What is Our identity

What is our identity? I’ll let you answer that question. I know some of you will try to answer my question with Jesus Christ, or Christian, or something. But, I don’t want you to, not yet.

We live in a society which is grasping at so many things to base their identity on. People will base their identity on the color of their skin, the gender they identify with. They will base their identity on who they love, or the job they pursue. They will base their identity on their kids or their parents, on their grades or their school.

We could talk about the truth or falsehood in each of those identities. But, we are not. The simple fact is, if we put our identity in any of those things, our identity is false. We are not defined by any of those things.

Those of you who were going to answer Christ, you would be right. He is our identity, now. However, how do we live that identity. It is one thing to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is our identity, if we are his follower. It is another thing to live like it.

Today, we are going to talk about our self-identity. Let’s read Colossians 3:1-17

Colossians 3:1–17 NIV

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Pray

Through this passage, we will see our identity as living at the right address, wearing the right clothes, and singing the right song.

Live at the Right Address

Let’s look at living at the right address.

Paul says something really strange at the beginning of the passage. He says that

Colossians 3:1–4 NIV

How many of you are physically dead? Yeah, neither am I. But, Paul says that we have died and that we have been raised with Christ, and now live with him above with Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God.

How is this so?

Paul throughout his epistles speaks of the heavenly realm

Ephesians is a great example of what he says. Chapter 1 speaks of the blessings with which God has blessed us.

Ephesians 1:3 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Think about all the things which God has blessed us in Christ. We have forgiveness in him, a forgiveness that we do not have to earn. We have a relationship with him. We have joy, and peace, and hope.

Paul continues and says that we have those blessings because Christ is in the heavenly realm.

Ephesians 1:18–23 NIV

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

In Chapter 2, Paul says that not only is Christ in the heavenly realm but we are in the heavenly realm.

Ephesians 2:4–7 NIV

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

What does that mean?

In chapter 3, God’s message is broadcast to those in the Heavenly realm.

Ephesians 3:10–11 NIV

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Finally, not only does Paul teach that God’s blessing come from the heavenly realm, Christ is in the heavenly realm, we are in the heavenly realm, God’s message is broadcast throughout the heavenly realm, but God’s message is broadcast to the spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly Realm.

Ephesians 6:12 NIV

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Everything we are as a follower of Christ is wrapped up in the Heavenly Realm. Our blessings are there, our savior is there, our mission is there, our enemy is there.

The truth is: our identity is those who abide in the Heavenly Realm, not as those who abide on this earth.

We can look at our life and say: You know, Christ has not yet come. I am living in the struggle against sin. I am surrounded by the pain of this life. I see more and more each day the realities of this world. Christ is in heaven, yes, but I am not.

Paul is declaring what theologians call a “Spatial understanding of an inaugurated kingdom.”

An inaugurated kingdom speaks of our view of the end times. We believe that Christ is coming again to bring us into glory. He is bringing judgment on the world and perfection to his followers. We know that will happen, beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Wonders are happening around us. They started at the moment of Christ ascension, following the timeline until Christ’s glorious return.

The inaugurated kingdom means that, yes, Christ is coming again and we see evidences of his kingdom now. Our salvation is one such evidence. Technically, we are saved when we stand before the throne of God, but we are saved at the moment of faith through Christ and he leads us to that moment of ultimate salvation when God declares us righteous and opens his kingdom to us.

The spatial understanding, says: In many ways, I am not there in eternity. I am not in the Heavenly realm and I can fill up a book describing all those ways, but Christ is there. Therefore I am.

Paul says: I identify with Christ so much, so that: I know Christ is in heaven, therefore I am there to.

That’s what he saying about dying with Christ. When we celebrate baptism, the person baptized declares that they have identified with Christ. His death is theirs. His resurrection is theirs. His life is theirs.

Since we identify with Christ for our salvation, we identify with him for our life. We trust him not just for our salvation, but for our sanctification, our service, our shepherding. He is our life. He is in heaven, therefore, if we identify with him, we are there to.

