Thanksgiving Thoughts

I am thankful for a lot this year. I am thankful for my husband, my three amazing kids, and the incredible privilege it is for us to be training to be missionaries. But what I have really been reflecting on lately is how thankful I am for all of the things that are true of me as a believer. Because I have believed the gospel, I am now "in Christ."

In Christ, we have so much--not just our sins forgiven--although that one is HUGE. But there's so much more...more than I ever knew! It has been a truly awesome experience going through the New Testament book by book in classes here at NTBI and learning more and more about who I am "in Christ."

Here are just some of the truths about those of us who have believed the gospel:

We have received the righteousness of God (Romans 3:21)
We are saved totally apart from works (Romans 4:4-5)
We are blessed, because our transgressions are forgiven (Romans 4:7)
We have been justified (Romans 5:1)
We have peace with God (Romans 5:1)
We have been positioned in the favor of God (Romans 5:2)
We are reconciled to God (Romans 5:11)
We have died to sin (Romans 6:2)
We are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:6)
We have been brought from death to life (Romans 6:13)
We are not under law, but under grace (Romans 6:14)
We have received the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:22)
We died to the law so that we might be joined to another (Romans 7:4)
We have no more condemnation (Romans 8:1)
We are now able to walk in the Spirit (Romans 8:5-13)
We have been adopted by God (Romans 8:15-16)
We are co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17)
We have the firstfruits of the Spirit (Romans 8:23)
We are being conformed into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29)
We will be glorified (Romans 8:30)
We have Christ as our intercessor (Romans 8:34)
We are more than conquerers (Romans 8:37)
We have incredible freedom (1 Corinthians 8;4-6 & 10:23)
We have victory over death, sin, and the law (1 Corinthians 15:56)
We have received the full rights as sons of God (Galations 4:6)
We now have a "crucified" sin nature (Galatians 5:24)
We have every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)
We are holy and blameless in His sight (Ephesians 1:4)
We are adopted as God's sons (Ephesians 1:5)
We have been freely given his glorious grace (Ephesians 1:6)
We have redemption through Christ's blood (Ephesians 1:7)
We have forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7)
We are chosen ones (Ephesians 1:11)
We have been marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)
We are God's possession (Ephesians 1:14)
We were made alive when we were dead in our transgressions (Ephesians 2:5)
We are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)
We have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13)
We have access to the Father (Ephesians 2:18)
We are no longer foreigners and aliens (Ephesians 2:19)
We are fellow citizens with God's people (Ephesians 2:19)
We are members of God's household (Ephesians 2:19)
We may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12)
We have been forgiven by God (Ephesians 4:32)

Wow. Just typing them out was pretty overwhelming. And those are just the ones I found as I read through four of the epistles. I'm sure there are many more throughout the rest of the epistles.

I am thankful I have heard the gospel.
I am thankful that when I believed the gospel, God justified me.
I am thankful that He is currently at work in me, sanctifying me daily.
I am thankful that I have the Word in my language, so I can read and study it and allow it to renew my mind.

Those are the things both Aaron and I are thankful for this Thanksgiving.  God has been good to us, and we praise His Name.