Aloha Dearest Family,
I
heard someone say once that the church does not have a sin problem, it has an
identity problem? The church, as a whole, does not understand it's true
identity. But what does identity really mean? I look at the fans of the
Jacksonville Jaguars. The fans buy Jaguar T-shirts, hats, calendars, and buy
season tickets (yes, you know who you are). They are totally identified with
the team. If they win, the fans feel a part of the win. When they lose (which
is often) the fans are devastated. And this can be said for any team or group.
I feel identified with musicians because I am one. But what does this have to
do with the church?
For
the first few years after becoming a Christian, I really didn't understand my
true identity. For years I thought my Christian walk depended upon my ability
to obey God and "earn" God's acceptance of me. When I fell short of
the mark, I felt a great sense of failure and I thought that I was the least
esteemed in the church. I thought that my acceptance before God depended upon
me. Would I ever be good enough? Then someone taught me about my identification
in Christ and I finally understood my worth in God's family. I learned that God
did not accept me because of how well I walked, but how well Jesus Christ walked
and that I was identified with his accomplishments (not my own).
Romans
6 spells out what this identification is all about.
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
When Christ died we were baptized into his death.
(Uh..l don't get it). Let's keep reading and maybe we will start to understand.
When he was buried, so were we. And when he was raised from the dead, we were
raised with him and therefore we should walk in newness of life. (no, still not
getting it). Let's read the next few verses,
"For if we have been planted together (identified) in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin (our sin nature) might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."
We
have been identified with him through his death and resurrection. The "old man" in this verse refers to
our old sinful nature that we used to have before salvation. This "old
man" was crucified with Christ. We no longer are subject to the ways of our
old nature. We have a new nature created within us. This new nature is Christ
in you. (Colossians 1:27)
"Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he lives, he lives unto God. Likewise (in this very same way) reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Jesus Christ died unto sin (our
sin) once and he was raised from the dead to serve God. In this same manner,
our sins and our sin nature died with Christ and when Christ was resurrected we
became a new creation. We can reckon our old man nature dead so that we can now
serve God. (I think I'm starting to understand this. Please tell me more).
Let's go to Ephesians chapter 2,
"Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
These verses always intrigued me because of the number
of times "together" is used. When Christ was made alive, so were we.
When he was raised up, so were we. When he was seated at the right hand of God,
SO WERE WE, (together quickened,
together raised, together seated). This is how God sees us today. Not as
sinners trying to earn His approval, but as sons and daughters of God seated
with Christ in the heavenlies. This is our identification.
This
being said, we can now look at the two words "in Christ". I have read these words hundreds of times
but up until a couple of years ago I really did not grasp the full meaning of
these words. In these two words I see my total identification in him.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Within myself alone I have condemnation. But IN CHRIST I have no condemnation.
"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth
"For as in Adam all die,
even so in Christ shall all be made alive." If it wasn't for
Jesus Christ there would be no hope. It is only in Christ shall all be one day
made alive. Now, whenever I read the words "in Christ" I know that it
is in him that I have my true identity. In myself, I have nothing. In Christ, I
have everything. (Now I get it!)
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as he is, so are we in this world." (I John 4:17) As Jesus Christ is RIGHT NOW, this is how we are in the world. Let's look at one more verse,
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein
he hath made us accepted in the beloved." The words "accepted" means "highly
favored". Beloved here refers to Jesus Christ. We are highly favored
"IN CHRIST". I now know that I am not highly favored because of
anything that I have done, but by the finished work of Jesus Christ. This is
how God sees us and will always see us.
Love Always, Ray (Go Jags!)
No comments:
Post a Comment