That I May Be Found In Him

“And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness which is from God by faith.” — Philippians 3:9

Jesus came to bring us new life, a new identity, and a new way of operating. This new life is not simply about improving ourselves or becoming a better version of who we used to be. It is about discovering who we now are in Christ.

We have grown up in a world where our identity is shaped by our background, achievements, abilities, and reputation. We are rewarded or punished based on our actions, so we learn to measure ourselves by what we do. We try to earn approval, prove our worth, find the right place to belong, and create a meaningful future through our own efforts.

The Bible describes this old way of identifying ourselves as being “in Adam.” It is a life built on confidence in the flesh—our ancestry, status, achievements, morality, religious effort, or personal success. Paul understood this way of living because, before knowing Christ, he had placed great confidence in his heritage, education, religious devotion, and obedience to the law (Philippians 3:3–6).

However, when we come to Christ, we receive a completely new identity. We are no longer defined by who we were in Adam; we find ourselves in Jesus—in Him, in Christ.

Paul constantly used these “in Him” terms. They were not only for the apostle Paul to identify with. This language was given to us by God, through the Holy Spirit, to help us understand who we are now that we have been born again. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

In Adam, our origin is found in our ancestry, family, social status, or background. In Christ, our origin is found in the fact that God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Our past may help explain where we have come from, but it no longer determines who we are.

In Adam, our worth is measured by achievement, approval, and comparison. In Christ, our worth is established by the price Jesus paid for us: “You were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20). We do not have to compete with others or prove that we deserve value. The cross has already revealed how valuable we are to God.

In Adam, we try to earn love by performing well and pleasing people. In Christ, we are already loved with a love from which nothing can separate us (Romans 8:38–39). God loves you and me just as much as He loves Jesus! (John 17:23)

In Adam, belonging depends on being accepted by the right group, having the right status, or maintaining a good reputation. In Christ, we have been adopted into God’s family through Jesus (Ephesians 1:5). We do not have to earn a place at His table; He has already welcomed us as His children.

In Adam, righteousness is something we attempt to achieve through good works, religion, morality, or zeal. In Christ, righteousness is something we receive by faith. Jesus took our sin so that we could become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). We are no longer trying to establish our own righteousness; we are found in Him with the righteousness that comes from God by faith.

In Adam, purpose is something we try to create through success, control, and self-made meaning. In Christ, we discover that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the good works He has prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10). Our purpose is not something we have to force into existence. It flows from knowing who we are and walking with the One who created us.

In Adam, the future is overshadowed by sin, guilt, shame, and death. In Christ, our future is secure. When Christ appears, we will also appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4). Our story is no longer moving towards condemnation, but towards the fullness of life with Him.

We can no longer follow our old pattern of living—a life defined by achievement and self-effort and filled with guilt, condemnation, and comparison. Instead, we identify with being in Christ. That means everything Jesus is, we are. His strength is our strength, His peace is our peace, His value is our value, His righteousness is our righteousness, and His love is our love.

We may not always feel as though this is true, but our feelings do not reveal truth; they come and go. The truth of who Jesus is, and our place in Him, is what we choose to identify with. When our feelings do not match what the Bible says about us, we can boldly open our mouths and declare, “As He is, so are we in this world!” (1 John 4:17).

According to Ephesians 1:3–4, we can also boldly declare: “God has blessed me with every spiritual blessing. He chose me before the foundation of the world so that I should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” We must put these words in our mouths, speak them over ourselves, and declare their truth even when our emotions tell us otherwise.

You are in Christ, so choose to identify with who He says you are. You are not your emotions, failures, or achievements. You are not what your parents said about you or what your friends say about you. You are not the sum of your past. You have been chosen, bought with a price, deeply loved, adopted into God’s family, made righteous in Christ, created for a purpose, and given a glorious future.

You are in Christ, seated with Him in heavenly places, and you are complete in Him! (Colossians 2:9–10). As we fix our eyes on Jesus and continue looking to Him, we begin to see who we truly are (1 John 3:1–3).

Remember, we love you, and we are praying for you.

(From Ps Grant’s Sunday 30 August Sermon)