One in Christ

 

At one time, all people had no hope and were without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12). All people – due to sin – were enemies of God (Romans 5:10). Unfortunately, many people today still have no hope and are still enemies of God. These are the people who deny Jesus as “the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). But for those in Christ — those who believe, trust, and follow Jesus — they are no longer enemies of God, but are one in Christ Jesus. “For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

 

Although we have peace with God the Father by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone, the evil foes — Satan, the world, and our own sinful nature — lead us to seek division, rather than unification with our neighbors. Instead of focusing upon our oneness in Christ, our evil foes lead us to focus upon the racial, ethnic, national, or pigmented identity of human beings. When Christians fall into our evil foes’ trap, we are to recall that our identity is that of a baptized child of God. In doing so, we repent of our sin and seek the forgiveness that Christ alone won for us upon the cross.

 

For “in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26-28) and “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory” (James 2:1).

 

In other words, Christians do not reduce fellow human beings to their specific cultural, racial, sexual, or national identity, but upon their redeemed identity in Christ as a precious and beloved Child of God — one who has been justified and sanctified by the shed blood of Christ and His Holy Spirit.

 

As followers of Christ, we believe, teach, and confess that our identity and character is found in our baptism. Our baptismal identity as child and heir of God unites us to Christ and provides a spiritual way of life, which is also an ethical way of life. So, when the Christian is led to sin, we are called to repentance and prayer. Whatever the sinful thought, behavior and vice, the sinner pleads for mercy and forgiveness and that sinner receives forgiveness. As baptized believers, we are delivered from the hands of Satan by Christ’s cross, as our Lord Jesus through baptism equips Christians to live with a divine identity, with moral integrity, and with the eternal destiny of a heavenly kingdom.

 

The only remedy for all sin, hurt, injustice, and oppression is the hope and healing that comes through our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Lord of the Church who breaks down dividing walls of hostility (Ephesians 2:14), reconciles the distressed (Ephesians 2:16), forgives sin (Colossians 1:14), removes shame (Romans 10:11), and gives holy identity and moral character (Ephesians 2:19).

 

In Christ alone, humanity is no longer strangers and aliens, but are fellow citizens with the saints and are members of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).