Which means, since I am there, I should set my mind on things above, on things of the Heavenly realm.

Paul writes in Galatians 2:20-21

Galatians 2:20–21 NIV

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

I live my life as if I were living in the heavenly realm, proclaiming the Gospel with my life and living against the spiritual forces of evil every single day.

I live my life, looking at all my choices of how to act, what to say, what to pursue or prioritize, and anything which belongs to this world order in my life I kill.

John Owen, an old Puritan preacher, wrote a short book “The Mortification of Sin” based on Rom 8 13 “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”

By mortification of sin, he meant killing sin. He believed that Christians of his day were too at peace with the world. We could say the same thing.

Too often, I live as if my address is 808 E. 3rd St, Neligh, instead of the perfect place prepared for me by my savior in the heavenly realm.

To often I do not put to death the things of this world order. Instead, I embrace them. But, when I do:

I am saying that I do not live in the Heavenly Realm and therefore I do not identify with Christ, for my life or my salvation.

Let’s stop with the excuses.

We are to live at the right address.

Wear the Right Clothes

Paul says we are to wear the right clothes.

He moves from discussing where we live to what we wear.

He says that we are to take off certain actions.

Colossians 3:5–10 NIV

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

Some of those actions, we would most definitely say that we do not want to do. Others of those actions, we find excuses to indulge in. But, Paul does not give us any wiggle room. We are to take off those actions, and we are to put on other actions.

Before we discuss those other actions, let’s point out something. Paul’s discuss of wearing the right clothes is not a discussion of conversion. He is pointing to people who are saved. They have identified with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. This is a discussion of sanctification.

If we are followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to put off the clothes of the old life and to put on the clothes of the new life. What are those clothes? Let’s continue in the passage:

Colossians 3:12–14 NIV

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let’s read that again.

Colossians 3:12–14 NIV

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to make a conscience decision to put on these clothes, every day, all day.

To often, life gets heated, like the inside of a car on a hot day, and we start stripping. I can’t handle this situation, so I’m taking off the compassion. I’m taking off the gentleness and the patience. Forgiveness, nope, can’t do it. Love and unity, well, if they would agree with me...

I know you have been there. It’s not just me. We blame our anger, our language, our attitudes on the situation or on our emotions, but it is a willful choice we make.

Can we get more personal?

Say you are married. If you are not, this works with any friendship.

Say you are married. Something happens and you have fight. So, this is just hypothetical, because which one of us really have fights with our spouses?

The wife has done something and you are madder than all get out. You go to bed angry. You know the verse that says: don’t let the sun go down on your anger, but was written to the Ephesians not to you.

Sun comes up, and you have a choice. Which clothes are you going to put on?

Are you going to put on the old clothes of anger, rage, malice, filthy language. Or are you going to put on the new clothes of

Compassion: I understand where you are coming from, because Christ did.

Kindness: I will not allow my feelings to hurt you, instead I will show Christ.

Humility: I realize that in my responses to you, I sinned against God and you. Please forgive me. I want to follow Christ’s example

Gentleness: Let me meet you where you are in your emotions and pain, not pushing you down more, because Christ doesn’t.

Patience: Let me take the time to understand you better and allow God the time to lead you in your sanctification, through Christ.

Forgiveness: Yes, I have been hurt by you, but Jesus died for that hurt. He paid the penalty for your actions. Therefore, I will not make you pay any penalty, nor will I change the way I treat you.

Love: In Christ, I choose to be loyal to you and do right by you regardless of you actions.

Through these actions, I bind myself in unity to you, because Christ died so that we would be one in Him.

The clothes we wear is our choice. What are we going to do?

I’ve been talking as a guy, but this can be totally flipped around. I believe guys and girls are different and have different functions, but I believe that they are equal under God and have equal responsibility in fights. This is the one area that I am an egalitarian.

We have an identity as a Christian. Our address is in the Heavenly Realm, so are we going to self-consciously wear the right clothes. Or are we going to find excuses to put on the muddy clothes of our past and pretend in that moment that Christ is not our sanctification, our life, that he is not our savior.

