Identity and Purpose. Identity has been a bit of a buzzword these days, but I think that makes this point all the more important! In a world in which individuals seek their identity in wealth, status, race, and sexuality, the Christian faith uniquely offers an identity that is rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ. This is an identity that is rock solid- one that can never be shaken, and one that, unlike anything else, offers true meaning. And while people of other religions may find a sense of identity in their belief systems (for example, “I’m a Muslim and this is important to who I am”) only Christianity can actually produce a change in one’s identity!
Apart from Christ, we are enemies of God and by nature, children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3). But, oh! When we by grace through faith place our trust in Christ alone for salvation, we become united to him! The apostle Paul put it this way: “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Additionally, throughout his epistles, Paul frequently used the phrase, “in Christ” to describe the believers’ union with him. This unity with Christ is what changes everything! Consider the following changes to our identity:
From enemies to children. In our union with Christ we are adopted into the family of God as His beloved children. Think of it! Through Christ, we are the beloved children of God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth! Even more, as His children we are given a glorious inheritance- we are actually heirs with Christ! The following verses proclaim these truths:
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1a)
“In love He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will” (Ephesians 1:5)
“But you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons…and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:15, 17a)
From enemies to friends. Through Christ we are reconciled to God and are able to have fellowship directly with Him! This reconciliation means we have been forgiven and are at peace with our Creator. What a blessing to know that God the Father and Christ the Son look upon us as friends! As such, we are loved, enjoyed, and invited into continuous communion. Consider:
“More than that, we also rejoice in God through out Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:11)
“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15)
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20)
From slaves of sin to slaves of righteousness. Outside of Christ we love darkness and cling to our sin. This we do, not realizing that the thing we love and view as freedom is actually our bondage. In this state, sin is our Master- we have no power over it. However, once we are in Christ, this is changed! Rather than be controlled by sin, we are now controlled by the Holy Spirit and become slaves of righteousness. While this might sound contradictory (for who likes the word ‘slave?’) it is actually the way of true freedom. Check out the following!
“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?…and, having been set free from sin, [you] have become slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:16,18)
“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin” (Romans 6:6)
“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6)
As I close this section, I want to leave you with two considerations: 1) These changes to our identity are permanent. They cannot be undone! Because Christ can never change, once we are in him, we can never not be his! Because of our union with Christ, our identity is eternally changed and secure. And, 2) No other religion offers this radical change of identity! The teachings of Islam, Hinduism, or Buddha cannot offer you an identity like this. Certainly, there is no identity given by “the energy of the universe.” Only in Christ are we given this amazing identity!
Before I end this post, I wanted to touch just briefly on one more aspect of our union with Christ- purpose. As followers of Christ we are given the most glorious purpose of all: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. While much could be said on this topic, let me just say (as John Piper has so famously said) that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. We glorify Him most when we love Him supremely! Because such love is demonstrated by action, we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, will live out His word and fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples of all nations. Now that is a purpose unlike any other! Truly, we are here not for ourselves, but to make Christ known. And nothing is better than this!
One more thought: perhaps the best thing about our purpose is that we fulfill it out of love, not out of fear. We live our lives unto God because of His amazing love for us- because He has taken us from the muck and mire and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places; because He has made us sons, daughters, and friends. This is why! Not because we must work to earn heaven or to escape God’s judgment! We live for Him out of our joy and freedom. And let me tell you, this only exists in the Christian faith! Only the God of the Bible radically transforms our identity and equips us for the most glorious purpose imaginable!
What Christianity offers is unmatched by any other worldly teaching/belief system. All that has been discussed in these posts flows from the truth of Christianity: the truth of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the truth of God’s word. I pray these posts have encouraged your heart- but I also pray they have provoked some questions. If this has been the case for you, I encourage you to dig in, ask the hard questions, and earnestly seek the answers! In doing so, I firmly believe your faith will be strengthened and your witness emboldened. In this, we will proclaim, “Glory to God, alone!”
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