Threat

"The early church was seen as a threat to the social order since it wouldn’t honor all deities; the church today is seen as a threat to the social order since it won’t honor all identities."

     - Tim Keller

Identity Theft

Who are you? Probably the most important question we should ask ourselves (Right after Who is Jesus). This article might help you give a good and accurate answer to the question - Identity Theft: Losing Our Christian Self-Consciousness by Jim Elliff

When whimpering Gideon hid himself from the Midianites in the winepress while threshing his wheat, the angel of the Lord appeared to him with this striking greeting: “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

Man of valor? In Gideon’s mind, nothing could be further from the truth. But the angel continued, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites.”

Gideon squeaked out a lame response, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” But the angel, representing God, rebutted his view of himself by forcing the issue: “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

Gideon had identity issues. He could not believe the truth about himself. A fleece or two later, he was finally fully convinced, and went on to valiantly do God’s business as the mighty man God described him to be. See his story in Judges 6-9.

God has created the identity of His church. It is far beyond what we claim of ourselves. In fact, we may have a harder time than Gideon believing we are who we are. But failure to believe what is true about ourselves will keep us from doing mighty deeds for God. Certainly what we are is entirely based upon God’s presence in us and His power bequeathed to us. We are nothing on our own. But in Christ, we are something beyond imagination. Consider who God declares we are:

We are God’s children.

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.” (1 Jn 3:1 )

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Gal 3:26

We are God’s temple.

“For we are the temple of the living God . . .” (2 Cor 6:16)

“You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet 2:5)

We are God’s priests.

“. . . and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father . . .” (Rev 1:6)
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood . . .” (1 Pet 2:9)

We are God’s handiwork.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Eph 2:10)

We are God’s heirs.

“. . . and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ . . .” (Rom 8:17)

“And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Gal 3:29)

We are God’s ambassadors.

“Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor 5:20)

When we are asked who we are or face overwhelming odds against us, don’t give a blank stare. Realize who you are because of Christ. If possible, memorize these truths so that you will never forget!

(Image copied from original web page)

Identity Crises

Do you know who you are? Don't let your true identity be stolen from you! Please read Identity Theft: Loosing Our Christian Self Consciousness by Jim Elliff

When whimpering Gideon hid himself from the Midianites in the winepress while threshing his wheat, the angel of the Lord appeared to him with this striking greeting: “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

Man of valor? In Gideon’s mind, nothing could be further from the truth. But the angel continued, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites.”

Gideon squeaked out a lame response, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” But the angel, representing God, rebutted his view of himself by forcing the issue: “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

Gideon had identity issues. He could not believe the truth about himself. A fleece or two later, he was finally fully convinced, and went on to valiantly do God’s business as the mighty man God described him to be. See his story in Judges 6-9.

God has created the identity of His church. It is far beyond what we claim of ourselves. In fact, we may have a harder time than Gideon believing we are who we are. But failure to believe what is true about ourselves will keep us from doing mighty deeds for God. Certainly what we are is entirely based upon God’s presence in us and His power bequeathed to us. We are nothing on our own. But in Christ, we are something beyond imagination. Consider who God declares we are:

We are God’s children.

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.” (1 Jn 3:1 )

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Gal 3:26

We are God’s temple.

“For we are the temple of the living God . . .” (2 Cor 6:16)

“You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet 2:5)

We are God’s priests.

“. . . and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father . . .” (Rev 1:6)
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood . . .” (1 Pet 2:9)

We are God’s handiwork.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Eph 2:10)

We are God’s heirs.

“. . . and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ . . .” (Rom 8:17)
“And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” (Gal 3:29)

We are God’s ambassadors.

“Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor 5:20)

When we are asked who we are or face overwhelming odds against us, don’t give a blank stare. Realize who you are because of Christ. If possible, memorize these truths so that you will never forget!

Identity

Finding Your Identity in Christ by David Powlinson


Finding Your Identity in Christ from Crossway on Vimeo.

Who Do You Think You Are? 

When it comes to your identity, you must always start with this understanding: your identity is a gift of grace in Christ. It’s a gift that—in our new birth—God creates a new identity for you as a child of the living God, as a man who has been forgiven, as a man who has awakened to the fear of the Lord and knows that God is great and that he is small. God is the one who evaluates us; we are not the ones who get the last say with regard to who we are.

