Thank God!

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Thanksgiving holiday? Turkey, football, day off from job or school, family get-together, hunting, over-eating, parades, day before the biggest shopping day of year, orange/brown/yellow fall colors, pilgrims, cranberry, pies (Mmmm!)? Wait a minute!  What about being thankful?  Where does that fit in?  Many of those elements I just mentioned are part of my Thanksgiving history, but the Thanksgiving holiday is supposed to include thanksgiving, isn’t it?  Do you ever stop and think, “What do I do to emphasize thanksgiving on Thanksgiving?” How important is the thanksgiving element to your Thanksgiving, to you life?

God’s Word teaches us that we are to be thankful, and not just one day a year.  The Thanksgiving holiday time of the year, above all things, should remind us of the importance of giving thanks and to whom we are most grateful to; God!

In studying the character and life of the Apostle Paul as recorded in the Bible, I am amazed at how God-centered his thanksgiving was.  I looked at every verse Paul wrote and any verse about Paul in relation to the subject of giving thanks.  He wrote a few exhorting statements to different audiences that they are to be thankful, but most of the verses I found related to Paul and the subject of thanksgiving, were about Paul himself giving thanks.  And who was he giving thanks to almost every time?  God!

Paul thanked God for acts of God.  For example, 2 Cor. 9:15 NKJV Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! Paul also thanked God for people of God.  First, for individuals (for example, Paul thanked God for Timothy in 2 Tim. 1:3).  Secondly, Paul thanked God for groups of people (Rom. 1:8a ESV First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you..). Sometimes Paul did not just show “his” gratitude but also the gratitude of his ministry partners as well, such as Timothy and Silvanus (Col. 1:3 ESV We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you).  In this verse, Paul was speaking on behalf of himself & Timothy who both thanked God for the believers of Colosse for their faith, love, and spiritual fruit.

Paul is someone who got thanksgiving right because he knew how to thank God first and foremost even when he let people know he was thankful for them.  If Paul was thankful for someone or something, Paul thanked God and gave the glory to God. Paul knew of the goodness of God and His sovereignty and that God should be our true object of thanksgiving.  

Our highest goal in every thought, feeling, and act of thanksgiving is to thank God and oh, is there much to be thankful for.  Try writing down things that come to mind that you are thankful for.  For example, be thankful for God Himself (this is a form of praise, focusing on who God is) and about what God has done in the past, is doing in the present, and will do in the future (as revealed in Scripture).  Think about the people you are thankful for.  Turn your list into a prayer and pray thanks to God.  Tell God what and who you are thankful for and thank Him for this.  God loves to hear thanksgiving from His children.

Perhaps one of my prayers of thanksgiving would begin like this; God, I praise You for who You are and what You do.  Help me to know You better and learn more about You and Your works so I can praise You more thoroughly.  Thank You for life and eternal life. Thank You for Kym, the wife You have graciously given me.  Thank You for our three boys, Luke, Josh, and Zach and our new baby girl, Elle.  Thank You for provision and protection.  Thank You for Your mercy and help in my life. Thank You for the challenges You place in my life to grow me in my dependence on You.  Thank You for teachable moments.  Thank You for affirmation, assurance, and encouragement.  Thank You for people who love and pray for me and my family.  Thank You for what you are doing in and through the people and ministries of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University.  Thank You for Your calling and equipping in my life.  And on and on I go as I become more specific and intimate with God, giving Him thanks.

God is so worthy and deserving of our praise and thanksgiving toward Him.  Let this time of the year be a reminder to us that we are to thank and praise God, not just one day a year, but on a continual basis.  

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100 NIV).

Thank you God!  I love you God!  Teach us and help us to be thankful to You always, in everything, for we have much to be thankful for, more than we know.

Give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

(Eph. 5:20 NKJV).

What are your thoughts about God-centered thanksgiving?

 

Mike

Judas; Close but No Redemption

A Christian college student was asking me recently about Judas Iscariot (the disciple who betrayed Christ) from the Holy Bible. He asked questions like; Was Judas ever saved by Christ? Did Judas lose his salvation? Why did Jesus choose Judas if Christ knew Judas would betray Him? Did Judas repent or not after he betrayed Jesus? Did Judas go to hell or heaven? What am I to learn from Judas?

