What the Bible says
In Christ you are a child of God. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). And a child is also an heir: “thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7).
In Christ you are chosen and accepted. God “hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4) and “hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6), “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). Peter adds, “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” (1 Peter 2:9). None of this is earned; all of it is grace.
In Christ the old life has died. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20). So Scripture says, “reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11), for “ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Your past no longer defines you; Christ does.
In Christ you belong to God. “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). You lack nothing before Him, “And ye are complete in him” (Colossians 2:10). And the best is still ahead: “we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
14 verses, King James Version
Galatians 4:7
No more a servant, but a son and an heir
7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Colossians 2:10
Ye are complete in Him
10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Romans 6:11
Dead to sin, alive unto God
11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 3:2
We shall be like Him
2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
2 Corinthians 5:17
A new creation
17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 2:20
Christ lives in you
20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
John 1:12
Children of God
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Ephesians 1:3–6
Chosen, adopted, and accepted
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
1 Peter 2:9–10
God’s own people
9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Colossians 3:1–3
Raised with Christ
1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Galatians 3:26–28
One in Christ
26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20
You belong to God
19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Ephesians 2:19
Members of God’s household
19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Psalms 139:13–14
Made by God with care
13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain). Read aloud by Anthony.