows from God the Father's perspective concerning disciples of Jesus Christ.  Afterall, it is HIS perspective that only counts anyway when all is said and done.

So then, launching from the extremely important foundation of Romans Chapter 6 ... Ephesians 6:10-18 alerts Christian believers that we are continuously in a battle with demonic forces in the unseen realm.  Demonic powers constantly are firing poisonous darts of doubts and lies into the minds of disciples of Jesus Christ to keep them weakened, discouraged, joyless, faithless and as ineffective as possible.  God says in Ephesians 6:16 that we are to - above all - use our "shield of faith" at all times to protect our thought life.  Our "shield of faith" is constructed of the promises of God in His Word.  The strongest and most effective "shield of faith" is what I call THE CHRISTIAN'S IDENTITY FAITH SHIELD.   

Knowing our identity in Christ is crucially important - a major key - to walking in ever-increasing spiritual victory.  You will struggle to one degree or another your entire Christian life if you don't learn and believe who God the Father says you are IN Christ.

Any time a believer is in disagreement with what God says about them from the scriptures below, (there are more promises than what we've listed, by the way) they must quit believing the devil's lies, and start believing what God's Word says about them, which is Truth (Godly FACT!).  In so doing, one is waging wise, effective spiritual warfare against the devouring attacks of the devil against them.

1 Peter 5:8-9 alerts Christian believers:  "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings (attacks to devour your joy, peace and faith, in one form or another - explanation ours) are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Our ongoing, daily confession of what God's WORD says about us is one of the most vital means of "resisting the devil" God has given Christian believers.  If we don't confess the promises of God, once we know what they are, it usually means we don't believe them either...which only gives the devil greater influence in our lives.

Remember ... Satan has little influence over the Christian believer when we refuse to believe his lies.  But if we do believe his lies, that gives him increased influence over us...giving him an opening to harass (oppress - devour) us in even greater measure. 

It is also important to note that if the Christian believer is walking in unconfessed, unrepentant sin, that gives the devil increased influence over them (anger; unforgiveness; bitterness; resentment; envy; backbiting; gossiping; slander; are some of the more common unconfessed sins) ... which can hinder Christ's protection around them - thereby giving Satan greater opportunity to devour  (oppress; torment; depress) them.   

Important Note:  It is very important to not get trapped into confessing scriptures in attempts to try to "persuade" or "manipulate" God to grant us our desires that God determines may be little more than selfish lusts and we haven't discerned such yet.  Maturity in Christ teaches that greater peace and joy comes from the Lord when we surrender what "I want" and seek more of what "God wants for me."  Seeking what God wants for me is a powerful means of "resisting the devil" in and of itself!

Another important note regarding the promises listed below.  These promises are ONLY given to us because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross.  We must never think of ourselves as so "wonderful" or so "deserving" that God gave us His promises because we are worthy to receive them.  God makes it very clear in scripture that no human is worthy to receive the unfathomable riches He has given us in Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ alone is the only One worthy to receive God the Father's eternal blessings, and once we come to agreement with that fact, it makes the eternal salvation Jesus Christ has secured and given us even more priceless! 

God forbid that any one of us thinks we deserve this priceless gift of eternal salvation and all the blessings that come with it through eternity.  We must always remember that what we really deserve is eternal punishment in hell because we are sinners.  Yet in God's love and mercy, He provided a way...He provided an escape from eternal damnation.  The miracle of the exchanged life is our escape.  Jesus became our sin ... so we could inherit His righteousness - His holiness.  Jesus took our punishment at the cross for our sins...so we could be freed from punishment. 

Arrogance and boasting about our exchanged life in Christ has no place for God's people.  As believers in Jesus Christ, you and I are nothing but sinners saved by God's grace.  That's the first truth God wants us realizing.  But God says we are also something ELSE!  He says that in Jesus Christ, we are also Godly saints who occasionally sin now...but one day in eternity will never sin again! 

God has given us His promises of our position in Christ for at least two reasons that I'm aware of:

1)  To wage more effective spiritual warfare against demonic powers -- actively applying the Ephesians 6:16 "shield of faith."
2)  To help us stay motivated to daily keep striving to live up to what God desires for us to become. 

What does God desire that we become?  More Christ-like, in every way.  God wills it to happen, but it's not going to happen by our just talking about it, or wishing it to happen.  It will only happen as we make Christ-like decisions.  That requires action on our part, doesn't it?

Therefore, let the promises from God below be the "ammunition" to fire back at demonic powers firing their poisonous bullets (fiery darts) at you ... using them wisely and appropriately for that reason, and secondly, use them as catalysts in striving to be more Christ-like:  

IN and THROUGH Christ, I AM and/or HAVE THESE PROMISES ...


As an ending side-note, once I personally began to fully comprehend the importance of knowing and believing why it is so
crucial to know what my identity in Christ is ... I might be about as miserable as I've ever been at the time, but when people ask me how I am, simply as a friendly greeting usually, my very first response to them now is, "Blessed in Jesus!  Rotten in the flesh...yet blessed in Jesus beyond what the human mind right now is capable of fully understanding!" 

Sometimes people are taken back by that, because it's not the world's way of answering them, but it preaches a very LOUD MESSAGE to the demons lurking in the unseen background, and it conveys a crucially important truth to other Christians:  Norm Rasmussen is fully aware of the importance of constantly reminding myself of WHO I AM IN CHRIST.  I can't possibly recount the number of times when I've been under major demonic attack, yet as soon as I make that confession, oppression lifts off of me.  Try it for yourself, be persistent, and monitor the results.  You'll find it pays huge dividends!

For people who are under continuous mental oppression of various sorts, I would strongly encourage you to consider starting your day by thanking God, OUT LOUD, (so demons can hear) of who God's Word says you are in Christ.  The more you repetitiously speak out loud WHO YOUR ARE IN CHRIST, the more you'll begin to BELIEVE it.  Some people simply have a very difficult time breaking through to begin believing the promises of God of WHO THEY ARE IN CHRIST, and the more they confess those promises out loud, the quicker the Holy Spirit will help them begin BELIEVING it, and as that takes place, demons will then go look for another victim...knowing they no longer have the opportunity they once had in keeping you spiritually and mentally ensnared.

Another writing on the importance of knowing  who you are in Christ can be read by clinking on the following link:  What Does It Mean To Be In Christ?

You may want to be aware that this page is what I call "a work in progress."  From time to time, changes may very well be made in hopes of making it more effective.  If you feel that the wording on this page is untrue, misleading, or could be expressed in a more understandable way, I encourage you to write me and let me know.  I can't promise I'll respond back, but I will certainly pray about any positive and/or constructive suggestions you may make.  Learning all we clearly can about our identity in Christ will only benefit all Christians.  Thank you.


Dear Reader - are you at peace with God?  If not, you can be.  Do you know what awaits you when you die?  You can have the assurance from the Holy Spirit that heaven will be your home, if you would like to be certain.  Either Jesus Christ died for yours sins, or He didn't (He did!).  Are you prepared to stand before God on the Judgment Day and tell Him that you didn't need the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross to cover your sins?  We plead with you ... please don't make such a tragic mistake.

To be at peace with God; to make certain heaven will be your home for eternity; to make certain that you are in right-standing with God right now ... please click here to help understand the importance of being reconciled to God.  What you do about being reconciled to God will determine where you will spend eternity, precious one.  Your decision to be reconciled to God is the most important decision you'll ever make in this life. 


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Thank You, and God bless you!

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