For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus…There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26, 28
There’s a lot of talk these days about “privilege,” defined by Merriam-Webster.com as “a right of immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor.” The current narrative, of course, has to do with immutable characteristics (i.e., melanin level), which is just plain silly for a plethora of reasons…but I won’t go there. Instead, I want to focus on this weighty word as it pertains to all Christians. Because, friends, Christians are the truly privileged of this world.
You might be shaking your head as your mind goes right to the millions of persecuted believers around the world—greater numbers now than ever. And “privileged” may not be the word you’d use to describe the countless (and media-ignored) Christians martyred daily for their faith in Jesus. Then there’s our own nation, literally founded on the freedom to worship, currently with shuttered churches and canceled voices. So, are followers of Jesus Christ truly “privileged”? Here are the top three reasons why that answer is a resounding YES.
- We have the Bible—whole, complete, inerrant.
The longer we study God’s Word, the clearer it becomes…there is only one theme throughout all 66 books: Jesus. The whole Old Testament points to the coming Messiah, from the Fall in the Garden to the John the Baptist. And though God’s faithful prophets predicted the coming sufferings and glories of Christ, they could only look ahead in hope, knowing they were preaching something they would not experience (1 Peter 1:10-12). Even New Testament believers, although they had the message of the first missionaries and powerful letters being sent from church to church, they did not have a complete living and powerful word (Hebrews 4:12).
2. We have the Holy Spirit living in us to comfort, convict, and control us.
Upon salvation (the recognition of our sin leading to repentance and acceptance of Jesus’ completed work on the cross for us), we are immediately indwelt and sealed with the Holy Spirit—God Himself is living in us. He is our helper and teacher (John 14:26), our strength and intercessor (Romans 8:26). The more we surrender ourselves to Him, the more we can reflect the love of God to our foolish and hostile world (Galatians 5:22-23).
3. We have our identity in Christ.
As a Christian, we each have become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). We are children of God (John 1:12) and the friend of Jesus (John 15:15). Our life is hidden in Christ (Col 3:3)—our sin covered completely by His righteousness so we can ultimately stand unashamed and unblemished before a Holy God.
Brothers and sisters, we are all, by definition, privileged. Because of Jesus, we have “immunity” from the sufferings of hell. We have the “advantage” of God living in us as we walk through this world. And we are, in fact, “favored”: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).
encouraged by grace 