 

These are good questions to ask and ponder and I believe God’s Word gives some answers. Here’s what I believe about Judas Iscariot from God’s Word (here on identified just as Judas).

Judas was chosen by Jesus to be one of His closest twelve followers (John 6:70). The word ‘Iscariot’ helps us distinguish this Judas from the other disciple named Judas (Luke 6:16). Iscariot is not this man’s last name but a reference to where he was from. In the Hebrew language this word means “man of Kerioth” which was an actual place in the southern kingdom, south of Hebron (Josh. 15:25). He was Judean, from the land of Judah, west of the Dead Sea. This is interesting to note because he is the only one of the twelve closest disciples to Christ to have not been Galilean (from the region of Galilee, part of the northern kingdom of Israel).

Regarding his introduction in the Gospels, it’s also interesting that even though his betrayal of Christ came later in the accounts, the authors, looking back in time when they wrote about these things, labeled him right away as the betrayer of Christ (Luke 6:16, John 6:71). The other eleven disciples were likely fooled by Judas’ Christ following pretense for a few years but we as the readers are told right away that he is the betrayer. That’s what he will always be known for. Hence the name Judas has the unfortunate connotation of betrayer even a couple thousand years later, so I imagine this name is never near the top of the list of most popular baby names.

Even though Judas was one of the main twelve followers of Christ, Judas was a follower like many referred to in John 6:60-71 who didn’t really commit to Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. Judas was a superficial follower on the outside and on the inside he was still spiritually lost in his sins. Being known as a follower of Jesus, even being a close follower to Jesus (i.e. he sat near Jesus at the upper room meal; was their treasurer), and doing works in His name are not synonymous with committing your life to Him by faith as your Savior and Lord (Mt. 7:21-23).

Jesus’ choosing of Judas as one of His main twelve followers was not a divine choosing unto salvation (i.e. elect, predestined). I believe Jesus wanted Judas to give his heart and faith over to Jesus as his personal Savior (1 Tim. 2:3-4) but Judas never did. I believe this is an example of a person who was about as close as you can get to Christ but didn’t actually surrender his life to Christ as his personal Savior.  This is sad because Judas, for 3+ years, was getting to know the awesome person and work of Jesus Christ more than most people have the opportunity to. There are still people today who go to church, give money, read the Bible, pray in the name of Jesus, do God-honoring works, etc.. but they have not surrendered and committed their lives to Christ as their Savior and Lord. On the outside there is an appearance of God-honoring religion but on the inside they are still lost in their sins (i.e. Mt. 15:7-9, 23:27). This is very unfortunate because Christ died and rose again so that we can be redeemed by Him, freed from our sins to live in divine joy and peace with eternal life in Christ.

Jesus knew in advance that Judas would betray Him and that divine prophecy would be fulfilled (John 6:64, 70-71). Jesus connected Ps. 41:9 to Judas the betrayer; prophecy fulfilled (John 13:18). God did not tempt Judas to sin (betray Christ) or make Judas sin (James 1:13). It was Judas’ personal decision to sin. Judas was responsible for his own thoughts and actions just as any of us are. And his decision to betray Christ became a fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

In John 6:69 Peter spoke on behalf of the twelve disciples about Jesus, “We have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Peter believed, more like presumed, that Judas believed upon Christ as his spiritual Savior but Peter did not know Judas’ true heart faith and belief. Judas’ closeness to Jesus and works were deceiving. Until Christ identified the betrayer in the Upper Room the other eleven disciples did not know who the betrayer was and they evidently presumed Judas was like them, a devoted follower of Christ (John 13:21-30). So, Judas was good at masking what was true in his heart that he had no faith in Christ as his spiritual Savior. He was faking the Christian life. He was deceiving others into thinking he was a true devoted follower of Christ. In a paradoxical sense Christ probably protected Judas’ true identity because if the other eleven found out any earlier they would have rose up against him (i.e. Peter cut off a man’s ear who tried to arrest Jesus).

