Identity In Christ

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A major identity crisis follows the modern day church. Typically, we find people departing form the faith, converting to other religions, or being swept away with cults. We are to be called love like Christ. Yet we see factions and tribal like tendencies that pollute the church. There is so much of this that it even sets confusion with new believers and fuel the fire for the critics. My goal with this study is help form a true and realistic identity through the lens of God’s Word. Knowing where we stand as believers is pivotal in modern evangelicalism.
The scriptures are the most studied and criticized piece of human history to ever exist. There has been more books and commentaries written about the Bible then any piece of literature ever. The Bible is extensive, deep, and spiritually discerned. Quite frankly we are at a lost without the enablement from the Holy Spirit. However, the one drawing ideas and application from it. Happens to be broken from the fall. So how can we be sure that we understand correctly? Throughout my time as I have studied the scriptures. Two principles have guided my hermenutical stance. Humility and the fear of God. Proverbs 22:4 “By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life.” and Proverbs 3:5–8“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.” The question then follows, “how do we know if we are humble and if we are fearing the Lord?” Unfortunately the answer to this is not as easy. And will take a difficult personal commitment to know. After all, this exact personal litmus test is commanded in scripture. 2 Corinthians 13:5“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” How risky it would be to not take this call to action seriously. In no way I am proclaiming that I have it all figured out or in any sense of the the word infallible. Nor do I believe that we need “prefect” doctrine in order to be saved. What has stood out for me throughout my time as a Christian. Is in fact our identity in Christ and who Christ is. All by studying His Word through humility and reverence.
With that being said. I personally don't believe I could ever do this topic justice. This is one of those fields of study that has continued through the ages. And likely never be exhausted within the eternity of heaven. However, as I have already stated why this topic is so important. I hope we can plunge ourselves into the infinite space of God’s love. Taking refuge in Him and no other.
His Own Special People
Read 1 Peter 2:1-9
The Lexham English Bible
1 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn infants long for the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation, 3 if you have tasted that the Lord is kind, 4 to whom you are drawing near, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in the sight of God. 5 And you yourselves, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in scripture,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
7 Therefore the honor is for you who believe, but for those who refuse to believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected,
this one has become ⌊the cornerstone⌋,”
8 and
“A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,”
who stumble because they* disobey the word to which also they were consigned. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s possession, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, 10 who once were not a people, but now are the people of God, the ones who were not shown mercy, but now are shown mercy.
1 Pe 2:1–10
Unpacking this...
2:1 The flesh verses the spirit; cf. 1 Tim 1:3-11
2:2 Longing for the Word of God or the Spiritual Milk will enable us in sanctification; draw on the comparison from milk; cf. Heb 4:12-13
2:3 kind = kind; good; benevolent
2:4 the Living Stone = Jesus; we should be drawing near to Christ “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ” 2 Pet 3:18
2:5 we are living stones; the work we are called to for God and our neighbor
2:6 Is 28:16 is quoted here
2:7 We as believers have honor; those who refuse to believe stumble
2:8 disobedient to the Word
2:9 We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; God’s own special possession; To proclaim Him
2:10 Once without identity in God but now are and identify as the people of God; receiving His mercy
Read Ephesians 4:17-24

17 This therefore I say and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the Gentiles walk: in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart, 19 who, becoming callous, gave themselves over to licentiousness, for the pursuit of all uncleanness in greediness.

20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard about him, and you were taught by him (just as truth is in Jesus), 22 that you take off, according to your former way of life, the old man, who is being destroyed according to deceitful desires, 23 be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new man (in accordance with God), who is created in righteousness and holiness from the truth.

A large aspect of your identity is based upon your behavior. This is why God has called us a new creation. Now as a believer we are called to put on the “new man”. Lets look at the contrasts of these verses.
4:17 How we walk ; Gentiles walk is in futility of their mind ; futile = producing no useful result or pointless ; what does our lives look like
4:18 darkened, alienated, ignorant, hardness
4:19 This may remind you of Romans 1:24. But what is interesting here is “they” which seems to be all people. Give themselves over to this pursuit of all uncleanness in greediness.
4:20 These listed are not of Christ.
4:21 Here the conditional statement of true belief
4:22 “take off” or “lay aside”. This word as you can tell is normally used with clothing.
4:23 This renewal of the mind encompasses all aspects of life and how we think. 2 Cor 10:5
4:24 This new man/woman that we are called to “put on”.
Col 3:8-10 We have identified with these things in our past. But now identity with the new man. Who is renewed in the knowledge of him who created Him.
Christian Core Doctrines
Identity in Christ For the Believer
Verses to Use
The Lexham English Bible
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16
Look how Paul identities with the gospel. He is not ashamed. Remember one defining factor of a believer of Christ is 1 Peter 2:9 “to proclaim the virtues of the one who called you”
The gospel is the very pinnacle of God’s love (speak on the gospel)
The Lexham English Bible
For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Phil 1:21
The gospel message is the opposition of the flesh. Self preservation is in all of us. Yet when Paul argues that death is no longer something we need to fear. But something where we will gain. For Paul to live is Christ! It is entirely in Him, about Him, for Him, and by Him. This should be championed by all believers!

John answered and said, “A man can receive not one thing unless it is granted to him from heaven! 28 You yourselves testify about me that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I am sent before that one.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices ⌊greatly⌋ because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete. 30 It is necessary for that one to increase, but for me to decrease.”

I understand these may not sound like “identity” verses. But what is consistent as you read the NT. We find not a lifting of self. But a denial of ones self to lift of Christ.
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