There is a progressive working throughout our entire lives in which the Holy Spirit instills, deepens, and impresses that new identity and its implications into our lives. To echo the identity statements that thread through Psalm 119, God is our master and we are his servants. It takes a lifetime to work out the implications of what it means that we are the servants of another’s will—that we belong to another and are bought with the blood of another.

On the last day—the day when we see Christ face-to-face—we will not only know God as he is, but we'll also know ourselves as we actually are. All of those partial senses of our true identity will come into their fullness. We will know that we are the beloved children of a loving Father. We will know that we are servants. We will know that the hopes that we have placed in him have come true. Our identity and self-understanding will come to fruition.

As in everything else about the Christian life, there’s always this from-to dynamic. The from—all of our old, misplaced identities—needs to be recognized and understood. In what ways are you prone to incorrectly define who you are? Is it your career? Is it being liked? Is it pleasure? The first battle is correctly defining how you currently see yourself; the second part is taking hold of the appropriate counterweights to those false identities.

Let’s say I place my identity in always needing to be in control. That’s a great example of a false identity because it assumes that I am the Lord. If there is another person who is the Lord and he is in control, then I must learn what it means to trust him and to repent of the anger, anxiety, bullying, aggression, and withdrawal that comes from trying to assert my own control. I must learn to live in a world in which I am not in control—a world in which I’m fragile, dependent, vulnerable, and mortal, recognizing that there is a God who is in control who is a God of life.

The from-to dynamic is central and threads throughout the whole of the Christian life.

What You Already Are

HT: Christine Caine

Identity In Achievement

From Identity in Achievement by Paul David Trip

....Because we're human beings with souls, we naturally need to find identity somewhere, in something, or in someone. So, when we forget that our identity is found "in Christ", we're going to default to a substitute identity.

Today I want to write about a very common replacement: identity in achievement.
God calls us to be effective and productive, so we ought to be concerned about our harvest and the return on our investments. Success is a biblical concept, and God wants us to do great things for his kingdom. But, the minute we take on our achievements as an identity, dangerous things happen.

In my experience pastoring and counseling, there are three types of people who fall victim to finding identity in their achievement:

1. Over Achiever

Do you get a deep sense of personal fulfillment when you get the next "notch" in your belt at work? Do you find it hard to slow down and say no to opportunities where you know you'll impress? Do you get irritated and angered when someone or something interferes with what you're trying to accomplish?

It's a God-honoring thing to work hard, but because of our wandering hearts, it's easy to lose sight of God and biblical priorities in the midst of our pursuit of personal achievement and success. Your identity in life is found in what Christ did for you on Calvary, not in what you can do for yourself or for God.

2. Under Achiever

Do feel as if you haven't accomplished what you want to accomplish in life? Are younger people taking on more responsibility at work? Are you aware of how much success your friends and peers are having while you seem to enjoy very little?
When we put our identity in achievement, and then fail to have success, we become discouraged, depressed, and bitter, not only towards others, but often towards God as well. Your identity in life is found in what Christ accomplished on the Cross, not in how much you can accomplish on earth.

3. Regretful Achiever

Do you look back on your life with great remorse, seeing how much achievement and success drove you? Do you see evidence of broken relationships as a result of your pursuit and wish you could rewind the clock and do it all over again?

Listen: your identity is found in the perfect life of Christ, not in the mistake-riddled life you look back on with grief. Christ, without regret, went to the Cross to cover all the regrets you would have in the future. And, God's timing is always perfect. Instead of dwelling on the past, allow God to redeem however much of your future you have left on this earth, for his glory and your good.

So, if I haven't said it enough, achievement is a very dangerous place to find identity. You will disappoint yourself, others will disappoint you, and your list of successes won't satisfy the craving of your soul. Only the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ will.

The Identity Issue

Who are you?

In this video, pastor Jeff Vanderstelt helps us rethink the way we perceive ourselves, reminding us that our identity as believers is first and foremost in Jesus Christ and what he has done on our behalf.

Our worth is not impacted by our successes or failures. Rather, we have Christ's righteousness leading to God's total acceptance. With God, our being always precedes our doing. This is the good news of the gospel—good news that frees us to live for him each and every day.

