I’ve made mention of the fact that I’m in a Christian-based recovery/Twelve Step Group. Like it’s secular counterparts, when we are introducing ourselves, we say “I’m [First Name] and I’m a [addictive behavior] addict.” Such as, “I’m Jim, and I’m a codependency and relationship addict” or “I’m Alec and I’m a sports addict.” While I introduce myself in like manner, I know that my admittance of being a recovering addict is in no way reflective of my identity.
What does that mean? It means that at my core identity, I am NOT an addict. That it doesn’t define me at the core. What does define who I am? The New Testament says that I am seated with Him in the heavenly realms, and that I’ve been predestined to be holy and blameless before the beginning of time. It says that I’m no longer under condemnation but have been justified by faith in Christ Jesus. It says that God no longer counts my sins against me, but instead calls me a friend and a saint. Did you hear that? I’m a Saint! Even the church memebers in Corinth, which was amok with sinful practices, were still called SAINTS!. That’s right – their core identity because of Christ within them was that God the Father looked down and them and saw holy, righteous, blameless saints. Hard to fathom, but true nonetheless.
A better phrase for saints who are in Christ would be “I’m Arthur, a saint who struggles with anxiety.” Or “I’m Tyler, a new creation, who has lingering challenges with pornography.”
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