You Are Who God Says You Are

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

6 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

A Christian magazine invited readers to summarize the gospel in seven words or less. People sent in lots of good suggestions, and here is one I remember: “We are who God says we are.”

I like that because it means I am not defined by social or cultural categories—such as education, age, finances, sexual identity, political view, body image, Facebook likes, busyness, or even how I feel about myself on a given day. This is true for each one of us. It means we are not defined in terms of what others say we are—or even first of all by categories that we might choose. Instead, we are who God—our Creator and Father who raised Jesus from the dead—says we are.

As believers in Christ, we are part of a new creation. We are all beloved, forgiven, and blessed children of God. We are reconciled to God, who calls us to share this message with others. God calls us to be like ambassadors, who represent their nation as they live in another nation. We are called to represent God’s new creation as we work with God to bring his love into this world.

We are who God says we are. Since Christ has risen, a new creation has come, and all who believe in him are a part of it. And in God’s strength we can share this life-giving news with everyone, saying, “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

Lord, thank you for making us a new creation in Christ. Help us to share this good news for Jesus’ sake. Amen.