The preachers quoted here say a believer's identity is changed because a death has taken place: he is now in Christ, with Christ as his head. They contrast this with an identity built on other people's opinions, which keeps collapsing, and say its purpose is to display Christ's glory.
The New Testament does not use the word identity, but it has a phrase that does the same work: "in Christ." Paul uses it constantly. A Christian is someone united to Christ, so that what is true of him becomes true of them. Calvin made this the hinge of salvation: "so long as we are without Christ and separated from him, nothing which he suffered and did for the salvation of the human race is of the least benefit to us."1
That union means a break with the old self. "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). "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20). "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3).
Scripture then names what believers are. Accepted: God "hath made us accepted in the beloved" (Ephesians 1:6). Not condemned: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Children: "as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God" (John 1:12); "ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15).2 Heirs: "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (8:17). God's own people: "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people" (1 Peter 2:9). His work: "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Ephesians 2:10).
This identity is given, not achieved. Paul lists the things he once built his standing on, ancestry, education and zeal, and says, "what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ" (Philippians 3:7). His summary is, "by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Corinthians 15:10). It also relativises every other marker: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
It is the basis for how believers are to live. Paul's commands follow from his statements: because "ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man", therefore put away anger, lying and impurity (Colossians 3:8-10). Christians are told to become in practice what they already are in Christ.
John's response is wonder: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1).
- John Calvin, The Institutes Of The Christian Religion, "Chapter 1. the benefits of christ made available to us by the secret...".
- Strong's Greek 5206, huiothesía: "the placing as a son, i.e. adoption (figuratively, Christian sonship in respect to God)".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Our identity is no longer the same because death has taken place.
Michael Durham
in A New Identity
Read in context
To be in Christ means Christ is my federal head.
Tim Conway
in Believers Are in Christ
Listen at 59:48
To be in Christ is to be in the House of God, and not to be in Christ Jesus is to be outside of the House of God.
T. Austin-Sparks
in The House of God
Read in context
And your identity is forever blowing up in your face and you have to find a new one because we build our sense of who we are on men's opinions instead of on the Spirit of God.
Richard E. Bieber
in Know Who You Are
Listen at 3:16
Your identity is to live to display His identity as glorious.
John Piper
in Identity and Desire
Listen at 12:49
To be in Christ means I'm surrounded by Christ.
Tim Conway
in Believers Are in Christ
Listen at 46:12
What Scripture says
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature
- Galatians 2:20 not I, but Christ lives in me
- Romans 8:15-17 the Spirit of adoption; heirs of God
- Colossians 3:3 your life is hid with Christ in God
- 1 Peter 2:9 a chosen generation, a royal priesthood
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