Who Do You Think You Are?

Read Time: 12 Minutes

Who do you think you are?  That can be said in a few different ways: condescendingly, inferring "what right do have to....". But rather, let me ask it as a legitimate question, "Who do you think you are?" and "do you know who you are?"

God has an opinion on this matter and since His ways are higher than my ways, I going with what He thinks.

Galatians 4:
:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child,
    differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
:2 but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
:3 Even so we, when we were children,
    were in bondage under the elements of the world:
:4 but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
    made of a woman, made under the law,
:5 to redeem them that were under the law,
    that we might receive the adoption of sons. [be made sons]
:6 And because ye are sons,
    God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts,
    crying, Abba, Father.
:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son;
    and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

How can we become a son of God?

Romans 10
:9 that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
    and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead,
    thou shalt be saved.
: 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
    and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
: 11 For the scripture saith,
    Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. [disappointed in his expectations]

God has not made our redemption difficult for us. Jesus Christ paid the price for us, he was payment for the sin of Adam, and for the sins of all mankind. His blood was spilled for our sins and by his stripes we are healed. We simply make Jesus Christ lord in our lives and believe that God raised him from the dead. When we believe on the lord Jesus Christ we are not disappointed.

Before Jesus Christ we were legally in bondage to the world. Satan had every right to our lives. After we accept Christ, God makes us His child. We are adopted into the family of God, and we are made sons and daughters by seed. That seed is holy spirit, which is Christ in you the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

Romans 8
: 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear;
    but ye have received the Spirit of adoption,
    whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
: 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit,
    that we are the children of God:
: 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;
    if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Who do I think I am? I am a child of God which makes me an heir and a joint heir with Christ. God wants you to know who you are and what He has given to us.

What does being a child of God do for me?

Ephesians 1
:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
    to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
:2 grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father,
    and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace: God's unmerited divine favor. I am favored of God!! You can say, "I am favored by God".  And He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heaven. Before you accepted Christ you were just body and soul. Now you have holy spirit.

:4 according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
    that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

You mean no retribution, no lightning bolts?  He chose us before He spoke the world and heavens into being. Even before he breathed life into Adam.

:5 having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,
    according to the good pleasure of his will,
:6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Who did this? God did this. We have been adopted. Adoption is by choice. And then he says according to the good pleasure of His will. I am humbled!!. He made us accepted, we did not, we could not, make ourselves acceptable.. 

:7 in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
    according to the riches of his grace;

Our sins are forgiven because we have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. When you see the words "according to" that is a standard. According to the riches of God's grace, that unmerited divine favor. The standard is God's grace (that unmerited favor). I am forgiven for my sins, my disobedience to God. Even when I don't know that I have transgressed I am forgiven.  God knew we would not be able to be "good enough" to earn the right to be adopted into the family of God and be given sonship by His incorruptible seed (holy spirit).

:8 wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
:9 having made known unto us the mystery of his will,
    according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
:10 that in the dispensation [administration] of the fulness of times
   he might gather together in one all things in Christ,
   both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
:11 in whom also we have obtained an inheritance,
    being predestinated according to the purpose of him
    who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

God's will for His kids is to bring us all back home. Adam strayed and consequently we are led astray by our own fleshly desires. But He has called us all together and we will all be gathered together when Christ returns for us. (I Cor. 15:51-58)

:12 that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

"That" means "the reason being". The reason for what?  The reason we have been called to this inheritance is to the praise of His glory. Look at us? We are a motley crew. But, nevertheless, He called us to be unto His praise and glory.  Let us glorify God.

:13 in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,
    the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed,
    ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
:14 which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption
    of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

When you trusted in Christ and made him lord in your life, believing that God raised him from the dead, which is the gospel of your salvation, you were sealed. This is God's seal. A seal indicates ownership or guaranteed security. It has the authority of the one affixing the seal. The seal on your life is affixed by God. By God's authority He has guaranteed your salvation and position in the body of Christ.

II Corinthians 1
:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ,
    and hath anointed us, is God;
:22 who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

The earnest in Ephesians 1:14 and II Corinthians 1:22 is a token described in the New Bible Dictionary* as, "the first installment of a gift or payment, put down as a pledge that the rest will follow later. Paying the earnest makes obligatory payment of the remainder." The holy spirit that God has given is the down payment on the coming glory.

Now that we know who we are we need to know what is available.  What does this inheritance, this membership in the body of Christ afford us?

II Corinthians 1
:2 grace be to you and peace from God our Father,
    and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
:4 who comforteth us in all our tribulation,
    that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble,
    by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Grace and peace from God and the lord Jesus Christ. When I was growing up I kept hearing that if I was bad God would strike me down. We would joke about it, but after a while I tended to fear God and His wrath. But this is not the Heavenly Father that the Bible tells us about. We have grace (unmerited divine favor) and peace.

