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

By: Norm Rasmussen
Director, Precious Testimonies Evangelistic Ministries


If you are a new born-again Christian, and you are unfamiliar with Satan's strategies to steal your peace and joy and confidence in God and God's Word, here is one of the MOST COMMON strategies Satan and his demons employ to keep you from walking in greater joy and peace with the Lord:  THEY CONSTANTLY LIE TO YOU.

In fact, Satan's greatest success for those of us who are IN Christ Jesus is to get us to believe his lies.  The less we know about God's Word (The Holy Bible), the easier it is for him to get us to believe his lies.  The less we know about how to understand and correctly APPLY God's Word (See: The Eight Rules of Bible Interpretation), the easier it is for Satan to get us to believe his lies.  The less we know about our position IN Christ Jesus, the easier it is for Satan to keep us bound in emotional and spiritual prisons we may not ever realize we're IN, let alone know God wants us to be freed from.

This writing is to help you who yet don't fully realize ... let alone believe ... who you are ... IN Christ Jesus.  Seeking God with everything in you to receive revelation and understanding of who God the Father says you are IN Christ Jesus will greatly hinder Satan and his demons from keeping you locked up in emotional and spiritual prisons that God doesn't want you to be in. 

Knowing fully who you are in Christ Jesus will make you much more "fully armed and dangerous" in the Army of our Lord and Savior, whose precious name is Jesus Christ.  It will also hinder Satan greatly from messing with your mind, because your mind is the primary battle ground where peace and joy in your relationship with God is gained ... or lost.

Now then ... If you have decided to believe that God paid full penalty for your sins by dying on the cross - taking full punishment for your sins so that your sins are forgiven forever and will not be held against you on the Judgment Day ... do you KNOW that God the Father says "You are NOW the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus"? 

Follower of Jesus Christ, that is NO small, insignificant matter!  As a matter of fact, it is a fact of HUGE importance!

And how did it come about that you became "The righteousness of God in Christ Jesus?" 

For He (the Father) made Him (Jesus Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God (the Father) in Him (Jesus Christ). (2 Corinthians 5:21)

The moment we accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we were given GOD'S covering (robe) of righteousness!  It is GOD'S righteousness given to us free of charge, because it is IMPOSSIBLE for any human being to EARN any degree of righteousness -- any degree of holiness -- that will be acceptable to God on the Judgment Day that will qualify a person to remain with God for eternity. 

That bears repeating, but I'll say it a little differently.  The only way God will allow anyone to remain with Him in heaven for eternity is for a person to be as holy and as righteous as He is.  But God knew that would be impossible to happen, because no person was capable of being that holy and that righteous on their own.  There was only one other way for a person to be holy enough and righteous enough to meet God's demands, and that was for God to simply GIVE His holiness and His righteousness away.  And how would He be able to do that?  He would have to leave heaven, go to earth, live like a human being, be tempted to sin like everyone else is tempted to sin, but yet never sin.  In never sinning, that would qualify Him to be the PERFECT sacrifice - the PERFECT ransom payment - God the Father would find acceptable for the sins of every human being.  

Thus the death of Jesus Christ not only put our punishment on God for our sins ... it ALSO legally became the means for sinners to receive God's RIGHTEOUSNESS, because without having God's RIGHTEOUSNESS, forgiven sinners would STILL not be qualified to be in the presence of God, because God decreed long ago that to be in His presence for eternity, a being had to be as holy and as righteous as He IS. 

I hope you NOW understand better why it is such a BIG DEAL being "The righteousness of God in Christ Jesus".  This is not only your qualifying factor to be with a holy God for eternity ... it is ALSO your very identity!

Romans Chapter 6 pointedly addresses who believers are in Jesus Christ (although the chapter would seem to address tackling sin issues as it's main thrust).  But also in this chapter the issue 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 Jesus 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 Jesus Christ.  It is from that launching pad all else follows from God the Father's perspective concerning disciples of Jesus Christ.  Afterall, it is from HIS perspective that 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 (which GREATLY affects our prayer 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 many call THE CHRISTIAN'S IDENTITY FAITH SHIELD.   

Knowing our identity in Jesus 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 Jesus Christ.  And who ARE you?  Nothing short of "The righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!"

To help you receive greater revelation from the Holy Spirit about the importance of having God's righteousness imputed to us, I would encourage you to take the time to read the following writing:  http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/f-j/JudgmentDay.htm

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 to get that truth deeply cemented into our spirit and mind 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 Jesus 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 Jesus 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 eternal punishment for them.

