You hear so much talk about people talking about “identifying” with this person with that person. Are with different backgrounds and ethics, but this does not mean a thing if your life is not in Christ Jesus. Stop identifying who you were and start identifying who you are in Christ Jesus.
The Good News is that when you become a born-again believer in Christ Jesus, your identity was made certain because God does not change. (Hebrews 13:8) No longer is our identity based on what we do or who we are, but on Whose we are. We were born into a new family, a royal family. We are now forgiven, accepted in the beloved, redeemed, declared righteous, as Jesus is, so are we in this world, and so much more based on Who Jesus is. Now we find our identity in Christ!
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2:9)
What Does it mean to be a Chosen Generation, a Royal Priesthood?
‘Royal‘ implies kingship or royalty. ‘Priesthood,’ of course, speaks of being a priest before God. … Given that the Scripture calls you a ‘Royal Priesthood,’ it follows that you are not merely one or the other, but rather you are both king and priest in Christ.
When you came into Christ, He conferred upon you the role of both king and priest. Revelation 5:9-10 clearly states that He has “made us kings and priests to our God” [NKJV].
When Jesus made you a royal priesthood, he was not simply bestowing a fancy title upon you. Rather, he was equipping you with the divine right to use both the Word and the blood, so that you could overcome any enemy that you could ever encounter in this life.
“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
What Does It Mean to Be a New Creature, Old things have Passed Away?
“old things have passed away.” The “old” refers to everything that is part of our old nature—natural pride, love of sin, reliance on works, and our former opinions, habits, and passions. Most significantly, what we loved has passed away, especially the supreme love of self and with-it self-righteousness, self-promotion, and self-justification. The new creature looks outwardly toward Christ instead of inwardly toward self. The old things died, nailed to the cross with our sin nature.
Along with the old passing away, “the new has come!” Old, dead things are replaced with new things, full of life and the glory of God. The newborn soul delights in the things of God and abhors the things of the world and the flesh. Our purposes, feelings, desires, and understandings are fresh and different. We see the world differently. The Bible seems to be a new book, and though we may have read it before, there is a beauty about it which we never saw before, and which we wonder at not having perceived. The whole face of nature seems to us to be changed, and we seem to be in a new world. The heavens and the earth are filled with new wonders, and all things seem now to speak forth the praise of God. There are new feelings toward all people—a new kind of love toward family and friends, a new compassion never felt for enemies, and a new love for all mankind. The things we once loved, we now detest. The sin we once held onto, we now desire to put away forever. We “put off the old man with his deeds” (Colossians 3:9), and put on the “new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24).
We are created in His images. After His likeness. No matter what race or age, gender or heritage, nationality, or language, colour or ethnicity… the gospel of Christ is for ANYONE and everyone. ALL who believe are positioned ‘IN CHRIST’, by faith. Everyone is given an opportunity to become a completely new person, with a new nature and a new life. By faith, we become part of God’s NEW CREATION, we have a new family and the opportunity to be born of the Spirit of God, washed in Jesus’ blood, and become a member of His Body, is available to ALL.
The Bible says, we have been made the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus. As Jesus is, so are we in this world. Old things are passed away, and behold, all things are made new. and gone, and by the power of the Spirit, we are made a new creature that has been born into the family of God. Old things have passed away. The old life is replaced by the new – and by faith, we have become new creatures with a heavenly destiny and a glorious inheritance. We are positioned in Him, seated with Him in heavenly places, and have been made joint-heirs with HIM.
Paul himself was a prime example of a life that was radically changed, by grace through faith in Christ. From being the greatest persecutor of Christ and His Church, he became one of His most ardent admirers – dedicating his life for the One he loved so dearly. Paul spent much of the first half of his life persecuting the church.
Paul was on his way to Damascus when he had a vision that changed his life: according to Galatians 1:16, God revealed his Son to him Paul states that he saw the Lord (1 Corinthians 9:1), though Acts claims that near Damascus he saw a blinding bright light. Following this revelation, which convinced Paul that God had indeed chosen Jesus to be the promised messiah.
So, we as new creatures have received a new life in Christ Jesus. We are given a new identity: an identity in Christ. When we are given new life in Jesus, God makes us part of a “family” who collectively participate in the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:23-24 says we are – “to be made new in the attitude of your minds. And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Living out our new identity in Christ must take root in our thinking – “our attitude of our minds.” It must be based on Who God is – “His likeness,” not on ourselves.
Recently this has become an active part of my quiet time with God which has helped me. As I read Scripture, I look for Who He is – a name, characteristic, or comparison. Then I write who I am in contrast or who I am because of Who He is. Here are just a few examples:
- In John 4 Jesus talks to the Samaritan woman at the well and speaks of living water. He is the Living Water…in contrast, I am the one who is thirsty, the recipient of His refreshing.
- In John 8:12 Jesus calls Himself the Light of the World, and in Matthew 5:14-16 He says we are the light of the world. He is the Light…because of that, I am to be His reflection and shine His light.
- In 1 John 4 John tells us in verse 8 that “God is love.” Then he continues in verse 18 – “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” He is love – the Fear Conqueror. I am the one who takes refuge in Him.
- Isaiah used this same identity clarification thinking when he calls God the Potter and we are the clay.
- One of my favorites is found in Roman 15:13 where Paul refers to the God of hope filling us with joy, peace & hope. He is the Filler…I am the filled.
When I focus on Who Christ is, it helps me accurately clarify who I am.
In Christ, I am God’s child! John 1:12 – “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,”
In Christ, I have been made new! 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. “
In Christ, I live for Him! Galatians 2:20 – “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.”
His love changes everything…even my identity! I know who I am in Christ Jesus.! Let us find our identity in Christ.
Ephesians 2:10~ “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
2 Timothy 1:7~ “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Here are 17 Scriptures that identify who we are in Christ. We are accepted, secure & significant! Let us share this Good News with others today!
