Who I am in Christ

A Women’s teleconference and online Bible Study

Welcome! We are so excited to have you join us!

Have you ever struggled with who you are? Or thought how anyone could really know me and still love me? Or maybe you’ve felt like who you are has been

stripped away by difficult circumstances (i.e. divorce, death of a child, loss of a job). Well, this study is for you! We are going to learn about our true identity, one

rooted and grounded in Christ. There is power in knowing that you are not alone and regardless of your circumstances you are loved. So, come join us as we learn more about who God is, who you are in Him, and what you can do through Him!

Our Prayer

Lord, we invite you into this Bible Study, come fill us with the wisdom and understanding of who we are in Christ. We pray that each of us will know how precious we are to You in the next four weeks. Teach us to base our identity and

security in You. Give us Christ-centered confidence and worth. Help us to know who we are, what we have in Christ and how we can do more through You, in Jesus

name, Amen.

To know who He is

To know who we are in Him

To know what we have in Him

To know what we can do in Him

Our Lessons:

Lesson 1: The importance of understanding who Christ is

Lesson 2: Finding our significance in Christ

Lesson 3: Finding that we belong in Christ

Lesson 4: Finding our safety and security in Christ

Our Goals:

Week 1 lesson:

Finding out what we should really know about Christ?

What’s in a name?

Why do you need to understand who Christ is?

What are some of your thoughts on who you are?

Daily and Weekly Homework

Finding out what we should really know about Christ?

God is Sovereign! What exactly does that mean?

Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (a.) Supreme or highest in power; superior to all others; chief; as, our sovereign prince.

2. (a.) Independent of, and unlimited by, any other; possessing, or entitled to, original

authority or jurisdiction; as, a sovereign state; a sovereign discretion.

3. (a.) Princely; royal.

4. (a.) Predominant; greatest; utmost; paramount.

5. (a.) Efficacious in the highest degree; effectual; controlling; as, a sovereign remedy.

6. (n.) The person, body, or state in which independent and supreme authority is vested;

especially, in a monarchy, a king, queen, or emperor.

Knowing who God is as important as knowing your own name. What would it be like

if you were nameless? How would people call you? Hey, nameless one, come over here. Thankfully that is not the case for us or our God. In fact God created the

whole name thing! So, what exactly is in a name? A person’s name represents

WWhhyy iiss iitt IImmppoorrttaanntt ttoo UUnnddeerrssttaanndd WWhhoo CChhrriisstt iiss??

essential information. Often times, it communicates indispensible ideas for distinguishing a person’s character and personality. If that is the case then the

names of God are essential for us to know who He truly is. I love this poem sharing about God’s names and about His character.

My King

By L.M. Lockridge

The Bible says my King is the King of the Jews. He’s the King of Israel. He’s the King of Righteousness. He’s the King of the Ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of Glory. He’s the King of kings, and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King.

I wonder, do you know Him?

My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define His limitless love.

He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful.

Do you know Him?

He’s the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s Savior. He’s the centerpiece of civilization. He’s

unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He is the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He’s the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Savior.

I wonder if you know Him today?

He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He

sympathizes and He saves. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleansed the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captive. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He

serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. And He beautifies the meek.

I wonder if you know Him?

He’s the key to knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s

the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory.

Do you know Him? Well…

His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. And His yoke is easy. And His burden is light.

I wish I could describe Him to you. Yes…

He’s indescribable! He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. You

can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hand. You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him. Well, the Pharisees couldn’t stand Him,

but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him.

Yeah! That’s my King, that’s my King.

Homework

What part of this poem touches your heart?

What is your understanding of who God is?

What is your favorite name for God?

What is your favorite scripture regarding God’s character?

What’s in a name?

In the Old Testament, the names of individuals are meaningful; for example, Adam

is named after the "earth" (Adam) from which he was created. (Genesis 2)

A change of name indicates a change of status. For example, the patriarch Abram and his wife Sarai are renamed "Abraham" and "Sarah" when they are told they will

be the father and mother of many nations (Genesis 17:4, 17:15). Simon was renamed Peter when he was given the Keys of Heaven. (Gospel of Matthew 16).

Throughout the Bible, characters are given names at birth that reflect something of significance or describe the course of their lives. For example: Solomon meant peace, and the king with that name was the first whose reign was without warfare.

Likewise, Joseph named his firstborn son Manasseh (Hebrew: "causing to forget") as a gesture of forgiveness to his brothers for selling him into slavery. (Taken from

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names)

Can you think of other individuals whose names were changed by God to reflect their character?

