Tag Archives: identity in Christ

Can Identity Solve Poverty?

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(Ephesians 4:28)  “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” 

One of the natural results and proof of “putting on the new man” and “putting off the old man” is we now conform to the morality of God’s law. Even though the ceremonial portions of the Law of Moses do not apply to us in this Dispensation of Grace, the moral laws of God still reflect His nature. “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15) hasn’t changed. In Christ, we do not have the freedom to steal just because we are under grace. In fact, we now have the freedom in Christ to choose not to steal.

The awesome thing about who we are in Christ is our motivations change. Instead of constantly looking out for personal wealth and working hard to create a “lifestyle of the rich and famous,” motivations for working are due to the needs of others. There are plenty of people who lack the basic necessities of life and God gives those of us who are able the ability to help fill those needs. This is the life of God in action. This is God answering the prayers of those who have not. This is the Church in action.

If we are truly motivated by the “new man” we don’t give to the poor in order to gain favor with God or other people. We give because we unconditionally love those around us who are in need. Because Christ unconditionally gave his life for us and because God unconditionally bestows on us “all heavenly blessings in Christ” we are changed into the personification of God’s character. Love is the true motivation now and we become the ambassadors of Christ with the goal of influencing the world by demonstrating the reality of the gospel.

Renewed Thought – Could we solve the problem of poverty in our country if the Church truly served God out of love based on identity in Christ rather than religious obligation and obedience?

Wearing The Right Clothes

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(Ephesians 4:22)  “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;”

This morning I have to make a choice what to wear to work. Do I put on my shorts, t-shirt and running shoes? I think people would be confused if I walked into a meeting dressed like that. My clothes won’t match my position and they definitely won’t match what I’m expected to wear and I won’t be able to get the job done. Whatever clothes I pick out today, they need to portray my identity.

“That” = as a result of the previous verse, this is what we should do. We’ve heard Christ by the preaching of the gospel. We’ve been taught by Him through the message of His grace. There is a result of receiving this teaching.

“put off concerning the conversation the old man” = we have a conscious choice to make. Do we continue to identify with our old life and old lifestyle? Do we continue to walk in those things that are contrary to His thinking and His will? It is a choice based on faith on our new identity in Him. We don’t have to live like who we were before Christ. We can make a decision to change our life to be consistent with who we are now.

If my clothes are old, ragged, dirty and smelly, why would I wear them? If I just showered, should I put them back on? No, now that I’ve been washed, I’m clean. It’s time to choose to wear something clean because that’s who I am. If I am really clean by the blood of the lamb, I also have a choice about the lifestyle I live. Do I live like a person who doesn’t know Christ, pursuing those things against the will of God? Or do I live a life that is aligned with someone in a personal, intimate relationship with the Lord? I have the freedom to choose my lifestyle not as an external display but as a result. As a result of the gospel, I am now clean on the inside. Now I can pursue a life that is clean and throw away the old life because that is who I am in Christ – and so are you!

Renewed Thought – Christianity is not forced labor. It is the pursuit of a life consistent with our identity.

You Can Live Differently

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(Ephesians 4:17)  “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,”

Is who we are determined by how we look or what we do? We tend to identify ourselves with how we look (tall, short, thin, heavy, blond, brunette), what we do (clerk, cashier, lawyer, banker), and even our denomination or doctrinal position (Baptist, Methodist, Calvinist, Armenian, Dispensationalist).  Who we really are is far more than what we see on the outside. How we act is rooted in how we perceive ourselves. We live out of our identity.

“Gentile” is a word describing who we were outside of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 10:32, there are three groups of people listed: Jews, Gentiles and the church of God. We find our true identity in one of those three groups.

“This I say therefore” – Up to this point in Ephesians, Paul has been describing the identity of the Body of Christ and our individual part in it. But if you continue to perceive yourself as who you were before becoming part of this interconnected organism of redeemed souls, you will continue to act accordingly.

“that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk” – Based on who we now know ourselves to be in Christ and part of His Church, we should no longer live like those outside of Christ. We should not think of ourselves as Gentiles but rather we are children of the Most High God.

“in the vanity of their mind” – This is how the unsaved think. Outside of Christ, there is a spiritual void that leads to futile thoughts or empty purpose. This is why so many people who seem to have all the money and success in the world still cannot find fulfillment. Living without a sense of spiritual identity creates a life that can only find temporary physical satisfaction in the next high or more intense thrill.

Are you feeling empty today and struggling? You are more than a physical shell. In Christ you are more than a “sinner saved by grace.” Because you are part of His Body, you are an important part of what God is doing today. You are somebody that God designed and intends to use for His purpose. Start thinking of yourself according to who you are now, not who you were before salvation. Allow your life to conform to that identity. You can live a different and fulfilled life starting today, regardless of your circumstances, by discovering who you really are.

[box]Renewed Thought – I don’t have to live in my past because my present can be lived according to my future.[/box]