Arrogance and boasting about our exchanged life in Jesus 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 and then...but one day in eternity will never sin again!

Yet we need to be wise in what we believe about ourselves.  We do NOT want to take on some self-imposed "WORM MENTALITY."  Here is an awesome writing that balances out a healthy relationship with God: http://www.precious-testimonies.com/WeeklyEncouragerArchives/SteppingOutOfPrison.htm     

God has given us His promises of our position in Jesus Christ for at least two reasons:

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 the Father 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 our desire to be more Christ-like:

IN and THROUGH Jesus Christ, this is what God the Father says about me ...

• In Jesus Christ, I am God's child for I am born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever.  I Peter 1:23
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am able to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  2 Timothy 2:3
   

• In Jesus Christ, I'm forgiven of all my sins and washed in His shed Blood. Eph 1:7; Heb 9:14; Col 1:14; I John 2:12, I John 1:9
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have eternal life.  John 3:36
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have passed from death into life.  John 5:24
   

• Through Jesus Christ, out of my innermost being will flow rivers of living water.  John 7:38
   

• Through Jesus Christ, the truth shall set me free.  John 8:31-32  (Knowing who you ARE in Jesus Christ is a huge and profitable revelation of that truth!)
   

• Through Jesus Christ, if I ask what God has promised, in Jesus name, He will do it.  (As long as it is the Father's will for me, of course.  What we can miss in reading John Chapters 14 & 15 is that God desires above all things that we make it our number one purpose as Christians to strive to allow the Holy Spirit to grow Christ-like fruit in our lives. [See: Galatians 5:22-24 to know what these "fruits" are].  Because God above all else is looking for Christ-like character growth in our lives, we sometimes struggle wondering WHY God doesn't grant us whatever we ask of Him.  Though many will disagree with me, which is their right, I have yet to find one ironclad guarantee in the Bible that will motivate God to answer every prayer I pray the way I want Him to answer it.  God desires that we have confidence when we pray to Him, but He also desires that we honor Him by our acknowledging that we accept however He responds to our prayers, simply because He's the only one who knows all things, understands all things, and knows what is BEST for each of us at any given time, and for others we pray for).  John 14:14; John 15:7-8
   

• I am in Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ is in me.  John 14:20
   

• In Jesus Christ and through Jesus Christ, peace is mine.  John 14:27
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, I am loved by the Father.  John 16:27
   

• In Jesus Christ, I belong to God.  I am His.  John 17:9
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am protected from the evil one.  (John 17:15).  Implementing Ephesians 6:10-18 greatly secures God's protection for me.  This is not to assume I am exempt from demonic attacks.  The Apostle Paul wasn't, and he is the one the Holy Spirit used to write the book of Ephesians, among other Books where Paul speaks of the persecution of Satan he faced through the religious people who opposed Jesus.  The Apostle Peter also experienced spiritual warfare, which fully qualified him to write by unction of God the Holy Spirit:  "Be sober, be alert, because your adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."  [See: 1 Peter 5:8].  Peter is not writing this to the unsaved.  He is writing it to the Body of Christ, the Church - born again believers.  As the balanced counsel goes forth from mature believers:  Christians are never to fear what Satan can do them, but neither are they ever to become complacent, nor ignorant of his devices and strategies to rob them of their peace and joy and life (love for God; zeal to keep doing God's will; determination to walk in obedience) in Christ Jesus).
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am being sanctified by the truth of God's Word (as I believe it and obey it).  John 17:17
   

• I am in Jesus Christ and loved by the Father.  John 17:23
   

• In Jesus Christ, I have forgiveness of sins through Christ.  Acts 13:38; 1 John 1:9
   

• In Christ, I am among the called of Jesus Christ.  Romans 1:6
   

• In Christ, I am beloved of God, called to be a saint.  Romans 1:7
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, I have been justified by faith, and I have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:1
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am saved from eternal punishment for my sins solely by God's grace and the faith God gives me to trust Him for my salvation.  Beyond trusting, there is absolutely nothing I could possibly do to earn that salvation, nor must I ever think that I somehow deserve this salvation.  Salvation is the gift of God, from God.  Ephesians 2:8
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, I have perseverance, character and hope, when I purpose to glory in my tribulations, (rather than constantly complain about them, or become angry and bitter at God for allowing them to happen to me, which is what demonic spirits serving Satan delights seeing happen to you and I!)  Romans 5:3-4   [Here is a writing that helps to explain the crucial importance of dealing with suffering and hardship correctly that is highly recommended reading:  http://www.precious-testimonies.com/WeeklyEncouragerArchives/AcquiringPeace.htm ]
   

