In Jesus You Are: Understanding Your Identity in ChristSample

Tuesday: In Jesus I am Forgiven

Read: Ephesians 1:7–8, 1 John 1:9

SOAP: Ephesians 1:7

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our offenses, according to the riches of his grace…”

Have you ever felt like your identity was wrapped and trapped in the mistakes of your past, instead of the hope of your future? Although most of us would never introduce ourselves to someone with a list of our failures and sins, we have probably found ourselves identifying others by what they’ve done and how they’ve hurt us, instead of who they really are.

When we take the time to explore what God’s Word says about our identity, we discover He does not see us as the world sees us. He sees our hearts, and through the death of His Son on the cross, we can claim a new identity for ourselves when we accept Him as our Savior: forgiven.

We’re not forgiven for only the small things, or forgiven only temporarily. When we ask God to forgive our sins, He forgives fully and completely. God will not bring up your past mistakes to use them against you or use them to define you. In Christ, we are forgiven. 

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians contains a beautiful portion of Scripture that scholars identify as a doxology. In Ephesians 1:3–14, Paul praised God while focusing our attention on the amazing things God has done for us. When we spend time remembering all God has done for us, the way He planned our redemption, all that was done to restore our relationship with Him, and the forgiveness we are offered through Jesus, our response should be gratitude and a willingness to offer that same love and forgiveness to others.

When we live as fully forgiven daughters of God, our hearts will overflow with gratitude for the gift God has given us, and we will be able to forgive ourselves and others. 

Prayer: God, thank You for the gift of forgiveness You offer through Jesus and the restoration it brings to my relationship with You. Help me to claim “forgiven” as part of my identity and to pass this gift along freely to others. Amen.