Articles
Identity - 10.20.2024 Bulletin
Identity
The dictionary definition of the word “identity” means “sameness in all that constitutes the objective reality of a thing” (Merriam-Webster’s). Simply put, oneness. A person’s identity defines who they are, and how they live. Unfortunately, whether we know it or not, many face an “identity crisis,” which stems from defining ourselves by things which in the grand scheme are insignificant. Look at what Paul wrote about his identity, “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). It’s of course fine and good to have a job with a career path, accomplishments, accolades, titles, hobbies, friends, and family and so on. But these don’t make up our true identity. For the disciple of Christ, like Paul, our identity must be in Christ.
Paul begins by saying “I have been crucified with Christ.” While Paul was not literally crucified, or on the next cross over from Christ, he is expressing the gravity of the change that must take place in a person who dedicates their life to Christ. In what sense did Paul crucify himself with Christ? Through baptism. In Romans 6.3-14, Paul likens baptism to death, burial and resurrection. Through baptism we die to the old self, and are raised a new creation, for the purpose of walking in newness of life. When something is dead, it is gone for good, there is no bringing it back. Paul even says, “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin” (Romans 6.6). When we put on Christ in baptism, we take on a new identity, a Christ-like mindset. We don’t look back at the old life of sin in which we once walked. That life is gone, dead, to never return.
How does this change manifest itself in the new person who is no longer walking in the body of sin? We no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ. We belong to Him, so we live each day for Him. Paul says, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” While living in the flesh Paul yielded his will to Christ. He became a “living sacrifice” for God and Christ (Romans 12.1-2). Israel was commanded under the old law to make animal sacrifices. These sacrifices were set apart to God and for God, and if performed improperly were displeasing to God. To live for Christ is to set apart our lives to Him as a sacrifice, not physically but spiritually. While in the flesh we are to dedicate our lives to His purpose because we are no longer our own, we belong to Him (1 Corinthians 6.19). Being a “living sacrifice” involves total commitment. We must give up personal pleasures for the work of Christ. The disciple of Christ must constantly be on guard against those things that shut the word of God out of our lives. Those things that would keep us from keeping God’s commandments, even if some of those things are morally right in and of themselves.
Why live like this? Why give up what the world has to offer to be a living sacrifice for Christ? It’s because of what Christ has done for us. Paul says, “And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” The love of Christ is so great that He gave himself as a sacrifice while mankind was in a vile state, unworthy of love. Romans 5.8-10 says that it was while we were “sinners” and “enemies” that Christ died for us. Christ gave himself for Paul, you, me, and all mankind, past, present, and future. We are indebted to Christ; therefore, we now live for Christ. While our lives of sacrifice will never come close to measuring up to that of Christ, our lives of dedication to Him are one of the ways we can show Christ in the world today for others to see. But more importantly it is through Christ’s sacrifice that we can have hope of eternal life, if we live in obedience to Him. Earlier in Galatians Paul wrote of Christ, “who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (1.4).
Deep down we all would like to be known for something. It is the reason many take pride in their accomplishments and accolades, the position or title they hold at work, among other things. The reality is if our identity is not first in Christ, the rest means nothing. Let us work each day to making Christ our identity and living as sacrifice for Him.
DS
- Glad_Tidings_10.20.2024_PDF.pdf (4.09 MB)