Judas was not described in a good light. Jesus called Judas ‘a devil’ (John 6:70). Judas was known as a thief of the disciples’ treasury (John 12:6). Jesus called Judas ‘lost’ and ‘the son of perdition/destruction’ (John 17:12). This Greek word, apoleia, ‘perdition’ can refer to eternal misery in Hell. Judas had never been regenerated by the Spirit of God, spiritually cleansed of his sins, whereas the other eleven of the closest followers/disciples of Christ were spiritually washed/cleansed of their sin by the time they were in the Upper Room the night before Christ died (John 13:10-11, Titus 3:4-7). At the time of the betrayal, Satan entered (possessed) Judas (John 13:27). Woe is Judas for there is extra wrath of God on him for his betrayal of Christ (Mark 14:21, Heb. 10:29). This is not a person who has been redeemed by the Redeemer. It is amazing at just how close one can be to Christ but be spiritually lost in sin and an instrument and friend of the number one enemy to Christ.

After Judas betrayed Christ (Mt. 26:14-16, 46-50) Judas probably felt remorse, guilt, and shame for his betrayal. Then he committed suicide (Mt. 27:3-5, Acts 1:18). Based on the whole of scripture about Judas, I believe he experienced worldly/flesh guilt not godly sorrow that leads to God-honoring repentance (2 Cor. 7:9-11).

I don’t believe the spiritual ‘lostness’ of Judas is a failure on the part of Jesus (John 17:12). I believe Judas was always lost spiritually. There is no clear biblical evidence that he was ever saved or redeemed by Christ. In fact, the biblical evidence is more supportive that Judas was never saved and is now eternally separated from God. I believe that before Judas’ death, he could have placed his trusting faith in Christ as His Savior and Lord and repented/turned to Christ and the way of righteousness but I don’t believe Judas ever did this. I believe the opportunity to turn rightly to Christ was available to him and is available to all to some degree.

Why did Judas betray Jesus? He did receive some pieces of silver for it but there was probably more to his motivation than that. Perhaps Judas grew impatient wanting Jesus to rise up as the Jewish political kingdom ruler to oppose the Romans who were oppressing the Jews. Perhaps Judas felt Jesus was a false prophet/messiah. We can’t be too sure of his motivations to betray Christ but we can be sure of the Gospel of Christ and His call to become a true committed follower of Christ.

If you would like to know more about the great news of Jesus Christ and giving your life over to Him as your personal Savior and Lord then check out my blog entry about this at

http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2013/09/great-news-gods-plan-for-true-life.html

What are your thoughts about Judas Iscariot?

 

Mike

 

Register to Vote and Vote

The 2013 Virginia General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5. I live in Virginia so this is relevant to where I live. I’ve been a registered voter for years in the various places I lived. This past year, I relocated from PA to VA and I filled out a new Voter Registration form which is conveniently available through the DMV. This is how I received the form; when I had to get a new driver’s license, vehicle registration, etc.. Then six months later I relocated to another county and I filled out a new Voter Registration form to accurately identify my residential address and allow me to vote closer to where I currently live.

If you are a US Citizen and 18 years old or older I encourage you to be a registered voter and to vote in US elections. I believe citizens should vote. I believe Christians should vote. Being a voter is one way to allow your voice to be heard about issues in your community and beyond. Your vote can make a difference.

Here are the local and state positions for election in the upcoming VA General Election:

- Governor

- Lieutenant Governor

- Attorney General

- House of Delegates (22nd & 23rd Districts that cover the Lynchburg area)

- local offices:

- Commissioner of Revenue

- Commonwealth Attorney

- Sheriff

- Treasurer

 

You can research over the internet, look at some newspapers, make some phone calls to learn more about these positions and who is running for them. And if you look hard enough you can learn about where many of the candidates stand on big issues and moral issues which can factor into who you vote for.

God’s Word doesn’t give us any commands or qualifications regarding who to vote for in human government but there are lots of commands and principles for various moral issues that overlap with elected officials’ influence and decision making which is why I lean towards candidates that most align with my biblical values on those issues.

If you don’t like any of the candidates, they are not likely totally equal across the board. So, if you don’t vote, then your non-action favors the candidate you think lesser of. In other words, if you don’t vote then you are okay with the lesser candidate in your eyes.