God is the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our tribulation. Tribulation is pressures; whether mental or physical, external or internal—all our pressures. This allows us to minister that same comfort that God has given us to others that are having trouble. Who do you think you are? You are one who can comfort others with the same comfort that God comforts us with.

If you don't know who you are you cannot walk in the fullness of life that Jesus Christ obtained for us.

Galatians 5
:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free,
    and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised,
    Christ shall profit you nothing.
:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised,
    that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you,
    whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing,
    nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

The point that God is making here is that if you think that you should still live according to the Old Testament Law (the circumcision), you are making the redemption that Christ accomplished ineffective in your life.  If you think you have to keep the law (thinking you have to do something to be accepted and righteous), how are you walking in righteousness?  You are thinking you still have to earn your salvation but Christ paid for it. Now you can walk in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free.

If you are thinking you have to live according to the Law you will miss out on these great truths:

Ephesians 3
:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory,
    to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,
    being rooted and grounded in love,
:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth,
    and length, and depth, and height; [this is 4 dimensions]
:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
    that ye might be [Aramaic: "and would be"] filled with all the fulness of God.
:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
    above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages,
    world without end. Amen.

With the gift of holy spirit within, you can be strengthened with might by the spirit from God in the inner man. By faith, by believing, Christ dwells in your heart and when you are rooted and grounded in the love of God you will comprehend all dimensions and experientially know the love of Christ which passes knowledge and be filled with the fullness of God. Is that not exceedingly abundantly above what we could ask or think? Following is the Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation for verses 20 and 21.

Ephesian 3
:20 Now to him who is able, by surpassing power,
    to do even more for us than what we ask and think,
    according to his power that is performed in us,
:21 to him [be] glory in his church by Jesus Christ in all generations,
   forever and ever. Amen.

When you lived in your parent's household you had certain rights and privileges. You had the right to raid the refrigerator. You had the privilege of their protection. They supplied your clothes and schooling.

You now live in God's household. How does He care for you?

Matthew 6
:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, 
   What shall we eat? 
   or, What shall we drink? 
   or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
:32   (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) 
    for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, 
   and his righteousness; 
    and all these things shall be added unto you.

Psalms 91
:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High
    shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
:2 I will say of the LORD,
   He is my refuge and my fortress:
   my God; in him will I trust.
:3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
    and from the noisome pestilence.
:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers,
    and under his wings shalt thou trust:  
        [figure of speech anthropopathea—attributing to God earthly 
           characteristics—drawing your attention to the passage]
    his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;
    nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
:6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness;
   nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
:7 A thousand shall fall at thy side,
   and ten thousand at thy right hand;
   but it shall not come nigh thee.
:8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
:9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge,
   even the most High, thy habitation;
:10 There shall no evil befall thee,
    neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
:11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee,
    to keep [protect) thee in all thy ways.
:12 They shall bear thee up in their hands,
    lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Who do you think you are? When you know that you are of God's household, a child of God, then you know and are convinced that God will take care of you mentally, physically, and spiritually. He'll supply all of your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He'll protect you.

You have received the promise of the Father, power from on high (Luke 24:49). You now have the authority of Christ—you do have Christ in you. Now what does that do for you?

Ephesians 1
:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, 
    may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation 
    in the knowledge of him:
:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; 
    that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, 
    and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, 
    according to the working of his mighty power, [this power is to us ward and it is mighty]
:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, 
    and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, 
     and dominion, and every name that is named, 
     not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
:22 And hath put all things under his feet, 
    and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

That power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead has been given to us. All things are now under the feet of Christ and the family of God. Now you know this is available. All principalities and powers are under the feet of the body of Christ in which we are members in particular.

We have the power of His might. It says so in God's Word.

Ephesians 6
:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might .
:11 Put on the whole armour of God,
    that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,
    but against principalities, against powers,
    against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
    against spiritual wickedness in high places.
:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
    that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth,
    and having on the breastplate of righteousness ;
:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace ;
:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith,
    wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
    which is the word of God:
:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
    and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me,
    that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Who do you think you are? Do think of yourself like God thinks of you? This is not an exhaustive list at all.

• Son of God
• An heir of God through Christ
• A child of God
• Blessed with all spiritual blessings
• Holy and without blame before Him in love
• To the praise and glory of God
• Sealed with the gift of holy spirit, power from on high
• Now able to walk in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free
• Strengthened with might by His spirit in the inner man
• Christ dwells in your heart, rooted and grounded in love so you comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height and know the love of Christ which passes knowledge
• God supplies all your need according to His riches in glory and protects you
• Christ in you the hope of glory
• The same power that raised Christ from the dead is in you and all principalities and powers are under your feet.
• You can be strong in the Lord and the power of His might

Or, do you think of yourself like the world thinks of you? I am not going to go there. There is no sense in glorifying the devil's opinions.

Always remember: Unto God be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3 :21)

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*  Douglas, J.D., New Bible Dictionary, WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan, pp 1153-1156

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