• Through Jesus Christ, the love of God has been poured out in my heart through Jesus' death.  Romans 5:5
   

• In Jesus Christ, I will eventually reign in life through the obedience of Christ Jesus to the Father.  Romans 5:17
   

• In Jesus Christ, I have been made righteous through the obedience of Christ.  Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21
   

• Through Jesus Christ, because I have been given the righteousness Christ had and has, I now am commanded of God to diligently strive daily to live up to this righteousness that Christ secured for me.  (Not giving into temptations to sin, in other words, walking in obedience to the Word of Truth).  1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22
   

• In Jesus Christ, I died with Christ when He died.  Therefore I have Christ's power in me to help me stop sinning.  I have the right to appropriate this power to conquer areas of sin in my life, for it is clearly God's will that I stop sinning.  Romans 6:2
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, because Christ rose from the dead, I have been raised from the spiritually dead to walk in newness of spiritual life through Christ.  Romans 6:4
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I no longer need to be a slave to sin, because God has given me His power in Christ to became a vessel to holiness and obedience.   Romans 6:6
   

• In Jesus Christ and through the strength and power of Christ, I AM an overcomer.  Philippians 4:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
   

• In my own strength and own power, I can accomplish nothing that pleases God.  John 15:5
   

• Through Jesus Christ, what I purpose to do daily is seek the help of the Holy Spirit to help me understand when I am sinning; help me understand why God doesn't want me committing that sin; and then help me overcome that sin(s) in my life.  Romans 8:13 
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am not under law, but under grace.  Before Christ died for sinners on the cross, I was under the law.  To be saved, I was to try to obey the 10 commandments (which the Bible says no one can do, though Christ did).  After Christ died for sinners on the cross, I was under grace.  Under grace, I no longer had to try to obey the 10 commandments to become saved, but rather, trust that Christ paid full penalty for all my sins, taking my full punishment for them.  And because I'm now under grace, I realize there is nothing to lose and everything to gain by my keeping the Ten Commandments, but without the resurrection power that is imparted to us in Christ and by the help of the Holy Spirit, we won't be able to faithfully obey the Ten Commandments anyway for very long.  Yet I must always remember lest the devil try to deceive me as the book of Galatians addresses, trying to keep the 10 commandments will not, and will never, save me from my sins, nor will it save anyone else.  Neither will restoring any daily sacrifice as was practiced in Old Testament times by the Jews save me or anyone else from my or their sins.  Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:18 
   

• I once was a slave to sin before I was saved, but now that I am secure in my salvation in Christ, I desire to be a slave of righteousness (addicted to righteousness; right-relationship with God, in other words).  Romans 6:18
   

• In Jesus Christ, I have now no condemnation because of who I am in Christ, (though I BETTER have Holy Spirit conviction when I've offended God, because all sin offends God.)  Romans 8:1
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have been set free from the law of sin and of death.  Romans 8:2
   

• In Jesus Christ, I have spiritual life in my mortal body through His Spirit who indwells me.  Romans 8:11
   

• In Christ Jesus, I am a child of God.  (When I wasn't in Christ Jesus, I was a child of Satan).  Romans 8:16
   

• Through Christ, I am an heir of God and fellow heir with Christ.  Romans 8:17
   

• In Jesus Christ, all things are working ultimately together for my good, as I walk in God's purposes and His will, in love.  Romans 8:28; 1 John 5:3
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, I have been justified and glorified in the mind of God, and I now strive to walk in obedience to the Word of Truth to glorify the One (Jesus Christ) who secured my justification and glorification.  Romans 8:30
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have a measure of faith.  Romans 12:3
   

• In Jesus Christ, I have been given gifts, though I also know that I'm to desire supernatural gifts at all times imparted by the Holy Spirit, to glorify God.  Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 14:1
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, I am to desire spiritual gifts, but diligently PURSUE love, because it was love that motivated and keeps motivating God to pursue me and you.  1 Corinthians 14:1
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, whether I live or die, I am the Lord's.  Romans 14:8
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am a sanctified saint, (but living it out daily is a different matter, though it is God's will that I eagerly strive to do so, with the help of the Holy Spirit and God's Word!)  I Cor. 1:2
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, I have been given the grace of God.  I Cor. 1:4
   

