In the light of Christ

1. Our identityin the lightof Christ… – 26th September2016
“Weknow thatwhatweused to be wasnailed to thecrosswith him.Thathappened so ourbodiesthatwere
ruled bysin would losetheirpower.So weare no longerslavesofsin”(Romans6:6).
Our identityinChristisfirstandforemostone of newness. Whenwe have faithinJesusChristasour
saviorand throughour self-motivationturntoGod,repentforour sinsandreceive salvation,we begina
processthat changesus to become a new entityinHim…we become a new creation.We can readfrom
2 Corinthians5:17, “Whenanyonelivesin Christ,the new creation has come. The old isgone! The new
is here!. Whenone refersto an Identity,it isdefinedasthe collective aspectof the setof characteristics
by whicha thingisdefinitivelyrecognizableorknown.Therefore whenasChristianswe are speakingof
our newidentityinChrist,itshouldbe recognizable both withinourselvesandtoothers.
If a Christianis “inChrist,”that shouldbe evident fromhisorshe love forothers,actionsandbehavioral
patterns, justas being“inthe world”isequallyevident.A furtherdefinitionof identity is“the qualityor
conditionof beingthe same assomethingelse.” The name “Christians”meansliterally“followersof
Christ.”Therefore,inthe case of our identityinChrist,ourlivesshouldindicate that ourbehaviorand
mannerisms are the same as Christ.
Whenwe referto an ‘identityinChrist’andas our new identityin Him,we are nolongerslavestosin as
we learnfrom Romans 6:6, “Weknow that what we used to be was nailedto the cross with him.That
happenedso our bodiesthat were ruled by sinwouldlose their power. So we are no longerslavesof
sin”.Throughthis we are reconciledtoGod.We learnthisfrom Romans5:10, “Oncewe were God’s
enemies. But we havebeen broughtback to himbecause his Sonhas died forus. Now that Godhas
broughtus back, we are even more secure. Weknow that we will be saved becauseChrist lives”.
The newidentity thatwe received completelychangesourrelationshipwithGodandour families,just
as it changesthe waywe see the world.Our new identityinChristmeanswe have the same relationship
withGod that Christhas—we are Hischildren. AsdevoutChristianswe canlearnfrom the gospel that
God has adoptedusas sons.We are able to call Him “Abba!Father!” We can learnthisfrom Romans
8:15–16, “The Spirityou received doesn’tmake you slaves.Otherwise you wouldlive infear again.
Instead,the HolySpirit you received made youGod’sadoptedchild.By the Spirit’spower we call God
Abba.Abba meansFather. 16
The Spirit himselfjoinswithour spirits.Together they tell usthat we are
God’schildren”.We can learnthat we are bothjointheirsandfriendsof Christ:“Ido notcall youslaves
anymore. Slavesdo not knowtheir master’s business.Instead,I have calledyou friends.I havetold
you everythingI learnedfrom my Father”(John15:15).
Whenone receivessalvation throughfaith,we begintodevelopacloserrelationshipwithGodand this
relationshipisevenstrongerthanthose we have withourearthlyfamilies aswe learnfrom Matthew
10:35–37. Insteadof fearingGodas a judge whowill punishus,we have the greatprivilegeof comingto
Him as our Father.We can approach Himwithconfidence andaskof Him whatwe need muchlike when
we ask thingsfromour parents. “Solet usboldlyapproachGod’sthrone ofgrace. Then we will receive
mercy. We will findgrace to helpus when we need it”(Hebrews4:16). We can ask forHis guidance and
wisdom:“Ifanyof youneeds wisdom,you shouldaskGodfor it. He will give it to you. Godgivesfreely
to everyone anddoesn’tfind fault” (James1:5).
We can alsoknowthat nothingwill take usfromHim as we learnfrom Romans8:38, “I am absolutely
sure that not evendeathorlife canseparate usfrom God’slove.Notevenangelsordemons,the
presentorthe future,orany powerscanseparate us”.We can learnthroughthe scripturesthat we can

2. restin Hisauthorityand respondtoHimwithtrustingobedience,knowingthatobedience isakeypart
of remainingclose toHim: ,WE can learnfrom John 14:23, Jesusreplied, “Anyonewholovesme will
obey my teaching.My Father will love them. We will come to them and make our home withthem”.
Whenour identityisinChrist,we are nolongercitizensof the worldbutapart fromit.Our actions
shouldbe clearand concise inwhatwe do and also as to withwhomwe interactwith. “Donot be joined
to unbelievers.Whatdo right andwrong have in common?Canlightand darknessbe friends? (2
Corinthians 6:14). We can understandthe reasonwhenwe read 2 Corinthians 7:1, “Dear friends,we
have these promisesfrom God.So let us make ourselves pure fromeverything that makes our bodies
and spiritsimpure.Let us be completelyholy. Wewant to honor God”.
Whenour identityisinChrist “we become apart of a heavenly,God-ruledkingdom.Thingsof the earth
no longerdrawus as we are advised: “Setyourmindson thingsabove,not on earthly
things”(Colossians3:2).We don’tfearor over-emphasize sufferingonearthorthe trialswe face.We
can learnfrom1 Peter 3:14, “But even ifyou shouldsufferfor what isright, you are blessed.“Do not
fear their threats[a]
; do not be frightened.” Our lifestyleandouractionsreflectthatour mindsare no
longerconformedtothe world.We can learnfrom Romans 12:1–2, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers
and sisters,in view ofGod’smercy, to offer your bodiesas a livingsacrifice,holyandpleasingto
God—thisisyourtrue andproper worship. 2
Do not conform to the pattern of thisworld, butbe
transformedby the renewing of your mind.Then you will be able to test and approvewhat God’swill
is—hisgood,pleasingandperfect will”.
Whenour identityisinChrist,we are instrumentsof righteousnesstoGod as we can learnfrom Romans
6:13, “Do not offer anypart ofyourselfto sin as an instrumentofwickedness, but rather offer
yourselvesto God asthose who have been broughtfrom death to life; andoffer every part ofyourself
to him asan instrument ofrighteousness”.We can alsolearnthat our new kingdomperspectiveis
clear…thatour enemyisnotthe people aroundusbutthe spiritual forcesthatendeavortokeepthe
people fromknowingGod.We canlearnthisfrom Ephesians6:12, “ Forour struggle isnot againstflesh
and blood,butagainstthe rulers, againstthe authorities,againstthe powers ofthis dark worldand
againstthe spiritual forcesof evil inthe heavenlyrealms…”.
All of thisis the ideal—the characterof a mature followerof Christ.One of the greatestblessingsabout
our identity inChrististhe grace we’re giveninordertogrow intothe spiritual maturitythattruly
reflectsournewidentity aswe learnfrom Philippians1:6,“…beingconfidentofthis,that he who
begana goodwork in youwill carry it on to completionuntil the day ofChrist Jesus”. Ourlivesinlight
of ouridentityinChristare filledwithaheavenlyFather,alarge,lovingfamily,andthe understanding
that we are citizensof anotherkingdomandnotof thisearth.