Read about God’s names in the following scriptures:

Yahweh (Jehovah) LORD - I am I am, I am eternal, self-existent

Genesis 4:26, Exodus 3:15, Exodus 6: 2-4, Exodus 34:5-7, Psalm 102

Adonai – LORD – My great Lord, Ruler, Master, absolute authority, Sovereign

Psalm 8, Isaiah 40:3-5, Ezekiel 16:8, Habakkuk 3:19

El Elyon – God most high (in whom we can trust)

Genesis 14:17-22, Psalm 78:5, Daniel 4:34, Acts 16:17

El Shaddai – God almighty, the all sufficient one

Genesis 17:1, 2 Corinthians 12:9

Jehovah Jireh – The Lord who provides

Genesis 22:14, John 6:35

Yahweh Rohi – The Lord is my Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-3, John 10:11

Jehovah Rapha – God who heals

Exodus 15:25-27, 1 Peter 2:24

Jehovah Mekaddishkem – The Lord my holiness, who sanctifies

Exodus 31:12-13, Hebrews 13:12

Jehovah Nissi – The Lord my banner

Exodus 17:15-16, Isaiah 11:10

Elohim – Creator, infinite in power, absolute in faithfulness

Gen1:1-3, Exodus 33:18, Duet. 10:17, Psalm 68, Mark 13:19

What’s in a name? cont.

We serve a pretty awesome God whose names are mighty and powerful, because

He is mighty and powerful!

Beth Moore shares this poem that she wrote during her Believing God Bible

Study:

He is Elohim Creator, the Omnipotent who rules.

He's the Sovereign King of Glory and earth is His footstool.

He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.

He sends forth lightening that later checks back in with Him.

He speaks worlds into existence and spins them out in space.

He gives orders to the morning and shows the dawn its place.

He prophesies the future then orders it fulfilled.

He bears fruit from a landscape that man has never tilled.

He feeds the beast of the field from the palm of His hand.

He watches while they bear their young and teaches them to stand.

He gives the seas their boundaries and hides His creatures deep.

He teaches eagles how to fly and nest upon the steep.

He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on wings of wind.

He champions the victim and brings proud men to end.

He is Emanuel, God with us, come to earth through Christ.

He is the Kinsman Redeemer who paid the slave man's price.

He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords and worthy is the Lamb.

He holds the keys to life eternal where the dead in Christ now stand.

He is enthroned between the Cherubim and great is his reward.

The devil, His defeated foe, the weapon, His swift sword.

The story has a moral so I'll hasten lest you tire.

Whoever you perceived He is...you might aim a little higher.

Homework

How would you describe God’s character based on today’s scriptures?

Explain how you see that God’s name is an emblem of our identification with Him?

Your Assignment:

Today and throughout your week pray and meditate on the names of God:

Example: Adonai, thank you for being Lord over my life, my master and the

ultimate authority in whom I trust. You are my creator, the great I AM…

Why do you need to understand who Christ is...

Now that we have a better understanding of what’s in a name, let’s study a bit

about what the scriptures say about who we are in Christ. May it help us to better

understand what we have in Him and who we are because of Him!

We are made in His image

Genesis 1:26-27

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule

over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the

earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man

in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created

them.

We are in Christ and He is in us

2 Peter 1:3-8

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our

knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he

has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may

participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by

evil desires. 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith

goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to

self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness,

brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these

qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and

unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We have a new beginning

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the

old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to

himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation

Romans 6:3-5

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized

into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in

order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,

we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united with him like this in his death,

we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.

Ephesians 2:10

10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which

God prepared in advance for us to do.

1Peter 2:9-10

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging

to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into

his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of

God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1 John 3:1-2

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called

children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is

that it did not know him. 2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we

will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall

be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Homework

Based on today’s scripture who does God say you are?

What are a few reasons that you need to understand who you are in Christ?

Write down your favorite scriptures sharing who God is:

What are some of your thoughts on who you are?

What are some of your thoughts on who you are? Have they changed as your circumstances

have changed? Mine have. I started out as my mother and father’s daughter. I am still a sister

but I’ve also become a wife and mother. Years ago, my circumstances changed and I began to

wear the label of divorced, failure, ugly, or fat. I think you get the idea! Maybe you have done

the same thing? People cannot consistently behave in ways that are inconsistent with the way

they perceive themselves…If you perceive yourself wrongly, you will live wrongly because you

believe what is not true. If, however you perceive yourself as a child of God who is spiritually

alive in Christ, you will begin to live accordingly. Victory Over Darkness, Neil Anderson. Now, I

look at myself in light of what scripture says. I am loved, I am a child of God, I am a member of

Christ’s body. Do you see it? My circumstances may change but who I am in Christ will never

ever change!

Who do you say you are? What names are you known by?

Are you suffering from a false identity? Have people labeled you? Have you labeled yourself? Explain:

If you were to see yourself as God sees you, how would that change you?

Homework

Read the following out loud 3 times each day:

John 1:12 I am God's child.

John 15:15

As a disciple, I am a friend of

Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1 I have been justified.

1 Corinthians

6:17

I am united with the Lord, and I

am one with Him in spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.

1 Corinthians 12:27

I am a member of Christ's body.

Ephesians 1:3-8

I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.

Colossians 1:13-14

I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.

Colossians 2:9-10

I am complete in Christ.

Hebrews 4:14-16

I have direct access to the

throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

Weekly Questions

What is God gently speaking into your heart this week?

Is God asking you to change the labels you or others might have placed on you?

How is God leading you to pray about this week in light of what you have learned?