• In Jesus Christ, I have been enriched in every way.  I Cor. 1:5
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am called into fellowship with God.  I Cor. 1:9
   

• In Jesus Christ, I qualify to be given wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. I Cor. 1:30
   

• Because of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and my choice to identify with Him, I have been given God's Spirit so I can understand what God has freely given.  I Cor. 2:12
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am God's fellow worker, I am God's field, God's building.  I Cor. 3:9
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am a temple of God in which the Spirit of God indwells, though I also realize that I can grieve the Spirit of God by giving place to ongoing sin...disobedience...teaching false doctrine...twisting scriptures out of context and/or improper scripture application.  (Grieving the Holy Spirit for any length of time almost always brings chastisement and discipline upon us, which is always painful to one degree or another).  I Cor. 3:16; Ephesians 4:30
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am a holy temple of God (but my flesh is likened to an unholy temple where demons frequent when I continue in sin!) I Cor. 3:17
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am one spirit with God's Spirit, (though my flesh begs to differ far too often!)  I Cor. 6:17
   

• In Jesus Christ, my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in me, and because God says it is His temple, I strive to make it a holy temple daily through the help of Christ's strength in me to walk in the Spirit rather than the flesh.  However, as a word of caution, no matter how much a person conquers areas of sin in their life, this is not, nor will it ever, be what saves them from their sins.  BELIEVING what Christ accomplished for us on the cross is what saves us.  Nothing less.  Nothing more. I Cor. 6:19
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have been bought with a price, and I desire to honor God with my body, (which encompasses my spirit, my soul, and my physical body). I Cor. 6:20
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am Christ's slave (though I'm not so arrogant nor naive to believe that my selfish and fleshly carnal nature has been stripped fully of its power to keep me from being a slave to it's sinful desires, which is why I need to daily purpose to walk in the Spirit, so I don't fulfill the lusts of my flesh).  I Cor. 7:22; Galatians 5:16-17
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I will be raised from the dead imperishable.  I Cor. 15:52
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I will put on immortality.  I Cor. 15:53
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am comforted by God, so I can comfort others.  2 Cor. 1:4
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am delivered from the peril of spiritual death, providing I'm willing to give my ALL to God in obedience to maintain my deliverance.  2 Cor. 1:10
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, He anointed me, and put His seal of ownership on me.  2 Cor. 1:22
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am a fragrance of Christ to God among both the saved and the lost, as I behave like Christ would behave.  2 Cor. 2:15
   

• In Christ, I am a letter of Christ being written.  2 Cor. 3:3
   

• Through Christ, I am a minister of the new covenant of the Spirit of life.  2 Cor. 3:6
   

• Through Christ, I am being transformed into the likeness of the Lord Jesus ever increasingly with glory from God the Father by the help of the Holy Spirit as I walk in obedience to His Word of Truth.  2 Cor. 3:18
   

• In Jesus Christ, I have received mercy, and do not lose heart through Christ who strengthens me and by the help of the Holy Spirit.  2 Cor. 4:1
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have the Holy Spirit in my body.  2 Cor. 4:7
   

• Through Jesus Christ, the life of Jesus is manifested in my body, as I diligently work in cooperation with the Holy Spirit to help me.    2 Cor. 4:10  See: Romans 8:13
   

• Through Jesus Christ, my inner man is being renewed day by day.  2 Cor. 4:16
   

• In Jesus Christ, I have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  2 Cor. 5:1
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I live by faith, not by sight.  (That is, I live by faith in God's wisely applied promises in His Word, and any rhema word(s) God has imparted to me.  Otherwise I may be living by presumption and/or assumption without even knowing, which can give demons an open door to trip me up).  2 Cor. 5:7
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am a new spiritual creation; old things have passed away, and all things have become new.  2 Cor. 5:17
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am reconciled to God, and I have been given the ministry of reconciliation.  2 Cor. 5:18
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am an ambassador for Christ, imploring people to be reconciled to God.  2 Cor. 5:20
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am the righteousness of God.  2 Cor. 5:21
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have grace from God so I can abound in every good work.  2 Cor. 9:8
   

• In the love of God, I am Christ's.  2 Cor. 10:7
   

• Through God's love and mercy and grace, Jesus Christ is in me.  2 Cor. 13:5
   

• I am crucified with Jesus Christ, as the Apostle Paul was qualified to state, so I too in Christ want to be able to confidently proclaim this.  I no longer live but Christ lives in me, and the life that I live now, I live by faith in Christ."  Gal. 2:20 
   

