I am... in Christ

The Easter story is in may ways the start of Christianity.  Of course we know the story started with God in the beginning (Genesis 1), but if Jesus had not risen, then our faith would not be in Him.  It would have been the end of the story of Jesus.

But the resurrection changes everything.  We believe Jesus is risen, and this launches us into life and faith in him.  IN HIM.

That is the key to understanding much of the New Testament, and the Christian faith.

It's about life IN HIM since he rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and promises to return.

Being a Christian is about putting our lives in Jesus- our faith, our hopes, our plans, our minds, our emotions, our families, our work, our play... everything is to be IN Jesus.

So understanding our life and faith is about exploring life in Jesus.

The following puts in first-person who you are in Christ according to the bible.

The more you affirm who you are in Jesus Christ, 

the stronger your identity will grow in Christ, 

the more your thinking will be in alignment with Christ, 

the more your emotions will be in step with Christ, 

and the more your behavior will reflect Christ. 

Take time as a Group to read through the list together.  As you do, remind yourself of the following:

“Don’t you know who you are?  Don’t you know whose you are?  Don’t you know the meaning of your conversion and baptism?  Don’t you know that you have been united with Christ in his death, and raised with Christ in his resurrection?” 

Take note of any that speak to your heart, or a hurt.  

Maybe some of these are troubling or challenging.

Maybe some just don't make sense.

After reading through these aloud, talk about the ones that stand out.

Read the scripture passage.

• I am the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13)
• I am the light of the world (Matthew 5:14)
• I am a child of God (John 1:12)
• I am part of the true vine (John 15:1-5)
• I am a friend of God (John 15:15)
• I am appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16)
• I am a slave to righteousness (Romans 6:18)
• I am a child of the Father (Romans 8:14, Galatians 3:26)
• I am an heir in eternal blessing (Romans 8:17)
• I am the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19)
• I am one in spirit with Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:17)
• I am a member of his body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:27, Ephesians 5:30)
• I am a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• I am a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18,19)
• I am a citizen of heaven (Ephesians 2:6)
• I am God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
• I am part of the family of God (Ephesians 2:19)
• I am a prisoner of Christ (Ephesians 3:1, 4:1)
• I am righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24)
• I am hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)
• I am chosen, holy and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:4)
• I am a child of light, not darkness (1 Thessalonians 1:5:5)
• I am called to live in Christ (Hebrews 3:1, 14)
• I am a living stone in the house of God (1 Peter 2:5)
• I am a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
•  a people for God’s own possession (1 Peter 2:9, 10)
• I am an alien and stranger to this world (1 Peter 2:11)
• I am an enemy of the devil (1 Peter 5:8)
• I am born of God and protected from the devil (1 John 5:18)
• I am a saint! (1 Corinthians 1:2, Ephesians 1:1, Philippians 1:1, Colossians 1:2)

Close with prayer for one another, and encourage the Group to follow-up and read over these every day.