Many Christians struggle with very negative thoughts about themselves. We realize our own sinfulness and tend to see ourselves primarily as sinners saved by grace but is that all there is to say about the matter? What is staggering to many is that as they read Paul’s letters he addresses them to the saints, this is how he thought about Christians. Read Paul’s letter to the Romans and here you will find a detailed account of man’s sinfulness but you will also read of the triumph of grace over sin. We tend to miss the note of triumph and miss the fact that we are now united with Christ Jesus. If you read the letters carefully you will realize that Paul teaches that by god’s grace we are new creations.

We are called to a high calling that is to become like Christ Jesus and because of the work of the Holy Spirit indwelling us this becomes a reality, read about the fruit of the Holy spirit and you will find a description of the character of Jesus. As we look at the character of Jesus, we will see how we are being changed to be like him.

Another teaching of the New Testament writers is that we have been adopted by God into his family, this is entirely because of the grace of God shown to us in Christ Jesus. There is no boasting here but there is an assurance of faith because we know that we are Children of God. In the light of God’s grace we can have an assurance that God loves us with an everlasting love, we can know that he will never forsake us.

The New Testament addressed us as saint and that is what we are in God’s eyes, therefore we are called to live by the power of the Holy Spirit in the light of this truth and become increasingly Christlike. when we see how God views as we are delivered from low views of our self and we begin to see ourselves in the light of God’s truth. Read the New Testament and ask yourself this simple question, what it does it say about my relationship with God?

The answer to that question can set us free to live the lives that God designed for us.