• I am a son of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  Gal. 3:26
   

• I am one in Christ Jesus with all believers.  Gal. 3:28
   

• I belong to Jesus Christ.  I am an heir through Christ according to the promise.  Gal. 3:29
   

• In Jesus Christ and through Jesus Christ, I am a son of God.  Gal. 4:6
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.  Gal. 4:7
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have grace and peace.  Eph. 1:2
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.  No matter how difficult life may have been for me up to this point, or how difficult it might get in the future ... nothing changes the fact that I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.  Once I'm in "heavenly places," my faith will become sight - halleluiah!  Eph. 1:3
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am chosen in Him.  Eph. 1:4
   

• In and through Christ Jesus, I am holy and blameless in God's sight.  Eph. 1:4
   

• I am a son through Jesus Christ.  Eph. 1:5
   

• In the beloved (Christ) I am accepted by God the Father unconditionally, which also means that I am loved unconditionally by God the Father in the beloved (Christ).  Yet a word of sobering caution needs to added to this amazing truth.  God expects those who are loved unconditionally in Christ to OBEY Him.  Believing spiritual deception is one thing.  Passing ALONG our spiritual deception to OTHERS as though it is uncontested truth - uncontested fact - can send us straight to hell!  If there is one thing that angers God more than anything else we can do in this life ... it is passing along our spiritual deception to others as though it is truth.  Most all of us have been spiritually deceived at one time or another as followers of God, just like the Apostle Paul once was, but if we don't periodically examine what we believe and are teaching others, and show a willingness to God to admit that we were wrong in what we believed and have been passing along to others ... God's unconditional love and acceptance toward us can be thrown right out the window, so to speak.  The most serious sin/s a person can commit after they have given their life to Jesus Christ is to keep passing their spiritual deception along to others, and refuse to see it as error.  (See: Eph. 1:6)   God warns us in James 3:1 about this sobering matter:  "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment."
   

• Through Jesus Christ I have redemption and forgiveness.  Eph. 1:7
   

• Through Jesus Christ I have obtained an inheritance.  Eph. 1:11
   

• I have been sealed in Jesus Christ with the promised Holy Spirit.  Eph. 1:13
   

• I am seated positionally with Jesus Christ in the heavenlies because of all that Christ accomplished for me by His going to the cross; fully realizing how secure I am in my relationship with God, but again, in and through Christ.  Eph. 1:20
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am loved by God, and because I am loved by God, I demonstrate my love for Him and others by earnestly striving to keep His New Testament (New Covenant) commandments.  Yet keeping God's commandments does not motivate God to love me more.  In Christ, I ALREADY have all of God the Father's unconditional love.  Obeying God's New Testament commandments will bring God's increased favor and/or blessing one way or the other in God's timing and God's ways, not His love.  Eph. 2:4; 1 John 5:3
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have been made alive together with Christ.  Eph. 2:5
   

• In Jesus Christ, I have every right to feel confidently secure that I have been raised with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places.  Eph. 2:6
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have been saved from my sins by grace through faith -- this salvation of His forgiveness for my sins is a gift of God.  Eph. 2:8
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, I am God's workmanship created for good works.  "Good Works" as in striving to obey the New Testament commandments to be more Christ-like in every way possible.  Eph. 2:10
   

• I have been brought near to God by the (shed) blood of Christ.  Eph. 2:13
   

• Jesus Christ is my peace because He is at peace with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and He IS peace personified.  Eph. 2:14
   

• Through Jesus Christ I have access in one Spirit to the Father.  Eph. 2:18
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am no longer a stranger and alien, but I am a fellow citizen with the saints.  Eph. 2:19
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am a fellow heir and fellow member of the body of Christ.  Eph. 3:6
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, I am a fellow partaker of the promises of God.  Eph. 3:6
   

• In Jesus Christ and through faith in Him, we have boldness and confident access to God the Father.  Eph. 3:12
   

• Through Christ Jesus, I am strengthened with power through His Spirit in my inner man.  Eph. 3:16
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have a power source within me which is able to do abundantly beyond all that I ask or think.  Eph. 3:20
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, I have been given grace.  Eph. 4:7
   

• In Jesus Christ, I have been forgiven, so I forgive others through the strength (ability) Christ provides when I need it.  Eph. 4:32; Phil. 4:13
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am confident that He who began a good work in me will perfect it until the day (return) of Christ Jesus, (or the moment in time when I stand fully in the presence of God).  Phil. 1:6
   

