2 Corinthians 5:16-18 (ERV): “From this time on we don’t think of anyone as the world thinks of people. It is true that in the past we thought of Christ as the world thinks. But we don’t think that way now. When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between Himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with Him.”
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 (TPT): “So, from now on, we refuse to evaluate people merely by their outward appearances. For that’s how we once viewed the Anointed One, but no longer do we see Him with limited human insight. Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new. And God has made all things new, and reconciled us to himself, and given us the ministry of reconciling others to God.
We have the tendency to self-identify in a variety of ways. We’ve all heard people say, “I’m __________.” The world wants to label us; however, we are not our accomplishments, feelings, desires, or attractions. Our identity is in the God who made us and not in what others say about us or even what we say or feel about ourselves. Before we can grow and be all God wants us to be, we must know who we are and who God created us to be.
Genesis 1:27 tells us “God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.” Male and female both reflect the image of God. God created everything and said, “It is good.” Psalm 139:13 shows that we are no accident. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, intricately knitted together in our mother’s womb.
Ephesians 2:10 says we are God’s handiwork. The word means God’s masterpiece made in the image of God to reflect His image. God planned works for us to do that are unique; a plan specific to each of us individually.
Identity is important. If you don’t believe that just lose your driver’s license or passport! God made each of us with a special identity and God doesn’t make copies! Our identity in Jesus Christ speaks of us being a new creation. The old self that lived apart from Jesus Christ is dead (crucified with Christ), and the new self emerges living in the power of God. The believer is united with Jesus Christ and called to live in community with other believers and become more and more like Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:20 (CEV): “I have died, but Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave His life for me.”
We are to live in the world, but not of the world {Matthew 5:13-16}. We are to live in an intimate relationship with God, made possible in Jesus Christ, whom we are identified. By His power, we can, “make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without” {2 Corinthians 7:1}. This same power manifests in our lives and allows us to effectively reflect on and direct others to Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (TPT): “Beloved ones, with promises like these, and because of our deepest respect and worship of God, we must remove everything from our lives that contaminates body and spirit and continue to complete the development of holiness within us.”
Matthew 5:14-16 (TPT): “Your lives light up the world. For how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that your commendable works will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.”
Our identity in Jesus Christ ought to draw us closer and closer to God and His kingdom and farther and farther from the stuff of this earth. Our new kingdom perspective means we understand that our enemy is the devil and not the people around us. Our enemy is the spiritual forces that endeavor to keep people from knowing God and believers from growing in intimacy with Him.
Colossians 3:2 (TPT): “Christ’s resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power, honor, and authority! Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.”
Ephesians 6:12-13 (ERV): “Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places. That is why you need to get God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing."
“The Scriptures” articulate our distinctive identity in Jesus Christ from the moment we place our trust in Him for salvation. We are:
1) Justified (declared righteous): “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” {Romans 3:23-24}
2) Have peace with God: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” {Romans 5:1}
2) Have peace with God: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” {Romans 5:1}
3) Saved from God’s wrath: “Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him.” {Romans 5:9}
4) Reconciled to God: “For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life.” {Romans 5:10}
5) Redeemed: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” {Ephesians 1:7}
6) Freed from condemnation (judgment): “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” {Romans 8:1}
7) Indwelt by the Holy Spirit: “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” {Romans 8:9}
8) Adopted as sons: “Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God…you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him, we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’” {Romans 8:14-15}
9) Accepted by God: “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” {Romans 15:7}
10) Baptized into the body of Christ (the church): “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” {1 Corinthians 12:13}
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