You Are… Are You?

~ Images of Who The Christian Is ~   

The Bible provides many images and word pictures of the Christian. Consider for example 1 Corinthians 3.

You Are Christ’s  ~   The chapter is addressed to those who already believe in Jesus Christ. “And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's” (verse 23).

You Are An Infant  (negative) ~  Spiritually the word picture is of a grown person who is still nursing from his mamma. “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able” (verses 1-2).

You Are Still Sinful (negative)  ~  Spiritually the word picture is of someone in college who has not learned the basics of the three Rs. “For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?” (verses 3-4).

You Are God’s Worker (positive)  ~  The word picture is of a laborer who is working alongside other workers, including Jesus Christ, all with the same mind. “We are God's fellow workers” (verse 9a).   

You Are God’s Farmer (positive) ~  The word picture of farming suggests hard, consistent labor with the eye always on the harvest. “You are God's field” (verse 9b). 

 

You Are God’s Building (positive) ~  The word picture is that the Christian is part of something significant which God is building. “You are God's building” (verse 9).

If you are a Christian, a good question to ask yourself is, “How does my life align with these descriptions?” Remember that some are positive, but others are negative. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW