IDENTITY IN CHRIST......WHO ARE YOU?
If you were asked to
identify yourself, you would probably get out some form of ID. There is bound
to be something you carry that describes you – your physical description and
probably your relationship to other people or an organization. You might have a
driver's license; an employee badge; a debit or credit card; a library card; a
union card; military dog tags or a law enforcement officer's badge. Those are
but a few of the many types of IDs we take with us almost everywhere we go.
One of the greatest
fears we people have is that of losing our identity. Identity theft is a common
topic in the news these days. It even shows up as an attention getting headline
on credit card advertisements. When someone uses our name, account numbers and
passwords, they can take everything we own and make life miserable. On TV and
in print, there are advertisements about safeguarding against this kind of
theft. Those ads are for services to monitor credit reports, detect fraud, as
well as for insurance plans to pay for credit card misuse.
Not only is our identity wrapped up in what we carry with us, we
also are identified by our profession, athletic or musical abilities, academic
achievements, physical attributes, or family background; which often plays a
part in how we portray ourselves. Sometimes, the facade of these things become
so important for us to maintain to others that they end up hiding who we really
are and stunt our growth as a person. This is not a unique issue to people who
are Christians. Most people struggle to find their own identity. As we mature
as individuals we certainly become more confident in what we do and how we act.
Yet still that need to be identified by something that will insure our
legacy is very important and can often influence us for good or for bad. We
will look at this though, from a Christian perspective.
This week, the Sunday morning sermon will coincide
with this article. I trust that, as we learn together, it will encourage us to
think about who we are in Christ.
Firstly, a biblical
standard should set the pace for us. In the letter to the Colossians 3:2-3,
Paul outlines two things.
POSITION IN CHRIST
1. Verse 2 says:
"Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things".
His encouragement here
is to value the eternal. To cultivate thinking... acting upon things that go
beyond the material and temporal of this earth. Doing this takes a resolute
mind, determination and an act of our will. (Also see Romans 12:2)
2. Verse 3 says:
"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God".
As a person trusts the
Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, their sinful nature is put to
death. This does not mean our personality or our abilities die, but rather we
take on the nature of Christ and His goodness, allowing Him to enhance who we
are. Our lives are given over to God and positionally we find ourselves in the
protection and care of God through our faith in Jesus Christ.
IDENTITY IN CHRIST
In the following phrases
I am going to reference certain things that show us our Identity in Christ. The
verses attached support the position we have in God's family as we believe and
trust Him. In the sermon today we will expand on these truths and how they
apply to us.
My Relationship
I am a child of God - 1 John 3:1-2
My Inheritance
I am blessed with every spiritual blessing -
Ephesians 1:3
My Transformation
I am free from Condemnation - Romans 8:1
My Position
I am a Citizen of Heaven
- Phillipians 3:20
My Calling
I am the Salt of the
Earth and a Light in the World - Matthew 5:13-14
How do you see yourself
in relation to your Identity in Christ?
By: Pastor
David Jones