Remember Who You Are In Christ

Paul wrote entire letters to believers who were far from perfect. Some were jealous, sexually immoral, divisive, or idolaters. Others were getting drunk at communion, suing each other, gossiping, drifting back to the law, and returning to idols. These weren’t perfect people, they were messy, immature, and still learning to walk out the life they already possessed in Christ.

And not once did Paul say to them, “You’re not really saved, “God is going to kick you out of the family,” or “You’re not proving your salvation with your behavior.” He didn’t threaten their salvation, question their belonging, or dangle the possibility of rejection over their heads. Instead, he consistently called them back to who they already were in Christ. His words sounded like, “Walk by the Spirit” and “You were washed, justified, sanctified.”

Take the Galatians, for example. Their problem wasn’t wild behavior it was legalism and relying on the law for righteousness. Paul reminded them that choosing the flesh, whether in the form of sinful indulgence or religious self effort, would keep them from experiencing the kingdom life of freedom, joy, and peace here and now. He didn’t question their salvation, he questioned why they were abandoning grace.

And consider the Corinthians whose issues actually were behavioral. There was division, immorality, lawsuits, even getting drunk at communion. Yet Paul didn’t respond to them with condemnation or threats of losing salvation. He grounded them in identity. “Such were some of you, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified.” He corrected behavior by reminding them of who they had already become in Christ.

Paul didn’t threaten their salvation, he corrected their identity confusion. He addressed the behavior by anchoring them in truth. “You belong to Jesus, you are righteous, you are new, so live from that place.”

It’s the same for us. If you’re struggling, the key to overcoming isn’t condemnation, introspection, or fear of losing your salvation. Know and believe that your new creation identity is holy and righteous, and you will live like it. Because you don’t desire the same things you did before you were born again. Your new heart desires what God desires. Your actions will always reflect what you believe about yourself.