MY LIFE: #38 Identity Matters

Indwelt Christians are a new creation. The born-again believer has been given a regenerate spirit – that of Christ Jesus.

IDENTITY IN CHRIST VS. THAT OF THE SELF-LIFE

The Holy Word of God tells us that our identity in Christ is part of accepting His gift of eternal life through faith. Jesus gave His life on earth and rose from the grave to conquer death and sanctify those who believe in Him. When we become indwelt believers in Jesus, we lose our identity of this world and the flesh and embrace our identity in Christ. Our identity in Christ is a significant aspect of the walk in and through Jesus, as it shapes our understanding of our true selves, our life’s purpose, and our relationship with the inward Life of Jesus and others. We are no longer defined by our past sins, our social status, or our accomplishments but by our relationship with Christ. As believers, we are called to live out our identity by releasing the Holy Spirit from within by loving others, serving those in need, and sharing the good news of Jesus with those around us.

Indwelt Christians are a new creation.  The born-again believer has been given a regenerated spirit – that of Christ Jesus.  The “old self,” or “old nature,” has been crucified with Christ and is to be considered dead and gone.  Meaning and purpose in life should now flow from this new identity.  It is the believer’s role to demonstrate the very Life of Christ through our mind, will, and emotions and body.  It is in and through our new identity that believers have a new intimacy, indwelt obedience, dependence, and love relationship with Christ from within. 

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

(Galatians 2:20 NASB)

I WAS WHO OTHERS SAID I WAS

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Stevie. Stevie was a curious and adventurous boy who loved to explore the world around him. However, since he didn’t know who he was, he was also very impressionable and often found himself taking on the identity, opinions, and beliefs of those around him.

One day, Stevie overheard his classmates talking about how cool it was to be a part of the popular crowd. They talked about how they had to dress a certain way, act a certain way, and even talk a certain way to be accepted. He was intrigued by this and decided that he wanted to be a part of the popular crowd, too. So, he began to mimic the ways of the popular kids.

He started to dress like them, talk like them, and even act like them. He thought that if he could just fit in with the popular crowd, he would finally find his true identity in life. However, it didn’t stop there.

But as time went on, Stevie began to realize that he wasn’t “happy.” He explored a more depraved look - grew his hair out, wore clothes that screamed anti-culture, and began hanging out with the troublemakers. In due time, he adopted the identity of the dark side of rebellion and became involved with black magic - tampering with Satanism.

He didn’t feel like he was being true to himself, and he didn’t like the person he was becoming. He realized that he had been so focused on what others thought of him that he had lost sight of who he really was.

One day, Stevie decided that he had had enough. He didn’t want to be a part of the popular crowd anymore. He wanted to find his true identity, even if that meant being different from everyone else.

It wasn’t easy, but Stevie slowly started to embrace his true identity. He started to search out the true meaning of life, talk a different talk, and act in a way that was a reflection of someone more powerful than the friends and influencers in his life. He found Jesus! Since his nasty habit was to be like others, he figured that being like Jesus would solve the problem. He realized that he didn’t need to be like everyone else to be content, but being like Jesus just might do the trick. It worked. By swapping the identity of his peers for the identity of Christ, he found true and authentic victory.

In the end, Stevie found that being true to himself was being true to the One who saved him from himself. Thus discovering the key to finding his place in the world. He learned that it’s okay to be different and that he didn’t need to change who he was to fit in. He was joyous just being himself in Christ, and that was all that mattered.

That boy, of course, was me!

Why the third-person expression? That Stevie is a young man dead and gone. He was the old me who was crucified with Christ, and the new me is the new creation that sprung forth from my co-death, burial, and resurrection with Christ (Galatians 2:20).

If there is anything in which indwelt believers should praise God, it should be our new-found identity in Christ.  This lesson could be used to lead someone to Christ for Salvation or simply to lead them to the Cross for appropriation of identification in Christ.  Most believers wander around in Christianity - like the children of God in the wilderness – not experiencing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in and through them.  When we walk after the flesh, it becomes our most critical moment of understanding who we are in Him. Most of the time, it is a simple case of the believer just not knowing the Truth.

Our old life is gone, but our condition does not always line up with this truth.  The believer seems to fall back on the trash left behind by the “old nature” and, thus, produces fruit unto death.  Meaning and purpose in life flow from identity. By faith in Jesus Christ, God has transferred us into Christ’s very life – eternal life.  Our purpose is to demonstrate, or live out, the very life of Christ by having an intimate, obedient, dependent, loving relationship with Him.

In this diagram, we explain the unsaved fallen nature of man as a spiritual, psychological, physical being, and introduce the significance of the formation of the self-life.  Please note the following:

1. Every person is born into sin through the Adamic nature – fallen man.

2. All humans are born with a body, soul (mind, will, and emotions) and a spirit.

3. Due to being born into sin, the spirit of man is dead (detached) from God.  We call this the un-regenerate man (the spirit is not generated or empowered with life).  Like a broken generator that should power a building, man has no power source to live life.

4. Every person IS a spirit, HAS a soul, and LIVES IN a body.

5. Meaning and purpose for life flow from the spirit of man – dead or alive.  This is how the self-life is formed.

6. God designed man to be born dead in order that each human would seek to experience life and fulfillment from His Son. [In the above illustration, Christ is on the outside of man.]

7. All humans will build their lives upon their identity. In this case, it is the old nature – the fallen man.  The old nature is owned and empowered by Satan. This is why unsaved people go to Hell if Christ does not come to indwell them. 

8. Fallen man has no other choice but to build and expand their identity upon their dead state: seek gods, a darkened mind, choices of sin, emotions damaged by their fallen state, and attempts to find identity in how their body looks.

9. The primary place of identity formation is in the mind, will, and emotions.

10. The person can associate with Christ and His teachings, but until the spirit is generated by Christ indwelling him – it is all for NOT.

Identity in Christ is a vital TRUTH for indwelt Christians, as it shapes our understanding of ourselves, our purpose, and our relationships. Here are some key points about identity in Christ:

It is a gift of grace. We do not earn or achieve our identity in Christ, but we receive it as a free gift when we become indwelt by Jesus and His work on the cross. We are forgiven, accepted, and loved by God, not because of our own merits but because of His merits and grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).

It is a new creation. When we are in Christ, we are no longer defined by our past, our sins, our failures, or our circumstances. We are a new creation with a new nature, a new heart, and a new mind. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds, and we have the mind of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 2:16).

It is a divine purpose. God has a plan and a purpose for each of us in Christ. He has prepared His good works within us to do - so that we may glorify Him and serve others. He has also given us spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities to fulfill our calling. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 4:10-11, Romans 12:4-8).

It is a secure relationship. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We are His children, His Bride, His heirs, and His co-workers. He is our Father, our Savior, our Husband, our Lord, and our Life. He will never leave us nor forsake us, and He will complete the good work He began in us (Romans 8:38-39, John 1:12, John 15:15, Romans 8:17, Philippians 1:6, Hebrews 13:5).

We need to exchange our life for Christ’s life because we are sinners who deserve God’s wrath and judgment. But God, in His love and grace, sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins, offer co-death, and raise us up with Him in a new resurrected Life from the dead. By faith in Him, we can receive His forgiveness and righteousness, and be reconciled to God. By exchanging our life for Christ’s life, we can have a new identity, a new purpose, and a new relationship with God and others. We can live by His power and presence in us and experience His peace and joy. We can also look forward to His eternal glory and reward. All because we exchange our life for His.

Coming up next is #39, “The Driving Force of Identity.”