In looking at the indicative clauses of  Colossians 3:12-16 we are told that we are God's chosen ones.  There is much in that.  I feel somewhat like a Lloyd-Jones here, but I want to slow down and reflect on this - like... word... for word.   In slowing down, I want to think about whose we are.

Colossians 3:12 reflects the who of our identity, it is who we are in Christ.  But this short statement begins with a possessive.  So not only does it tell us who we are, but whose we are.  That's the focus of this post.

Whose We Are

We are God's.   We are His chosen. We belong to Him.

We are His possession.

And this in Christ and by Christ and for Christ.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.   Titus 2:11-14

Jesus Christ, our Great God and Savior, gave Himself:

• to redeem us


• to purify for Himself a people for His own possession

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

We are the possession of another, namely God in/through/by/for Christ.   This passage is another example of the way the indicative precedes the imperative.  Whose are we?  Not our own.  Whose are we?  We are God's, having been bought at a price.



 

God's Chosen Ones