We are Christ’s

1 Peter 5:1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:

1 Corinthians 15:28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

We are Christ’s and Christ within us is to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 3:23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

1 Peter 1:5–7 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Those who are being sanctified by God are His. We are made one as believers of Christ. For as the children are made of of flesh and blood so also Jesus  became flesh that through His death death would be conquered. 

One mediator, the man Christ Jesus, through Him satan would be destroyed. 

Life is in the blood and His shed blood redeemed mankind. 

We need love to keep us from falling into despair. We need love to help us restore ourselves, get back into harmony with ourselves, so we can last through dark nights. 

Here’s the good news: Out of the soil of hatred and tragedy, hope can grow. And not just hope. But a voice of hope, for those who have no voice.

Knowing the power that no act of kindness (celebrating and honoring the dignity of life, of every life), however small, is ever wasted. And yes, when I would see malevolence (whatever spills darkness), I always thought someone should “do something about that.” Then I realized, I am someone. 

We can never pretend that darkness (whether loss or sorrow) is not real, and sometimes shattering.

But here’s the deal: Those who do not foreclose on their heart are heroes to us all, and become lights in a dark world.

Here’s our invitation. “Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” Thank you, Iain Thomas. Sabbath Moments

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NIV). Does Jesus still use simple folks like us to change the world? You know, we suffer from such ordinariness. But God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called.

So don’t let Satan convince you otherwise. He will tell you that God has an IQ requirement or an entry fee. And when Satan whispers such lies, dismiss him with this truth: God stampeded the first-century society with swaybacks, not thoroughbreds. There is no evidence that Jesus chose the disciples because they were smarter or nicer than the guy next door. The one thing they had going for them was a willingness to take a step when Jesus said, “Follow me.” God changes the world with folks like you. Max Lucado

We are Christ’s

1 Corinthians 3:23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

1 Corinthians 4:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

1 Corinthians 15:23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

2 Corinthians 10:7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s. 

Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

1 Peter 4:13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 

The New King James Version

The Corinthian believers assume they have wisdom, but in reality they have acted like fools. In contrast, the apostles endure humiliation for the sake of Christ and the Church, yet the Corinthians consider them foolish. Faithlife Study Bible

Each one in his own order indicates that God has a certain design for the resurrection. The word order is a Greek military term that might also be translated “rank.” The Commander is raised first; His troops afterward. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18, His coming is described as Christ’s coming with those who have “fallen asleep” (the dead), who are then united with their physical bodies. Following this is the removal of all living Christians from the earth. The NKJV Study Bible

Some Corinthians continued to judge Paul and his ministry according to the standards of the time; they evaluated him according to his rhetoric, logic, and manner of reception by various communities. Faithlife Study Bible

In this context, being Christ’s means more than merely belonging to Him. It means being His servant or His disciple. The NKJV Study Bible

Faith is what makes a person a descendant of Abraham—not ethnicity or circumcision. Those who have aligned themselves with Abrahamic faith are not obligated to become circumcised or to observe the law, both of which came later. Paul sees the work of Christ as the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham. Faithlife Study Bible

By experiencing suffering for being Christians, believers identify with Jesus. Believers demonstrate their faith by sharing in Jesus’ sufferings; they learn what it means to be like Him in their anguish. They can have joy because they honor God through their suffering and know that God will vindicate their faithfulness one day. Faithlife Study Bible

Suffering will be part of the Christian experience until Christ returns. The NKJV Study Bible

2 Corinthians 10:7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.

Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

1 Corinthians 15:23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Acts 26:23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

1 Peter 1:5–7 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials…

Romans 8:17–18 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.