God’s Word teaches us that God establishes governments, is sovereign over them, and uses them for His divine purposes and we are to pray for such leaders whether they are Christians or not. The US government is not a Christian government. It’s a reflection of our country, a mixed bag of beliefs. There are not always mature Christian political candidates to choose from but God is still sovereign and still works His purposes. Consider what it must have been like for the early Christians living under Rome’s rule, or to be a Christian in Nazi Germany or in some closed-to-Christianity nation today. Christians are biblically called by God to submit to our governing authorities (e.g. Rom. 13) except when there is contradiction to God’s Word for His people today.

Another thing to consider is if you are temporarily living away from where you are registered to vote. For example, I work with a lot of young adult college students whose permanent (parent’s) residences are out of state or across state. If you are in a similar situation in the US you can often vote with an absentee ballot form for where your permanent residence is but is this relevant to where you currently live when it comes to voting? You have the option to fill out the section of the Voter Registration form that switches your voter registration location to where you live most of this year. You decide.

I am thankful that US citizens have the freedom and right to vote in this nation and I plan to exercise that right on Tuesday, 11/5. I don’t tell anyone who to vote for. I am prayerfully asking God to give me relevant knowledge, discernment, wisdom, and faith about who to vote for. And I’m trusting God through the outcome of the election and how it impacts the future of the community I live in, as well as the state, and beyond. I ask you to pray something similar regarding your own voting decisions.

The deadline to register to vote for this November election is 10/15. Are you registered to vote, prepared to vote, and are you planning to vote in the next election?

Mike

Living in Grace not Guilt

Let’s say that one day my wife asked me what I am thinking about. I’m tempted to lie to her because I’m embarrassed about what is in my mind at that moment. However, I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that God’s Word teaches that it is wrong to lie and I believe it is wrong to lie. This is spiritual conviction in my heart, the Holy Spirit speaking to and shaping my moral conscience. This is one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit; to convict, convince, or reprove (see John 16:8-14, 14:26).

Even though I am convicted spiritually that lying is wrong, let’s say I lie to my wife. Then, I feel bad about it. I feel guilty. In an objective sense, there is guilt in the eyes of God toward me because according to God’s Word I am guilty of sinning, disobeying God (i.e. thou shall not lie). But I also have feelings/emotions/thoughts of guilt after I lied to my wife. I feel bad that I sinned against God and her. This is subjective or psychological guilt. This type of guilt is different for everyone and it may be beneficial to a degree but it can also be destructive.

There is a time for appropriate guilt feelings that lead to good, to help, to constructive thinking, behavior and reconciliation. For example, during an actual sin and soon afterwards you have feelings of remorseful awareness of having done something wrong (or you omitted something right) and you seek to make things right, to honor God in moving forward. You learn to accept that you fail and make mistakes, grow from it, get right with God and others you sin against, and you live in God’s grace.

There are also inappropriate guilt feelings that some people experience which include uncomfortable feelings and thoughts of guilt that linger on when they are not supposed to linger on; or they are way out of proportion compared to the act. This is destructive to our minds and emotions and attitudes and actions. If we allow this kind of guilt to linger and continue it can become a breeding ground for the work of the spiritual enemies of God and our thoughts and feelings will remain in the flesh instead of in the Spirit of God.

Here’s an example of inappropriate guilt feelings in my lying scenario. Man, I have been a Christian for a long time and I’m even a pastor so, I can’t believe I lied to my wife. I’m such a loser, a failure. What if I do it again and keep doing it? I’m uncomfortable around her now. I feel so lousy about lying. This stinks. I’m never good enough. And I’m supposed to be the spiritual leader in our relationship and set an example to others. Ha! And on and on I over-analyze that I lied and I feel like garbage emotionally. This is self-condemnation, self-loathing. This type of guilt we choose to wallow in is not good, not healthy, not God-honoring, and not of God. It’s focusing on ourselves and our failures.

There’s a better way to process our sin guilt, the right way, God’s way. First, I must genuinely confess (agree with God) the sin to God (and my wife since I sinned against her as well; see James 5:16). Here is God’s promise to Christ-followers; 1 John 1:9 ESV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When we confess our sin it must be genuine not saying “I’m sorry” with some sort of disingenuous attitude to avoid punishment or negative consequences.

