REDEFINED –Discovering our identity in Christ!
2 Corinthians 5:17
Most of you probably know the story well — but during her Adventures in Wonderland, the main character, Alice — came across a Caterpillar. And he asked her, “Who are you?” But, her response was quite interesting:
Alice replied, rather shyly, “I—I hardly know, sir, just at present—at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.”
“What do you mean by that?” said the Caterpillar sternly. “Explain yourself!”
“I can’t explain myself, I’m afraid, sir,” said Alice, “because I’m not myself, you see.”
“I don’t see,” said the Caterpillar.
“I’m afraid I can’t put it more clearly,” Alice replied very politely, “for I can’t understand it myself to begin with; and being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing.”
Simply put, Alice was having an identity crisis. Can any of you relate?
If we’re honest, I think there are many of us who find ourselves struggling like Alice.
I think there are many of us who struggle to understand who we are — maybe for you it has been caused by a change in life. Maybe a mid-life identity crisis, or an empty-nest identity crisis, or an occupational identity crisis — but whatever the cause the problem reveals itself by a challenge to understanding who we are.
It’s for this reason that many people today create multiple identities of themselves. And, it’s easy to do on social media.
— So, maybe on FB we portray ourselves as being fun, and light-hearted, silly, family oriented, and passionate, or energetic.
— But then, on LinkedIn, we seem altogether different. On LinkedIn, we portray ourselves as studious, or experienced, or business minded, or extremely driven and serious, sort of no-frills, more commanding.
Whatever the case, it seems we struggle to really know who we are. So, we seek to fit in—and be whomever it is we think will be best received and most liked.
— Somewhere along the line, we were taught that our true identity must be tied to our occupation or accomplishments, and so — our view of ourselves becomes deeply connected with our work, our careers, or our skills.
— Still others have linked their identity in life to the hurt. Maybe you’ve spent your lifetime being defined by your loss, or your pain, or some trauma, or failure. But you’ve allowed those things to define you. And you’ve become comfortable living out that identity.
But, the truth is — none of those things really DEFINE us! That’s not WHO WE ARE!
And if I may — it seems like today (more than ever before) things like gender, and personality, and interests are the hot buttons of identity. So, what I want to talk with you about today — may be more relevant now than it’s ever been.
I know in the 1960’s there was a generation of people who sought to “discover themselves.” But, today in the 2020’s — that seems to be the quest of this generation as well.
And let me add, while most people are asking the right question — they are simply asking the wrong people.
Especially, for those who know Jesus. Because, our salvation changes everything!
Last Sunday, four people experienced salvation in our service. They surrendered their lives to Christ, and began a new journey in faith…trusting in Him.
Paul says, when someone comes to Christ — ALL THINGS CHANGE…their life changes, their heart shifts, their relationship with God and others changes. Everything is new! If you have your Bible, turn with me to 2 Corinthians 5. Beginning in verse 14 — it says,
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (NIV)
Listen again to the words of verse 17. Paul says,
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone…
Paul says unequivocally, that for those who have trusted in Jesus, we have a NEW IDENTITY. We have been remade, reshaped, renamed, reclaimed — and our identity has been REDEFINED!
So, no longer are we defined by things, people, habits, our past, our present, our mistakes — nor our successes. Because of Jesus — and His work in us, who we are has been
MESSAGE:
SO, WHO DOES GOD SAY THAT WE ARE?
That’s sort of a reversal of the question we’re familiar with. In Mark chapter 8, Jesus asked His disciples was “Who do you say I am?” But today, I want us to consider how God defines us.
Because, as Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:11,
“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us,…(and)…designs on us for glorious living…”
Ephesians 1:11-12 (The Message)
So, in Christ, we discover who we are and who we are destined to become! And if we look anywhere else to discover these things — we will miss the mark, be deeply mislead and be left with both confusion and disappointment.
So, who does God say that we are? Well, there’s a wealth of descriptions throughout the Bible. But I believe there are three that stand out more than any other.
And the first is this — when it comes to WHO WE ARE, the BIBLE repeated tells us:
1. WE ARE DEEPLY LOVED!
So many in our culture have a completely misunderstanding of who God is — and therefore are incapable of understanding who they are. One of the most important things in this life is to know God — and by that, to know His love for us.