• Through Jesus Christ, God is at work within me both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  Phil. 2:13
   

• Through Christ Jesus my Savior and Lord, I am a spiritual light in the world.  Phil. 2:15
   

• In Jesus Christ, the peace of God guards my heart and mind as I pray with thanksgiving in everything.  Phil. 4:6,7
   

• In Jesus Christ, I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me. (In accordance with the Father's will, of course)  Phil. 4:13 
   

• In Jesus Christ, God shall supply all my needs (not necessarily all my wants) according to His riches in glory.  Phil. 4:19
   

• In Jesus Christ, the Father has qualified me to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light, as long as I remain faithful to Him until my time is done on this planet. Col. 1:12  (For the "once saved - always saved" folks who believe it is impossible for them to lose their salvation ... they are highly exhorted to diligently seek God for full revelation of what Jesus meant when He said:  "But he who endures to the end shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13).  
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, I have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son.  Col. 1:13
   

• In and through Christ Jesus, I have redemption and the forgiveness of sins.  Col. 1:14
   

• Jesus Christ is in me, the hope of glory.  Col. 1:27
   

• In Jesus Christ I have already been made complete, yet until I reach heaven, I'm to live UP to that completeness!  Col. 2:10 
   

• In Jesus Christ I have been buried with Him in baptism.  In and through Christ I have been raised up with Him through faith.  Col. 2:12
   

• In Jesus Christ, I have been made spiritually alive together with Him.  Col. 2:13
   

• Through Jesus Christ, all my sin debt to God was paid in full at the cross.  Col. 2:14
   

• I have been raised with Jesus Christ, and I set my heart on things above (things that are most important to God).  I have died (to my carnal, fleshly sinful nature), and my life (whatever pleases the Father) is hidden with Christ in God.  Col. 3:1-3
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of the Creator.  Col. 3:10
   

• I am rescued by Jesus Christ from the coming wrath of God that will be poured out upon Earth.  I Thess. 1:10  [But God also conveys a very important and sobering warning in the Parable of the 10 Virgins.  We are to remain focused on a daily basis on how we can please God, in accordance with the fullness of the New Testament commands being our spiritual lamp ... to keep us on the right (righteousness) path].
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am taught by God to love others (treat others the way I want to be treated, in other words).  I Thess. 4:9
   

• I will meet the Lord Jesus in the air and be with Him forever (providing I'm in the category of the 5 virgins who keeps their lamps filled with the burning desire to be pleasing to God in every way the New Testament exhorts us to do).  I Thess. 4:17
   

• I am loved by the Lord.  God has chosen me in Christ from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.  2 Thess. 2:13
   

• The faithful Lord will strengthen and protect me from the evil one because of who I am in Jesus Christ (but I must also use my Ephesians 6:10-18 weapons of warfare that God has given me to use...not to let them sit in some dark corner of a closet to collect dust, so to speak.)  2 Thess. 3:3
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, I have been called to eternal life.  I Tim. 6:12
   

• Because of who I am in Jesus Christ, God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind -- which happens to be nothing less than the very mind of Christ.  2 Tim. 1:7; 1 Cor. 2:16
   

• The Lord has saved me and called me to a holy life, not according to my works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted me in Christ Jesus for all eternity.  2 Tim. 1:9
   

• I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day (He returns to earth for His Bride, or when I die a natural death) because of what God secured for me in and through Christ Jesus the Word.  2 Tim. 1:12
   

• Because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for me at the cross, The Holy Spirit dwells in me.  2 Tim. 1:14
   

• In His love for me, He has purposed to redeem me from every lawless deed and purified me for His own possession as I purpose to walk in obedience to His New Testament commandments, yet knowing full well I may fall short of doing that from time to time.  Titus 2:14
   

• The Holy Spirit has been poured out upon me richly through Jesus Christ my Savior.  Titus 3:6
   

• I have been justified by His grace in Christ and made an heir through Christ in having the hope of eternal life.  Titus 3:7
   

• Through the help of the Holy Spirit, I fix my thoughts on Jesus (and what is important to Him), the apostle and high priest who I confess.  Heb. 3:1
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I am a house of Jesus Christ.  Heb. 3:6
   

• I have become a partaker of Christ through the divine will of the Father.  Heb. 3:14
   

