Identity in Christ
In Jesus, Ken Page
This idea of identity is foundational in understanding the Gospel and our life in Christ. Jesus is not offering us an enhancement to our life. He is not offering a way to strengthen and to improve us. He is not showing us a way for us to live. He is not revealing to us wisdom and principles so that we can learn to live a life pleasing to Him. He is offering us a completely different life. It is no longer "our" life- but His. It is a life that does not find our meaning, value or acceptance from our abilities, our goodness or our performance. The Christian's sole identity is in Jesus' ability, goodness and performance.
I used to get my identity from being a Navigator. My goal was to know all the truth and to do it. I thought that this group had the highest value in Evangelical Christianity. After all, who was more committed than us? I also wanted my identity to come from being a pastor. Having people follow me would be a sure sign of my value. I have tried to get some identity from owning property and making money (not many people want to stroke someone else's success).
The Apostle Paul had all kinds of identity before he met Jesus. He was extremely committed to the Scriptures and to obeying them. In Philippians chapter 3 he said of himself that he was blameless in keeping the Law and very zealous for God. After Paul met Jesus- he counted this self-made identity as dung! Now his only goal was to know Jesus and to be "found in Him not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith."
If you are not regularly amazed, rejoicing and grateful that you are an accepted and a loved child of God you are seeking a false self-identity. If your church or your Christian friends are not regularly blown away by the grace and work of Jesus and are not solely rejoicing in His work you are not having Christian fellowship. If your pastor's sermons leave you trying to do better this week or are simply teaching you more Bible truths- you are listening to a false teacher. If you are fed by sermons, tapes, radio programs and books that prod you on to do better you are not seeking to live in Him, but you are in rebellion to God's work.
Jesus alone is what makes us acceptable to God. Jesus alone is our wisdom (we don't have to understand). Jesus alone is who can live out His life through us. Jesus alone is who determines our value. Jesus alone will set the course and agenda for our life.
Jesus said that, "unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies it remains alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit." And, "Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me". And Paul said, "I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in Me". The only way to enter into the life Christ intends for us is to lay down this self- pursuit and find our identity in Him alone.
Who are you trying to be? What are you striving to attain? Are you depressed because of your own failures? What would finally have to happen before you would feel happy and OK? We can actually be just as acceptable to God as Jesus is. We can experience the same powerful life that He had. All we have to do is believe and receive it. Jesus is offering to us His life and identity. Amazing!
Telltale signs in determining identity:
What excites you?
What do you find yourself primarily sharing with others?
What makes you mad when it is threatened?
What feeds you? What are you drawn to listening to?