Several years ago, a student in seminary class at one of our Christian Universities was struggling in his faith — and after hearing his professor proclaim the power of knowing God, the student stood to his feet and brashly announced, “I don’t believe in God!”
After pausing for a moment to gain his thoughts, the wise professor, replied, “Tell me more. Describe for me, this God you don’t believe in?”
And with that, the young man began to describe an incredibly angry and vengeful God, a God who acted unjustly and careless. He described the pain he had felt in life — and how he uncaring God must be if he were real, because from his perspective, God must be behind all things (including wickedness, wrath, pain, suffering, etc.). To his surprise, when he concluded — his wise professor confessed, “I don’t believe in that God either. My God is a God of love.”
Hear me today, if you misrepresent the identity of God, you will also misrepresent the identity of man.
By nature, God is love. He doesn’t just express or feel love — HE IS LOVE! And because of who He is, we (crafted for Him, and by Him — in His image), are also loved deeply by Him.
In Jeremiah 31:3 — God tells us,
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
Knowing God loves us should change everything in our lives. It should turn our fear into peace, our doubt into faith, and our sorrow into joy. Not because of anything we have done, but because of our relationship to God.
In many ways, we are like a little boy who loses his way and finds himself separated from his mother at the mall.
His immediate response is to look around, but all he sees is the business and stress and the mass of unfamiliar faces and spaces. With great panic he begins cry. Out of fear he calls out, “Momma, momma, where are you.” When all of a sudden, he is found. His mother locates him, embraces him, and holds him in her arms.
And almost instantly, the boys tears cease and his pounding heart calms down. But not because his surroundings are different — but simply because of the loving arms that hold him.
When you have someone who loves holding you, it doesn’t matter anymore what everyone else does or what the circumstances are or what the future holds. When you are held in the arms of God, you find solace and identity in His love.
Our true identity is only found in Christ! And that’s because, in Christ — WE ARE DEEPLY LOVED!
But, more than that…
2. WE ARE COMPLETELY FORGIVEN!
Forgiveness has always been God’s plan. And that’s because, sin has always been a part of humanity’s propensity.
And simply put — SIN MUST BE FORGIVEN…as much as we may try, our SIN CANNOT BE MANAGED, HIDDEN, FIXED, or COVERED.
While we may not be able to effectively deal with our sin, God certainly can. And did!
As verse 19 states,
19 …God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.
2 Corinthians 5:19 (NIV)
Understand, He didn’t have to do it. But He did so — out of love. Therefore, His forgiveness is a product of His grace. And, through Christ, God completed His ultimate plan for our forgiveness.
And it happened on the cross.
As Paul says in Ephesians 1:7,
“In Christ we are set free by the blood of his death, and so we have forgiveness of sins. How rich is God’s grace.”
Ephesians 1:7 (NIV)
Don’t you love that? WE ARE FORGIVEN! And it was ALL GOD’S DOING! Not ours. As He says in Isaiah 43,
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)
Another version puts it this way,
“I am the One who erases all your sins…”
Isaiah 43:25 (NCV)
So, through the sacrifice of Christ (on the cross) we’ve been offered COMPLETE FORGIVENESS. The only question is, have you accepted that gift?
If you want to know who you are (IN CHRST), then know this — you are FORGIVEN! COMPLETELY FORGIVEN!
That’s why Paul says in Romans 8:1,
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:1 (NIV)
I know it’s tempting to believe the lies of the DEVIL, and suppose (even after our salvation), that maybe God could change His mind about us.
Maybe…just maybe, He could rethink this whole COMPLETE FORGIVENESS thing. Maybe after all we’ve done, and all we’ve said, what all we’ve thought…maybe after the way we’ve lived, or where we’ve gone…maybe, just maybe it is too much for Him to FORGIVE!
The DEVIL would love for us to think like that — for us to feel shame and disgrace. And so, he often tries to bring up your past. He wants to remind us of our greatest sin and failure…because he thinks if he can wound us emotionally, then he may be able to cause us to stumble spiritually.
But don’t let he do that! Don’t let him cause you to feel shame over that which God has removed from your record.
If you’ve given your heart to Christ, then don’t be afraid of your past anymore. Move on! Because your past is gone! It no longer exists. It no longer stands against you. It’s been FORGIVEN!
And…it’s a lot like a story I recently came across about a couple of duck hunters, in Southern- Georgia. The two men were sitting low, in a blind — located in the middle of a dry field, in late January. They were just waiting for the light of day to break so they could begin hunting.
