Another day another question- Who does I AM say you are?

Yesterday we looked at the single most important question that each of us must answer, Jesus asks, "Who do you say I am?" Our response to that question provides the answer to every need in our lives.

Today I want to look at a different question. Having answered that Jesus is the Christ, our Lord and savior, and that His I Am character provides the answer to every need, it becomes important then for us to ask the question who does I Am say that we are. What does God the creator of the universe say about us. This is critical to us because if we don't truly know how God feels about us we can't accept the answers He provides for our lives because we feel unworthy. What God has done for us, what He wants to do for us, and how He sees us is not based on our worthiness. Remember our righteousness is as filthy rags. All of what God sees in us and has done for us is because He chose us and Jesus redeemed and restored us to Him.

So who does I Am say we are?  He calls us His friend - John 15:15¹⁵ No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. We were slaves to sin now we are free in Christ and He calls us friends.

But even more than being His friend He calls us His children. 1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. I Am says you are His child. Galatians 4:6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" This relationship we have with Him as children is no small thing. Abba in the verse in Galations is translated "Daddy". This is important for us in understanding this relationship that we have with Him. Unfortunately there are some people who have not had good relationships or experiences with their earthly fathers. So there can be a tendency to view our relationship with our heavenly Father by the unfortunate experiences we have had. But Daddy, there is no mistake, Daddy evokes a sense of love and caring. Abba Father desires that we come to Him, that we His precious children would come and sit on His lap.

What else does I Am say about us?  Romans 8:16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. As His children we also become heirs of His kingdom. What does it mean to be an heir of God. It says that we are fellow heirs with Christ. So we have an equality with Christ, not because we deserve it, but because by His grace He has given it to us. This position of equality with Christ provides us with all the rights and priviledges of a king's child. It gives us authority in His kingdom. Jesus said John 14:12¹² Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. We have authority in Christ to do the works He did and even greater works. With great authority comes great responsibility and at times a cost. It says "if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

What else does I Am say about us? 1 Thessalonians 1:4" knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you",  So again He chose us and He calls us His beloved.