HT: Crossway

What He Says

Loved this from Paul Wilkinson - You Say / He Says 

YOU SAY 
GOD SAYS 
BIBLE VERSES

You say: “It’s impossible” 
God says: All things are possible 
(Luke 18:27)

You say: “I’m too tired” 
God says: I will give you rest 
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: “Nobody really loves me” 
God says: I love you 
(John 3:16 & John 3:34 )

You say: “I can’t go on” 
God says: My grace is sufficient 
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: “I can’t figure things out” 
God says: I will direct your steps 
(Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: “I can’t do it” 
God says: You can do all things 
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: “I’m not able” 
God says: I am able 
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: “It’s not worth it” 
God says: It will be worth it 
(Roman 8:28 )

You say: “I can’t forgive myself” 
God says: I Forgive you 
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: “I can’t manage” 
God says: I will supply all your needs 
(Philippians 4:19)

You say: “I’m afraid” 
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear 
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: “I’m always worried and frustrated” 
God says: Cast all your cares on ME 
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: “I’m not smart enough” 
God says: I give you wisdom 
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: “I feel all alone” 
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you 
(Hebrews 13:5)

Keep It Central

In this 6 minute interview, Francis Chan and David Platt discuss how easy it is to find our identity in our performance, work or ministry. And this is why repentance and ministry are inextricably linked, and what we can do about it. (From the Verge Network.)

Basis For Identity

Paul Tripp on Who You Really Are - Great stuff!

Moving On

Proportionate Identity

Saint or sinner? Son or servant? What term best describes our identity as Christians. The answer is all of the above, in balanced proportion. Check out this post from  Terry Johnson

What happens when one or two aspects of our Christian identity get emphasized at the expense of others? What happens when we fail to keep the four central elements (sons, saints, servants, sinners) of our identity in tension with each other? Let’s see. 

Some have made “sons” and “saints” the message of the gospel and have neglected the categories of “servant” and “sinner.” The result has been a strong emphasis on our unchanging security as children of God and our safe status as “holy ones,” righteous in Christ. Many hurting souls have derived great comfort from this constant refrain. Those of “tender conscience,” to use the Puritan term, have found deep consolation in regular reminders of sonship and sainthood.

However, in the absence of an ongoing emphasis on “servant” and “sinner” the result too often has been complacency about duty, service, responsibility, and even about sin.

“Don’t should me,” some preachers have been known to say. “There is nothing that I must do that will make God love me more. There is nothing that I have done that will make Him love me less,” these preachers rightly insist. Yet, they continue, “My Father is always pleased with me and never displeased. He sees me ‘in Christ,’ perfect and complete.“ Consequently, don’t tell me what I need to do. I don’t need to do anything – just bask in grace. When I fail, I’m loved and accepted. When I fall, I am safe and secure. The Christian life is not doing but being, being ‘in Christ.’”

There is a problem with this even in terms of sonship. While fathers don’t love their children more or less according to their performance, they may be more or less pleased according to service and obedience. We are regularly told to do the things with which God is pleased and that He rewards and blesses (e.g. Mt 6:1ff; 2 Cor 5:9; Col 1:10; Eph 5:10). God’s love is unchanging. However, He may be more or less pleased with us, and may be at times quite displeased.

No Need to Prove Anything to Anyone

"...there's one way we can identify the devil's voice. It always plays to our fears. It is the voice that tells us we must do something to prove who we are, to prove that we're worthy, to prove that we are who God has already declared us to be. When we know we are loved by God, we don't have to prove anything to anyone. There is nothing we can do to make ourselves more beloved than we are."

-Jonathan Martin, Prototype: What Happens When You Discover That You Are More Like Jesus Than You Think, pages 53-54

Basis for Identity

"The gospel changes what I fundamentally boast in - it changes the whole basis for my identity. Nothing in the whole world has any power over me - I am free at last to enjoy the world, for I do not need the world. I feel neither inferior to anyone or superior to anyone, and I am being made all over into someone and something entirely new.:

      - Timothy Keller, Galatians For You, page 184

Where to Boast

"..if you understand the gospel, you 'boast' exclusively and only in the cross. Our identity, our self-image, is based on what gives us a sense of dignity and significance - what we boast in. Religion leads us to boast in something about us. the gospel leads us t boast in the cross of Jesus. that means our identity in Jesus is confident and secure-  we do 'boast' ! - yet humbly, based on a profound sense of our flaws and neediness."

        - Timothy Keller, Galatians For You, page 182