But something was off that morning. And as they sat quietly, they began to smell smoke.
Well, it wasn’t long before they could see the glow of fire and a cloud of smoke moving their way. With the growing sound of crackling timbers…they realized the seriousness of the moment, and knew they couldn’t out-run it. So with that, one of the men rifled through his pockets until he found a book of matches.
He quickly began to build a small fire — and then fanned it along into the dry grass around them. After a few moments, the fire had consumed a large portion of the field where they were sitting. Without hesitation, the two of them moved into the center of that charred ground. And hustled together awaiting the arrival of the larger fire.
After just a few minutes, the fire was upon them. They quickly covered their mouths with their shirts, and braced themselves for the worst. But, as the fire came near—it skirted around them. Leaving them completely untouched by the flames.
And that’s because, fire won’t pass where it’s already been.
In the same way, we can’t be held accountable for a debt that has already been paid.
What Christ has FORGIVEN — He won’t hold against you!
So, if you have confessed your sin and experienced SALVATION in Jesus…then you are FORGIVEN…COMPLETELY FORGIVEN!
So, if someone seeks to IDENTIFY YOU, tell them, YOU ARE ORGIVEN!
God’s Word teaches us that: WE ARE DEEPLY LOVED, WE ARE COMPLETELY FORGIVEN!
And…
3. WE ARE FULLY ACCEPTED!
Most people spend their entire lives trying to be accepted.
We pick out clothes that we think will make us look good (so we are accepted). We drive cars that we think will impress others (so we are accepted). It seems like we live our lives trying to be accepted by the masses.
But the Bible tells us — that’s an act of futility. More than that, it’s a reckless and hazardous hobby. Proverbs 29:25 says,
“It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the LORD, you are safe.”
Proverbs 29:25 (GNT)
And that’s good news. It’s what Paul was saying in 2 Corinthians 5:17, when he writes:
17 …if anyone is in Christ…
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
That phrase “In Christ” (or a version of it)), is used some 160 times in the New Testament. And it implies a complete embrace and acceptance of us, by God through Jesus.
Pastor Steven Lawson writes, “When you read…that phrase “in Him” or “in Christ” (which is repeated over and over again). (It means), “We were chosen in Christ,” and, “We were predestined in Christ.” It goes all the way down to the Holy Spirit—we are sealed by the Spirit in Christ…His grace, His sufficiency, and the riches of His mercy are now available to me.” BECAUSE WE ARE ACCEPTED!
We have been accepted by God, solely on the basis on His goodness—not our performance.
Jesus made us acceptable — and He did it, by His death. As Paul says in verse 21,
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
Again, that’s acceptance. He took us, embraced us, welcomed us…as we were! In our sin, but then changed by His power!
So, Jesus bridged the gap between us and God. And doing so, He made us acceptable! FULLY ACCEPTABLE! This means, WE BELONG! And what a great feeling it is— to belong.
I love the way Paul described this to Titus (one of his young proteges). He said in Titus 3:7,
“Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life.”
Titus 3:7 (CEV)
What a liberating thought — I don’t need the approval of others to be happy and content — because I’ve got God’s approval! He knows me, and sees me, and loves me…just as I am.
The real question today is not — HAS GOD ACCEPTED YOU? But rather, HAVE YOU ACCEPTED GOD?
- Have you settled the issue of your sin?
- Have you surrendered your life and will to Him?
- And, have you accepted your NEW IDENTITY in Him?
If you have, then you have been REDEFINED!
Because of Jesus, YOU ARE DEEPLY LOVED, YOU ARE COMPLETELY FORGIVEN, and YOU ARE FULLY ACCEPTED!
CONCLUSION:
So, embrace your identity IN CHRIST! Give up the pursuit of trying to be like everyone else — and BE WHO YOU WERE CREATED TO BE!
As I said when we began — in this culture struggling with it’s IDENTITY CRISIS — don’t be shaped by the plethora of commercials ads, political agenda, or social movements seeking to redefine who you are. Instead, REDEFINE YOUR IDENTITY by CHRIST ALONE!
As George MacDonald (Scottish author and follower of Jesus from the 19th century) once said,
“I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in God’s thought, and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest and most precious thing in all thinking.” — George MacDonald