Celebrating Our Identity In Christ Series

CELEBRATING OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST

ROMANS 8:35-37

DR. Q.E. HAMMONDS

Our theme for this month is celebrating our identity in Christ. To define the word identity simply means who you are. At times you as a person can be identified by different means. Like when I was a boy I was identified as Rubye’s son. Now that I am grown I am identified as Mary’s husband or Antioch’s Pastor or Niecy and Tara’s daddy. All of which are true. I haven’t changed just the way that I am identified. We have so much to celebrate as children of God. Our position is in Christ. Paul says If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away and behold all things become new. We can also celebrate our possessions. Because we are in Christ we have everything we need. Paul also said But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory through Christ Jesus. We can celebrate our perfection. Again hear Paul, Being confident of this very thing that he that hath begun a good work in you shall perform it until the day of the Lord Jesus. Yes we have much to celebrate. We can have joy seven days a week and 24 hours a day when we think about who we are in Christ Jesus. When I look at myself and I see that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. When I look at my righteousness and it is as filthy rags, when I look at my works and they seem like they are in vain, I thank God that I have a refuge in Jesus. Because when I look at him I see victory, when I look at him I see overcoming, when I look at him I see one who has all power in heaven and in earth in his hands. I see the king of kings and the lord of lords. I see the great I am. I see a doctor who has never lost a patient, I see a lawyer who has never lost a case, I see a lifter of every bowed down head, I see the balm of Gilead, the lily of the valley and the Bright and Morning Star. So I’m glad I can celebrate my identity in Christ.

Today when I look at this text, I see another reason to celebrate. Because it tells me that in Christ I am more than a conqueror. Paul cites seven circumstances that are unsuccessful in their effort to separate us from the love of God. Listen to the list: Tribulation; to undergo struggle, trials, temptation, suffering, and affliction. 2. Distress; to suffer anguish, trouble, strain, agony; not knowing which way to turn or what to do. 3. Persecution; to be abused, mocked ridiculed, shamed, mistreated, ignored, neglected, harassed, attacked or injured. 4. Famine; to have no food, to be starving and have no way to secure food. 5. Nakedness; to be stripped of all clothes and earthy comforts, to be bare, having all earthly possessions taken away. 6. Peril; to be exposed to the most severe risks, to be confronted with the most terrible dangers to one’s body mind, soul, property, family and loved ones. 7. Sword; to be killed.

These are some terrible situations but the key word in the text is Nay. The word nay means no. No these things will not be able to separate us from the love of God, because in all these things we are more than conquerors. In Christ I can conquer all these things. I can conquer tribulation because he said In this world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world. I can conquer distress because Peter said Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you. I can conquer persecution because he said, Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake for their’s is the kingdom of heaven. I can conquer Famine because Jesus said, Therefore take no thought saying what shall we at or what shall we drink or wherewith shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the gentiles seek, for your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of these things. I can conquer nakedness because Jesus said And why take ye thought for raiment, Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow they toil not neither do they spin yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. I can conquer Peril because Jesus said Lo, I am with you always even until the end of the world. I can conquer Sword because Jesus took the stain from death and the victory from the grave and now absent from the body means present with the Lord. You see saints we have a great reason to celebrate because the text says that we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. In case you don’t know who that is let me tell you. John 3:16 says……, Roman 5:8 says….