Who Does He Say We Are?

Who do you say I am?

Recently the preacher at my home church preached on this question. He asked us what is the most important question of all time? I thought of many answers but, not the one he was proposing. He suggested that the most important question is “Who do you say Jesus is?” I believe he was absolutely correct.

During a discussion with his disciples, Jesus asked them,”But what about you? Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15) The answer to this important question is critical to each of our lives, and most importantly our eternity. This question is related to a critical area of theology known as Christology. As its name indicates, Christology is about the study of Christ – His nature, His purpose, and more.

Theology lays the foundation for God, His nature, and His plan involving redemption for human beings and restoration of a fallen creation. It also tells us some important things about God, such as He is personal, loving, transcendent, active in His creation, all-powerful, ever-present, and all-knowing. But without Christology, there is no Christianity. Jesus is at the center of the Christian faith. As a result, knowing about Christ is essential, as well as personal. Our relationship to Christ, for instance, is tied to our human condition, redemption, and salvation.

Christ and His Claims –

Despite isolated criticism to the contrary, one key aspect of Christ that we must agree on is that he actually existed as a historical person. This means he was not a legend, myth, or fictional hero. He really lived in the first century and the New Testament contains the fullest, most reliable record of his life and ministry. It’s also important that we understand his nature. Christ claimed divinity. There are many passages that support his claims to deity. Two such passages include passages in the Gospels wherein Jesus forgives sin, receiving the response, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Matthew 9; Mark 2; Luke 5). In John 8, Jesus said,”I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). In the next verse, the individuals he was interacting with “picked up stones to stone him.” Why? The options are limited, with the best explanation being for supposed blasphemy. John 10:33 underscores some of the reasoning behind wanting to put Jesus to death: “We are not stoning you for any of these … but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

Purpose and Proof –

But what did Jesus come to do? He had a specific mission, established by God. Jesus came to die for the sins of humanity. This is known as the atonement. “What must I do to be saved?”. Not only was Christ’s birth miraculous, born to the virgin Mary, but also his life was full of miracles – from walking on water to giving sight to the blind and allowing the lame to walk, Jesus filled his ministry with the miraculous. These signs were meant to confirm his divine origin. Christ’s greatest miracle was his own bodily resurrection following his death on the cross. Related to this is his ascension to heaven and his promised return.

So, what does HE say about us?

Who Does God Say I Am?

It seems for many Christians it is not difficult to call Jesus The Christ. Hopefully we come to a clear understanding and true belief that Jesus was and is who He claimed to be. But, as we come to this point in our relationship, at some point we should ask, “who does Jesus say I am?”

If Jesus is who He says He is, then we MUST accept His truth and teachings. So, “Who Does He Say We Are?” Here is a list of biblical affirmations about our identity in Jesus Christ that is derived from a few passages in the New Testament. This is just a portion of the many truths about who we have become through faith in God’s Son. It is a powerful inventory to review from time to time.

• I am a child of God.

But to all who have received him–those who believe in hisname–he has given the right to become God’s children … (John 1:12).

• I am a friend of Jesus.

I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does notunderstand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because Ihave revealed to you everything I heard from my Father (John 15:15).

• I have been justified and redeemed.

But they are justified freely by his grace through theredemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).

• My old self was crucified with Christ, and I am no longer a slave to sin.

We know that our old man was crucified with him so that thebody of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslavedto sin (Romans 6:6).

• I will not be condemned by God.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are inChrist Jesus (Romans 8:1).

• I have been set free from the law of sin and death.

For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus hasset you free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

• As a child of God, I am a fellow heir with Christ.

And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and alsofellow heirs with Christ)–if indeed we suffer with him so we may also beglorified with him (Romans 8:17).

• I have been accepted by Christ.

Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you,to God’s glory (Romans 15:7).

• In Christ Jesus, I have wisdom, righteousness,sanctification, and redemption.

He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus,who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification andredemption … (1 Corinthians 1:30).

• I am joined to the Lord and am one spirit with Him.

But the one united with the Lord is one spirit with him (1Corinthians 6:17).

• God leads me in the triumph and knowledge of Christ.

But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal processionin Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of theknowledge of him in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14).

• I am a new creature in Christ.

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; whatis old has passed away–look, what is new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)!

• I am no longer a slave, but a child and an heir.

So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are ason, then you are also an heir through God (Galatians 4:7).

• I have been set free in Christ.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and donot be subject again to the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).

• I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in theheavenly places.

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whohas blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ(Ephesians 1:3).

• I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God.

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the worldthat we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love (Ephesians 1:4).

• I am redeemed and forgiven by the grace of Christ.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgivenessof our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7).

• I have been predestined by God to obtain an inheritance.

In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession,since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishesall things according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11).

• I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of yoursalvation)–when you believed in Christ–you were marked with the seal of thepromised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

• Because of God’s mercy and love, I have been made alivewith Christ.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love withwhich he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alivetogether with Christ–by grace you are saved (Ephesians 2:4-5)!

• I am seated in the heavenly places with Christ.

… And he raised us up with him and seated us with him in theheavenly realms in Christ Jesus … (Ephesians 2:6).

• I am God’s workmanship created to produce good works.

For we are his workmanship, having been created in ChristJesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them (Ephesians2:10).

• My new self is righteous and holy.

… Put on the new man who has been created in God’s image–inrighteousness and holiness that comes from truth (Ephesians 4:24).

• I am a citizen of heaven.

But our citizenship is in heaven–and we also await a saviorfrom there, the Lord Jesus Christ … (Philippians 3:20).

• God supplies all my needs.

And my God will supply your every need according to hisglorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

• I have been made complete in Christ.

… You have been filled in him, who is the head over everyruler and authority (Colossians 2:10).

• I have been raised up with Christ.

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seekingthe things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Colossians3:1).

• My life is hidden with Christ in God.

… For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ inGod (Colossians 3:3).

• Christ is my life, and I will be revealed with Him inglory.

When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will berevealed in glory with him (Colossians 3:4).

• I have been chosen of God, and I am holy and beloved.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved,clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, andpatience … (Colossians 3:12).

• God loves me and has chosen me.

We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he haschosen you … (1 Thessalonians 1:4).

Now what?

WOW! How can we read this list and not fall on our face in gratitude?! Have you every taken time to consider these truths? This is who we are because of who He is! As we embrace these truths from Scripture about who we have become in Christ, the more stable, grateful, and fully assured we will be in this world. Only then will those around us begin to see the evidence that we believe and accept Jesus for who He was and is.