PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS
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Who are you? Do you know your true identity as a follower of Jesus Christ? Could you explain to another person how the work of Jesus Christ has changed you and redefined you? Outside of knowing the person of Jesus Christ, knowing your true nature and true self as one who has been included in the gift of God’s grace and mercy is perhaps the most important piece of knowledge that we can possess in this life.
In today’s devotional, I have provided you with a brief (and incomplete) list of some of the descriptors of our true identity as followers of Jesus. I encourage you to study these ideas so that you might be able to push back on the attacks of the Enemy who seeks to test you and pull you away from the truth.
More will follow on this idea in the devotions to follow. But for now, this is a good place to get started.
Because of the work of Jesus Christ you are now:
Forgiven
Jesus forgave us our sins by bearing the punishment that we owed. Jesus died in our place freely and makes no demands on us other than receiving the forgiveness of God by faith.
Ephesians 1:7-10 NIV11
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment —to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
Redeemed
We stood condemned by the weight of our sin but Jesus Christ purchased our freedom from the punishment we owed by paying our price on our behalf. Through the sacrifice of Jesus’ physical life, he purchased us, paying the price of our sin on our behalf.
Ephesians 2:12-13 NIV11
12 Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Dead to sin
We were once trapped in the consequences of our sin, condemned to spiritual death. But the Lord Jesus took the weight and consequences of our sin with him into death, freeing us from the tyranny of a life lived under the weight of sin.
Ephesians 4:20-24 NIV11
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Alive in Christ
If we are joined with Jesus in his death, then we are also joined with him in his resurrection. As such, we are joined to his new and eternal life, freeing us from the weight of our sin.
Ephesians 2:1-4 NIV11
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions —it is by grace you have been saved.
A Child of God
We are now made into those belonging to the household of the Lord. We are joined in the life, eternal mission, and perfect submission of Jesus and as such, we can be confident that the Lord will welcome us as his very own.
Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV11
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Filled with the Holy Spirit
The Spirit of God calls all who believe into faith and enables everyone who will come to be bound together with Christ in his new and eternal life.
Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV11
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Welcomed into Eternal Life
All who receive his gift of new life are welcomed into the eternal presence and future of the Lord. Eternal life with Christ is a gift and should inspire us to live in gratitude and thanksgiving while in this mortal body.
Ephesians 2:6-10 NIV11
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Embrace the Truth
Study these truths.
Share them with those the Lord places into our lives.
Know the joy of being included in the new life of the Christian!
In Christ,
Ryan Laden
PASTOR RYAN LADEN
Works at MTN. CHURCH
Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church
Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Studied at Baylor University
Studied at Texas Tech University
Went to Castle Hills First Baptist
Copyright © 2024 Ryan Laden – All Rights Reserved.
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