We must learn to acknowledge that we will fail and make mistakes. We are sinners. We sin. We will sin. 1 John 1:8 ESV If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. So, we must confess our sins.

Confession and forgiveness are tied together in 1 John 1:9. When we genuinely confess our sin to God He forgives us. When we genuinely confess our sin to another person we are not given such a promise that they will forgive us but we should ask for their forgiveness in a loving and respectful way. When my wife forgives me she is not wiping my sin and objective guilt away spiritually like only God can do but her forgiveness does help the relationship I have with my wife to be healthier.

Secondly, when we have godly sorrow, a godly confession, we need to repent of this sinful behavior. Godly sorrow leads to repentance (see 2 Cor. 7:8-10). If our sorrow is not God-honoring then it is of the flesh, it is worldly and this kind of sorrow leads to death. Repent at its core means to turn and to change. Believers’ repentance means to turn away from sin and turn to the way of righteousness in Christ. I believe when a Christ-follower sins after conversion he or she should consciously repent of that sin behavior. 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 is an example of the importance of Believers’ repentance.

Our hope and joy in life is not found in self-inflicted worldly guilt. It’s found in Christ through our proper response to Him with faith and obedience like when we confess our sins to Him and repent of them in a God-honoring way.

Praise God that Jesus died for all of our sin (1 Peter 3:18). For true Christ followers Jesus’s atoning death on the cross satisfied God’s wrath upon our sin (1 John 2:2). We are no longer condemned by God’s wrath because we are in Christ. If I lie to my wife, Jesus paid the penalty for that lie with what He did on the cross. And when I confess my sin and repent from it God removes that sin from being an issue with my fellowship with God. He removes that sin from being a hindrance to my spiritual growth and ministry in God’s name.

Praise God for forgiveness and restoration. This Gospel work of Christ is great news! This is grace. We do not deserve God’s forgiveness and the clearing of our objective guilt and restoration to a right fellowship with Him. His grace is amazing. Christ followers are to live in His grace not in feelings of self-inflicted worldly guilt.

Let’s accept God’s truth about divine forgiveness and move forward with God in His peace and joy and grace. There is no reason to have lingering emotional guilt when we follow God’s plan for getting right with Him. Don’t let the flesh and enemies of God rob you of God-given joy, peace, grace, and freedom in Christ.

I don’t mean to make light of your sin and guilt struggles. I realize that a one-time lie to my wife scenario may seem like small potatoes to the person who continues to struggle with lust and porn, or self-centeredness, or pride, or with a drug addiction, etc... But God’s truth is God’s truth regardless of your guilt struggle. Apply God’s Word to your struggles, failures, guilt, sin problems. Confess your sin in faith with godly sorrow and repent to the way of Christ, depending on Him and His power for real eternally significant deliverance and victory (Gal. 1:3-5, 1 Cor. 15:57).

 “The purpose of being guilty is to bring us to Jesus. Once we are there, then its purpose is finished. If we continue to make ourselves guilty—to blame ourselves—then that is sin in itself.” Corrie ten Boom

 “The ultimate solution to guilt and guilt feelings is to admit our pain, suffering, failures, and guilt; to confess sin to Christ and at times to other human beings; to pray for forgiveness and a sincere desire to repent and change behavior; and then to believe with divine help that we are forgiven and accepted by the God of the universe.” (Christian Counseling, Gary Collins, pg144)

 

It is a personal choice to live in grace or live in guilt. Which are you choosing?

