Our Identity
Our identity is in Christ. According to Galatians 2:20, “I was crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Most men’s identity is in what they do and the roles that they play. Many so-called Christians go through the motions to keep the Ten Commandments. They go to church and they try not to sin. However, it’s not sin that condemns us. Rather, it’s failure to accept the Savior from sin. When we confessed “Jesus is Lord” we received a new Lord and Master. Our identity is no longer “who we are” but rather “whose we are.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If any man is in Christ, he’s a new creature, old things are passed away, all things are become new.” To be in Christ means that we have become a new creation in Christ. He makes all things new. David’s prayer in Psalm 51:1-2 was, “HAVE mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”
Verse 10 says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
As we continue our series about vision and purpose, we need to remember our identity relative to Proverbs 29:18 “where there is no vision the people run wild.” Why are we here and where are we going as Christians and as Men of God? The answers to these questions will keep us on the narrow way, for Jesus Christ himself is the way, the truth and the life. In the midst of the crisis and in the heat of the spiritual battle, we need to be convinced of our mission and our purpose. We need to see ourselves and others, not as we are, but spiritually as God sees us. Ephesians says that from God’s perspective we are seated in heavenly places. God sees us not as we are, but as we will be at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:14 says that the love of God compels us to action. What is the reason for your action? Why do you do what you do? What motivates you? If the motive isn’t the love of Christ then why are you here? “For the love of Christ constraineth (compels) us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
During a recent congressional appointment, one congressman did not approve a Christian’s appointment. The congressman argued that the Christian was “intolerant” and too “exclusive.” He believed that the Christian could not relate or empathize with others outside of his faith. The Christian was rejected for the appointment simply because he he identified with his Lord Jesus Christ.
We’re constantly being evaluated if we profess to be Christians. It matters whether we’re living for this life or the next life. If we compromise our Christian values and try to make a peace treaty with the devil, the God of this World, then we are not “sanctified” according to the truth of the Word of God. Sanctified starts with “discrimination.” It means to be set apart… separated to the purpose for which our Creator designed us. If we truly know our Lord Jesus Christ, we’ll allow the Word of God to rebuke and correct us and to restore us to an upright position. The purpose is so that we will walk in fellowship with our Heavenly Father. The narrow way is the only way. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father except by me.”
God looks at us in our sin and our brokenness and has compassion. He did not come to judge us and to condemn us. Rather he sent his son Jesus Christ that the world through him might be saved. When we accept God’s offer of salvation through the sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ on our behalf, God sees us clothed in white robes of his righteousness. According to 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Romans 8 says that there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.
When a man first comes to Christ and the eyes of his understanding are enlightened, he “falls in love” with God, His Son Jesus Christ. He thrills at God’s truth and the revelation of His Word. We must guard our heart not to “lose our first love.” Love is the motivation for our actions. We need to remind ourselves not only “who we are” but also “whose we are.” If we’re not connected with like minded men in Christ, we’ll never grow up into the mature Christian that our Father wants us to be. We’re most like those with whom we spend the most time. Sin is crouching at the door if we don’t walk with others who walk in fellowship with him.
According to 1 John 1:7-9, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The devil’s job is to dim the light of the Word of God in our heart. We need men who will shine their light into our heart so that together we can walk in fellowship one with another.
God will restore us when we confess our sin, our broken fellowship. For if we confess our sin he is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If a man is in Christ, he will say, “for me to live is Christ and my purpose is to glorify God. My identity is the furtherance of the gospel of Christ.” We have been given the ministry of reconciliation. Our purpose in life is to get others to know him, the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship with our Heavenly Father through his son Jesus Christ.
Walking in the Word is abiding in Christ. Our exhortation is to fan the flame of our brothers in Christ to build up the body of Christ. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which He has foreordained that we should walk therein. This is the purpose for which we were created, for what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.
May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael