The atoning work of Christ did things too great for any man to accomplish. It is only by the cross of Christ that we are given a new life, a new identity, and a new purpose. And if we are already in Christ, we have great and incomparable privileges and honours.

One of these honours is the fact that God is our Father in Christ, and that we become more than just sinners in need of His salvation. We are so much more than that.

We are God's children

The Bible says that if we are in Christ, we are adopted as sons and daughters of the Almighty God, and He becomes our Father (see Romans 8:14-17; 1 John 3:1). No matter what kind of earthly father we might have had, God is the perfect Father who will neither leave nor forsake us and will never exasperate us but rather bring us up to become like Christ (see Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:8; Ephesians 6:4).

We become coworkers and co-heirs of Christ

In Christ, the Father has given us more than just the standing of a son and daughter. He also gave us the honour and authority to be Christ's ambassadors who will also receive an inheritance with Him who saved us with His blood on the cross (see 2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 1:11,14; Acts 20:32). We don't deserve this honour, but the truth is that we are God's coworkers who are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms because He took us with Him in His resurrection (see Ephesians 2:6).

We are given the privilege of approaching God with confidence

We are also given the honour and privilege of being able to approach God directly anytime and for any matter so that we may find help in time of need (see Hebrews 4:16). Having the Holy Spirit in us helps us greatly because He intercedes for us with groanings too deep for us to understand (see Romans 8:26). Jesus also lives forever, interceding for us before God day and night (see Hebrews 7:25).

We are a new creation

The Bible says that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). This new creation is not just a cleaned-up, modified version of you. Rather, it's a totally new person with a new heart and a new spirit, the Spirit of God who enables one to follow God's decrees and laws (see Ezekiel 36:26). This new creation has had his long list of past sins totally forgiven, and the list of condemning charges cancelled by Christ's blood on the cross (see Colossians 2:13-14). God sees us clean and blameless in Christ.

We are God's work in progress

Christ died to make us holy and spotless so that He could present us to Himself as His bride, stainless, wrinkle-free and blameless (see Ephesians 5:25-27). Christ will never stop pursuing us, and thus the work that God has begun in us will be perfected. We can count on that (see Philippians 1:6).