  

Mike

Great News; God’s Plan for True Life

The Lord God Almighty created us to be in relationship with Him forever, but sin entered the human race and sin separates us from our Holy Creator and deserves God’s judgment. Fortunately, through God’s grace He sent Christ to die for our sins, to pay the penalty of God’s wrath upon our sin, to bring us to God, to give you and I true life now and for eternity (1 Pet. 3:18, 1 John 2:2, John 3:16, 10:10). How do we receive this true/eternal life from God? We must respond rightly to God and His plan for true life. Here’s how; think of it as the ABC’s for True Life:

 

Admit that you have sinned.  Ask Jesus to forgive you. "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." Rom. 3:23, Eph. 1:7, 1 John 1:9

 

Believe with trusting faith upon Jesus that He died on the cross for your sins and rose in victory. “..Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, .. he was buried, .. he was raised on the third day ..” 1 Cor. 15:3-7, 57; "That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Rom. 10:9

 

Commit (surrender) your life to Jesus as your Savior and the Lord of your life; “and He (Jesus) died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Cor. 5:15; Luke 9:23-24

 

God may be prompting you right now to begin a true/eternal life relationship with Him. If so, respond to Christ in faith by giving your life to Him as your Savior and Lord. Rest assured, you can know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13).

Tell some Christ-honoring people that you have given your life over to Christ. If you just read through this and just now gave your life over to Christ, let me know. Amen! Praise God! There is a celebration in Heaven every time someone gives their life to Christ (Luke 15:10).

Once you have committed to trusting Christ as your Savior and Lord, then how do you live the ‘true life’ in Christ? Worship God, develop the habits of prayer and Bible learning/living, commit to a bible-believing Christ-centered church family, be baptized in water, grow in God’s Word with other believers, serve and help people, communicate this great news of Jesus to nonbelievers, become more like Christ in character and mission, and glorify God in all that you are and do! 

If you have questions about giving your life over to Jesus Christ please ask a Christ-honoring person for guidance, pray to God for help, study God’s Word and apply His Word to your life as the Lord leads. God bless you in your true life in Christ!              

 

Mike Mullins

Identity in Christ

Christian, do you know who you are? What does God’s Word say about you, the facts, the promises? A Christian’s biblical identity comes up a lot in my ministry to Christians because we get so bogged down with our emotions, circumstances, and spiritual blindness from the enemies of God. I just updated my list of many affirming biblical statements about identity in Christ. Here they are:

 

1) I am saved by grace through faith in Christ, Eph. 2:8-9

2) I am born again/of God, John 3:3

3) I am a new creation in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:17

4) I am a spiritual child of God, John 1:12

5) I am adopted as God’s son/daughter in Christ, Eph. 1:5, Gal. 4:6-7

6) I am predestined to be conformed to the likeness of the Son of God, Rom. 8:29

7) I am chosen/elect by God; Eph. 1:5, Col. 3:12

8) I am forgiven; Col. 1:14

9) I am a friend of Christ, John 15:15

10) I am spiritually circumcised by Christ who cuts away my sinful nature, Col. 2:11

11) I am no longer condemned (to God’s eternal wrath; eternal separation from God), Rom. 8:1

12) I am free from any condemning charges against me, Rom. 8:31-34

13) I am God’s purchased possession, redeemed, bought with a price by the blood of the Lamb; 1 Cor. 6:19-20

14) I am protected from the evil one, and rescued from the power of darkness; 1 John 5:18, col. 1:13

15) I am justified through faith in Christ, by His blood; Rom. 5:1, 9

16) I am reconciled with God, 2 Cor. 5:18

17) I am regenerated and renewed by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5

18) I am baptized by the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor. 12:13

19) I am indwelt with the Holy Spirit, John 14:16-17

20) I am sealed by the Holy Spirit, for the day of redemption, Eph. 1:13, 4:30, 2 Cor. 1:22

21) I am a temple of the living God, 1 Cor. 3:16, 2 Cor. 6:19

22) I am free in Christ from the bondage of sin, Gal. 5:1, 1 Cor. 7:22

23) I am alive in Christ & the Holy Spirit, Eph. 2:5, 1 Pet. 3:18

24) I am a member of the Body of Christ, belonging to Christ and one another, Rom. 12:5, 7:4, 1:6, 14:8; 1 Cor. 12:27

25) I am a member of God’s family, the household of God, Eph. 2:19

26) I am being transformed into the image of the glory of the Lord, into Christ-likeness, 2 Cor. 3:18