• As God has rested from His work, I have rested from my works (not trying to somehow be "good enough" to earn salvation (forgiveness for my sins), in other words, or be "worthy enough" to receive salvation), knowing that in Christ, I can feel secure that all the work necessary was accomplished by Christ on the cross to qualify me to stand in the presence of my Holy God this very moment without fear of eternal condemnation.  Heb. 4:10
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens.  Heb. 4:14
   

• Through Jesus Christ, I have a high priest who can sympathize with my weaknesses.  Heb. 4:15
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, I can approach the throne of grace with confidence, so I may receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need.  Heb. 4:16
   

• In Jesus Christ, I have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Although I realize that as long as I'm on this planet prior to Christ's physical return, the sanctifying (purifying) work of the Holy Spirit will be ongoing in my life).  Heb. 10:10
   

• Through Jesus Christ, my heart has been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and my body washed with pure water.  Heb. 10:22
   

• Because of Jesus Christ, I have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding me who are also in Christ.  Heb. 12:1
   

• Because I belong to Christ Jesus, God disciplines me for my good that I may share His holiness (this is referred to as the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit).  Positionally, in Christ, I have already been made holy and righteous.  Because of that truth, I am now to pursue holiness and righteousness, seeking to imitate the character of Jesus Christ in every way - daily.  Heb. 12:10; 2 Cor. 5:21
   

• In Jesus Christ, I have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken, and I am thankful and worship God.  Heb. 12:28
   

• Because of the security I have in and through Jesus Christ, God will never desert me nor forsake me.  Heb. 13:5   (Although I realize I'm not exempt from God's testing, and the test of "feeling forsaken" is perhaps the most difficult test to go through, though God strongly desires that we pass it, if He allows it to visit us, which is more common than not.)  Heb 13:5
   

• Through the sacrifice Jesus Christ gave for my sins on the cross, I am made holy through Jesus' own blood shed on the cross.  (Although I have not obtained a state of sinlessness either; until I receive my glorified body while I'm on this planet, I'm still fully capable of sinning). Heb. 13:12
   

• Jesus has equipped me in every good thing to do His will, working in me that which is pleasing in His sight because I have chosen to identify with Him.  Heb. 13:21
   

• In Jesus Christ, God generously and without reproach gives to me wisdom if I ask Him, but I must be patient to get it sometimes, and I must be willing to seek Godly counsel from others at times or it may not be given to me.  James 1:5
   

• In Jesus Christ, God has promised to me the crown of life when I persevere under trial.  James 1:12
   

• In His great mercy, I have been born again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  I Peter 1:3
   

• In and through Jesus Christ, I have obtained an inheritance which can never perish, spoil, or fade away, reserved in heaven for me.  I Peter 1:4
   

• I am protected by the power of God through faith until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time because of who I am in Christ.  I Peter 1:5
   

• Because He is holy, I am holy. (Positionally speaking, I am holy in Jesus Christ, which was given me as part of the eternal gift of salvation, accomplished on the cross for me by Christ.  Experientially - in practicality, I must strive daily with the Holy Spirit to not give in to sinful temptation as much as possible.  This falls under the category of sanctification, or "working out" my salvation.  Satan has twisted "working out my salvation" by trying to get us to believe that we must WORK to gain and/or keep our salvation.  NOT TRUE!  Believing is how we gain and keep our salvation, and BECAUSE believing Truth (Truth being: The message of the Cross) is what saves me and keeps me saved, I am expected by God to LIVE UP TO IT -- TO SHOW EVIDENCE THAT I'M SERIOUS ABOUT DESIRING TO BE PLEASING TO GOD).  1 Peter 1:16
   

• I was not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  I Peter 1:18-19
   

• I have been born again in and through Jesus Christ, not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding Word of God.  I Peter 1:23
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a person for God's own possession, that I may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called me out of (spiritual) darkness into His marvelous light.  I Peter 2:9
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am part of the family of God, and I have received mercy.  I Peter 2:10
   

• Through Christ Jesus, and by His wounds I am healed.  1 Peter 2:24.  The entire context of the scripture needs to be quoted for this portion of scripture to be fully understood, thus let's quote it:

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: "Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth"; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed.  1 Peter 2:21-24 (NKJV). 

