New Life Brings New Identity

(Taken from Victory Over the Darkness by Neil T. Anderson, Chapter Two, Pp. 46,47)

Being a Christian is not just a matter of getting something; it is a matter of being someone. A Christian is not simply a person who is forgiven and goes to heaven. A Christian, in terms of his or her deepest identity, is a saint, a spiritually born child of God, a divine masterpiece, a child of light, a citizen of heaven. Being born again transformed you into someone who didn’t exist before. What you receive as a Christian isn’t the point; it is who you are. It is not what you do as a Christian that determines who you are; it is who you are that determines what you do (see 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:10; 1 Pet. 2:9,10; 1 John 3:1,2).

Understanding your identity in Christ is essential for living the Christian life. People cannot consistently behave in ways that are inconsistent with the way they perceive themselves. You don’t change yourself by your perception. You change your perception of yourself by believing the truth. If you perceive yourself wrongly, you will live wrongly because what you are believing is not true. If you think you are a no-good bum, you will probably live like a no-good bum. If, however, you see yourself as a child of God who is spiritually alive in Christ, you will begin to live accordingly. Next to a knowledge of God, a knowledge of who you are is by far the most important truth you can possess.

The major strategy of Satan is to distort the character of God and the truth of who we are. He can’t change God and he can’t do anything to change our identity and position in Christ. If, however, he can get us to believe a lie, we will live as though our identity in Christ isn’t true.

Words to Live By – Philippians

One of the best things I’ve found that I can do is to read through a book in the Bible in one sitting, ignoring all chapter and verse markings. It reads better; and when I cease to be distracted by the markings, I begin to understand the story as a whole, rather than in snippets.

I am continually amazed by the apostle’s letters in the New Testament. It is a wonderful thing to know that they went through hard times and were able to share the grace and freedom they found in God through Jesus Christ, so that I can have that same truth to hold onto throughout every step of my life journey.

Here is some of the truth and insight I am gaining from Paul’s letter to the Philippians:

God is not done with me. He hasn’t left me to fend for myself.
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (1:4-6)

The kind of life I can have in Jesus Christ:
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (1:9-11)

God has a purpose for every trial in my life.
Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. (1:12)

I am alive for a reason. God wants to use me.
I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. (1:23-24)

No matter the outcome, I need to do what I know is right. Live out the truth.
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. (1:27)

Granted. That’s like, a gift, right? Suffering for Christ is a privilege!
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. (1:29)

God can do good things through me.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (2:12-13)

Be happy! Be careful.
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. (3:2)

There is nothing greater than knowing Jesus. Even sufferings are a way of becoming closer to Him, and that makes it all worth it.
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (3:7-11)

Even Paul didn’t “have it all figured out” yet. But he didn’t get hung up on his past failures. He kept moving forward. If I don’t understand something, God will reveal it to me at some point. My job is to live by the truth that I already know.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.  (3:12-16)

God uses others’ experiences to teach me things he wants me to know.
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! (3:17-4:1)

Be gentle. Don’t worry. If I need something, I can bring it to God! Remember the truth. Practice the truth.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (4:4-9)

The secret of contentment: The strength of Jesus Christ.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (4:12,13)