27) I am blessed, Gal. 3:9, Eph. 1:3

28) I am God’s field, God’s building, 1 Cor. 3:9

29) I am a citizen of heaven, Phili. 3:20

30) I am an heir of God, Gal. 4:7, 3:29; Rom. 8:17

31) I am gifted by the Holy Spirit; 1 Pet. 4:10, Rom. 12:6

32) I am in Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. 1:30

33) I am in possession of spiritual understanding from the mind of Christ, 1 Cor. 2:16

34) I am eternal with eternal life from God, John 6:47

35) I am guaranteed an eternal inheritance through the Holy Spirit, Eph. 1:14

36) I am a believer upon Jesus Christ and His Gospel; John 3:16, 6:47

37) I am loved by God, God’s beloved, 1 Thess. 1:4

38) I am healed by the wounds of Jesus, 1 Pet. 2:24

39) I am complete in Christ, Col. 2:10

40) I am becoming the righteousness of God in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:21

41) I am dead to sin, Rom. 6:2, 11

42) I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me, Rom. 8:37

43) I am a victorious overcomer, Rev. 21:7

44) I am a saint, one of God’s own holy people, 1 Cor. 14:33, 1 Cor. 1:2

45) I am joined to the Lord spiritually, 1 Cor. 6:17

46) I am able to access God the Father through God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, Eph. 2:18

47) I am assured that because I love God and am called according to His purpose, all things work together for good, Rom. 8:28

48) I am helped by the Holy Spirit when I pray to God, Rom. 8:28

49) I am inseparable from the Christ’s love, Rom. 8:38-39

50) I am established in Christ, placed on a firm foundation in Him, 2 Cor. 1:21

51) I am hidden with Christ in God (an unseen spiritual reality of eternal life with God), Col. 3:3

52) I am expecting God who began a good work in me to bring it to completion at the day of Christ, Phili. 1:6

53) I am indwelt with a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control, 2 Tim. 1:7

54) I am able to find God’s grace and mercy to help in time of need, Heb. 4:15-16

55) I am able to approach Christ with boldness and confidence through faith in Him, Eph. 3:12

56) I am a branch of the true vine, Jesus Christ, John 5:1

57) I am raised up with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly places, Eph. 2:6

58) I am called by Christ, with a holy calling; Rom. 1:6, 2 Tim. 1:9, 1 Cor. 1:9, 1 Pet. 5:9

59) I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, Eph. 2:10

60) I am sanctified (set apart from sin to be holy as God is holy), Acts 26:18, 1 Cor. 1:2, 6:11

61) I am a bond-servant/slave to Christ, Rom. 6:22, 1 Cor. 7:22

62) I am God’s fellow worker, a ministry partner with God, 1 Cor. 3:9, 2 Cor. 6:1

63) I am salt and light in Christ in this world, Mt. 5:13-16

64) I am a disciple/student/follower of Christ, Acts 11:26

65) I am an alien, sojourner, foreigner, stranger, pilgrim in this world, 1 Pet. 2:11

66) I am a minister of the new covenant, of the Gospel; 2 Cor. 3:6, 1 Pet. 4:10

67) I am a steward, 1 Pet. 4:10

68) I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me, like be content in whatever the circumstances, Phili. 3:14

69) I am an ambassador for Christ, 2 Cor. 5:20

70) I am in the world but not of the world, John 17:14-18

71) I am anointed by the Holy Spirit for ministry, 2 Cor. 1:21, 1 John 2:20, 27

72) I am appointed to bear spiritual fruit, John 15:16

73) I am a minister of reconciliation for God, 2 Cor. 5:18-20

Christian, this is not an exhaustive biblical description of who you are in Christ, but it sure is a great start, isn’t it? Wow! Over 70 biblical statements about your identity in Christ. You are this and more. Regardless of your circumstances and emotions in life these verses point to your identity in Christ. By faith, trust God and His truth about who you are. Don’t allow emotions, circumstances, and the enemies of God to distract you from who you are in Christ.

If you are not sure what some of these words and phrases mean, then look up the verses and study the contexts of the respective chapters and/or paragraphs, use bible study tools, ask maturing Christians for help and ask God for understanding.  Learn from God’s Word about who you are in Christ, and keep this in your heart and mind throughout life as a promise, assurance and affirmation from God to you. Christian, be encouraged about who you are in Christ, who you are becoming in Christ, and what’s ahead for you in Christ!