Some in the Body of Christ believe this is referring to physical healing.  Where, in the full context of this scripture, is God talking about physical healing?  He's clearly talking about "dying to sins and living for righteousness" and "Christ's atonement and what it all represents in God is what equips them to DO so"!  Thus in our modern day English language, we can better understand the intention of the usage of this word "healed" by stating that born again Christians are delivered and empowered (made whole; complete) to walk in victory over sin.  For anyone trying to tie physical healing into this scripture as the primary application of this scripture passage (which is what some in the Body of Christ are being taught to do, sadly) ... they are highly encouraged to diligently study this writing:  http://www.gcfchurch.net/Library/current/consider/8rules.htm 

This 1 Peter 2:21-24 scripture is primarily addressing the same issues being addressed in Romans Chapter 6:  Christians have been DELIVERED and have subsequently been EMPOWERED by the Father, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit inside them to walk in victory over sin in their lives (that followers of God in the Old Testament weren't empowered with prior to the Holy Spirit being poured at at Pentecost).

I realize many of my dear brothers and sisters in Christ will take GREAT issue with what I've said here, but ask yourself this very important question:  Is God more concerned about me getting my physical healing than He is my getting serious about gaining victory over areas of sin in my life?  The answer should be obvious.  Physical sickness will not send me to hell, nor will it cause me to have a loss of rewards.  Sin will.

Least anyone get the impression I am against physical healing, or downplaying God's desire to physically heal His people, you can read the following link:  http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/f-j/healingGodsWill.htm

• In Jesus Christ, I have been made alive in the Spirit.  I Peter 3:18
   

• The Spirit of glory and of God rests upon me because of who I am in Christ.  I Peter 4:14
   

• Through Jesus Christ, His divine power has granted to me everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  2 Peter 1:3
   

• Through Jesus Christ, He has granted to me His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them I might become a partaker of the divine nature, purposing to escape the corruption that is in the world by lust.  2 Peter 1:4
   

• In and through Christ Jesus, I have been purified from my former sins.  (Any future sins I commit, I appropriate 1 John 1:9 and strive diligently to obey Romans 8:13 as I am temped to sin after that, yet fully realize that no one living on this planet obtains a state of perfect sinlessness - for any length of time that is - prior to receiving their glorified bodies at the resurrection of the just).  2 Peter 1:9
   

• If I confess my sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive me and purify me from all unrighteousness, but I realize that I'm also to repent of my sin(s), which means to diligently strive to allow the Holy Spirit to help me change the way I THINK,  so I can then stop committing that same sin(s) in the future.   I John 1:9
   

• In Jesus Christ, I am now a child of God.  I John 3:2
   

• Because I keep His commandments through the power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God, and do the things that are pleasing in His sight, whatever I ask, I receive from Him. 
  
  As Christians, you and I have the privilege of claiming this promise. God wants us to be confident when we pray to Him, but experience will teach a Christian that you can quote all the scriptures you want, fast as long as you can, throw holy-ghost hissy-fits in your frustration if you feel you must ... yet God is not a "magical genie" that ever allowed one of His created beings to get their selfish way for very long, if at all, if they wanted God's blessings on their life.  If anyone reading this has a "secret formula" for having God grant them their every request, please identify yourself!  1 John 3:22

As an ending side-note, once I personally began to comprehend the importance of knowing and believing why it is so crucial to know what my identity in Jesus 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!"  In the flesh, I may be having a very bad day here on planet Earth...yet I force my mind to remind myself that because of WHO God says I AM in Christ ... I am only confessing what GOD says about me, rather than what my miserable circumstances from the past, or the present are trying to coerce me to believe.  For the most part, I simply am waging effective spiritual warfare when I say that, and diligently purposing to "take every thought captive to the obedience of the Spirit of Jesus Christ," which is what scripture admonishes believers to DO. (See: 2 Cor. 10:5).

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 JESUS 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 Jesus Christ can be read by clinking on the following link:  What Does It Mean To Be In Jesus 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.

Staff Note:  Here are two PDF files that you might also be interested in regarding 'Who I Am In Christ' both in English or Spanish.  You can contact the publisher about obtaining these in booklet form, (especially for prisoners, as this publisher has a strong desire from the Lord to see these booklets placed behind prison walls).  The contact information of this publisher is:  West Michigan Kingdom Coalition, ATTN: Kibby, 3845 Navaho Court, Grandville, MI 49418.  You can also email them at:  kibby7@comcast.net .  At the present time, a donation of $.50 per booklet is requested to cover printing, transportation and postage costs.

If this writing has blessed you in some special way, would you please take a few moments and share with us HOW it has blessed you?  Your feedback is very important.  Please mention the author of this writing when you email your comments.  Thank you so very, very much!  We promise you that we will not put you on any email list; will not badger you for money; will not give away or sell your email address.  Email:  ptoffice@precious-testimonies.com