We are to live at the right address. We are to wear the right clothes.

Sing the right song

Finally, Paul says that we are to sing the right song.

Colossians 3:15–17 NIV

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Paul has two sets of triplets in this passage. The first set of triplets is about the Gospel.

He says: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly. Whatever you do, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Each of these is the Gospel.

The peace of Christ. That is from the Gospel. Christ brings us peace through his death and resurrection. We have peace with God because our sins are forgiven and we are reconciled to him.

We have peace with each other, because Christ has paid the penalty for all sins and he has removed any barrier between us that we might throw up, whether race or gender or nationality or philosophy, in Christ, because of the Gospel, we are one and can have peace.

The message of Christ is the Gospel. He died, showing us eternal love, that we might be forgiven, justified, sanctified, glorified, and any other “fied” you want to add to that. We are to share that message, not just with non-Christians, but with fellow Christians, reminding them continually of the truth of our faith through our words and our songs.

The peace of Christ. The message of Christ. The name of Christ. This speaks of his identity, which is proven in the Gospel. His followers, whether in word or deed, are to speak and do according to the identity of Jesus Christ.

This triplet is great. And, by itself, is sufficient. But, Paul adds something to each line. He adds a triplet of gratitude.

Colossians 3:15 NIV

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:16 NIV

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Colossians 3:17 NIV

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

To each Gospel point, Paul adds a line about gratitude. Our identity should be those who sing the right song. We are to be thankful Christians.

Think about sitting in the local cafe. Most of the conversations you will hear will be complaints. Complaints about the weather. Complaints about the husband or the wife. Complaints about the kids and how they are raising the grandkids. You will not hear much conversation about thankfulness.

When you think about those Christians who are an effective witness for the Gospel are they ones who are thankful or who live in continual misery. Christians with a bold witness are thankful Christians.

And, we sit back and are in awe of this thankful ones.

D.A. Carson told about a student at Trinity Evangelical Theological Seminary. This student had move with his wife and his three year old from South America to get equipped for ministry back in his home country. While here, his wife was diagnosed with cancer. They said that she would not survive. She went through treatment, had to go back to their country. But, miraculously, she was healed. Then, he came down with cancer. Went through treatment. 6 months later, his cancer went into remission. He continued studying. But, then, his wife’s cancer came back. After rounds of treatment, she died. 6 years of battling cancer while trying to prepare for the ministry God called him to, he packed up his things to move back to his home country with his 9 year old daughter and no wife. The Sunday before he left, he preached at D.A. Carson’s church. The only thing he talked about was how amazing his salvation is and how much he is grateful to God.

This is normal Christianity. Anything else is “sub-normal.” So often, we in America are in awe of those who show such gratitude in the midst of all of life’s circumstances. But they are the normal ones. Those of us who are stuck in misery are the sub-normal ones. Something is wrong with us.

Our church services should be this resounding praise to the God who has saved us and who is leading us triumphantly through life. Our conversations with our spouses and kids and friends should be peppered with the truth of what God is doing.

We are to sing the right song.

Yes, that song might have points of lament as we grieve the broken around us. Our time at the conference this past week was bittersweet as we fellowshipped with dear friends we have not seen, but we also said goodbye to good friends who we may not see again. But, with lament, we are drawn to the God who is good through all things, so even in lament we see gratitude, true, real, vibrant gratitude.

We sing the right song because of the Gospel.

Paul says that our conduct, who we are and what we do, is grounded in the Gospel. We have gratitude because of the Gospel. Husbands, we love wives because of the Gospel. Wives, you respect your husbands, because of the Gospel. Children, you obey your parents, because of the Gospel. Parents, we do not embitter our children, because of the Gospel.

Friends and family members, we forgive each other because of the Gospel. We could continue through the rest of Colossians and mention all the ways that our conduct is changed because of the Gospel, surrounded continually with gratitude because of what Jesus has done in our life.

Who are we? We live at the right address. We wear the right clothes. We sing the right song.

This is the self-identity mandated by a Holy God in His Holy Word. Let us seize it and live in it.

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