And if you are not a Christian and you don’t know how to become a Christian and yet you would like to know more about Christ and what it means to be committed follower of Christ, please check out my blog entry about the great news of Christ: http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2013/09/great-news-gods-plan-for-true-life.html 

Mike Mullins

God Doesn't Play Favorites!

Sometimes my young sons and I play a game on the road when we see Volkswagen Bug cars. The first person to see one of these vehicles punches the nearby person while saying, “Punch Buggy.” Obviously, it’s better that you are the first one who notices a Bug.

Recently, as I was driving into work I noticed a newer Bug but did not have any of my kids with me to play the game, so I hit myself. No, not really. Something did stand out about this particular VW Bug; however. The bumper sticker on the back stated, “Jesus loves you but I am His favorite!”Hmmmm. That statement seems kind of cute at first. Someone in my family actually chuckled a little bit when I shared this later. But biblically, this statement is not fully true.

Yes, Jesus loves you (for example; Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.). There are great examples of Christ’s love in God’s Word (e.g. died for our sins). Proclaiming Christ’s love to the world is a good news truth statement; however, the second part of the bumper sticker phrase “but I am His favorite!” is not backed up by God’s Word. In fact, it goes against what Scripture teaches about God. And just to be clear, theologically, I believe God’s word teaches there is one triune God, one God existing in three Divine Persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. So, when we learn in God’s Word that God does not play favorites, this is true of the eternal Son of God even if His name, position, and title are not specifically identified when God is referenced.  

Consider some Bible verses about God’s impartiality.

Deut. 10:17 ESV For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.  

2 Chron. 19:7 ESVNow then, let the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the LORD our God, or partiality or taking bribes.  

Job 34:19 ESV who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?  

Acts 10:34 ESV So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,
(other translations; NLT uses the phrase “no favoritism” and the KJV: “no respecter of persons.”)  

Romans 2:11 ESV For God shows no partiality.  

Galatians 2:6-7 ESV ⁶ And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. ⁷ On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised  

Colossians 3:25 ESV For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

1 Peter 1:17 ESV And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile,

Showing favoritism towards people is a form of discrimination, treating people according to their rank, status, or importance, for example, at the cost of others. I realize at first glance that the phrase ‘respecter of persons’ sounds like a positive thing since it is a good thing to respect people, but this particular phrase is often used in the negative context, especially in God’s Word.  

Here are some examples of favoritism in our culture. When a pastor gives extra preferential treatment toward the church member who tithes 90% compared to the member who tithes 10%, just because the previous one gives more money. Another example involves a father metering out discipline/punishment to his three sons who all lied to their father, except the dad only punishes two of the sons because the other son is his favorite of the three. Then there is the boss who gives extra perks to one of the employees just because they are good friends. This type of favoritism behavior is not God-honoring when we do it and it’s not representative of God’s character and conduct either.  

What would it look like if God showed favoritism? It would be like God thinking this to Himself; “I really like that President of the United States more than that peasant worker in south Asia because he is such a great man and that small potatoes guy is insignificant so I will not judge the President for lying but I will judge the peasant for lying.” Or how about this example: Imagine God thinking this; “I really like that pastor in California more than the one in Timbuktu because he has a huge mega-church and wrote the best-selling book to date and he is Caucasian. I will make his life a lot easier because I like him more.” What? No way. Not happening. God doesn’t play favorites.

God is perfectly Holy and just and righteous. God loves people, sinners. God’s grace and mercy extends to all people. God is not partial in His judgment upon people. And He can’t be bribed by us somehow to act in our favor like He’s some sort of compromising politician, judge, or law enforcement officer. What is truly great news is that salvation is freely given by God’s grace through faith in Christ, for those who believe upon Christ as Savior and Lord. This is true regardless of who you are and your background.  

God doesn’t show favoritism to the rich over the poor or the great over the small or one ethnic group over the other or one gender over another and neither should we (see Rom. 10:12, Gal. 3:28, James 2:1-9).

God doesn't play favorites. So, biblically, the driver of that Bug with the bumper sticker, me, you, none of us are God’s favorite.

What are your thoughts about this?  

Mike