For a believer to be a new creation in Christ is truly a fantastic blessing. The newness a Christ follower genuinely experiences not only impacts the individual believer but her impact on others as well. When a person enters into a saving relationship with God through Jesus Christ, he is saved, but also is sanctified – increasingly being transformed into the image of Christ. In a genuine sense, a Christian’s identity is found in Christ.
Among the many benefits of being identified in Christ is becoming part of His forever family. The family of God embraces an immense body of believers who strive together to grow in their relationship with God as well as making Him known to the world around them. Paul wrote of the church this way:
“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit” (1 Cor 12:13).
It is the Spirit who incorporates believers into the body of Christ, a spiritual transformation symbolized by baptism. All believers are filled with the Spirit when they are renewed through salvation in Christ (see: Titus 3:5). It is the Spirit’s presence and workings that unites and empowers the church to be witnesses of Christ to the world.
The believer’s identity in Christ is demonstrated by their genuine concern for each other. The Christ follower does not merely seek their own good but desires to see the needs of others met (see: 1 Cor 10:24). The church is characterized by encouragement and forgiveness (see: Gal 6:1-2 and Matt 18:21-22). God’s forever family has a place for everyone to use their gifts and abilities in an atmosphere of respect and grace (see: 1 Peter 5:1-5).
The cornerstone characteristic of Christ’s church is love. This love is more than a feeling. It is a selfless, sacrificial, love modeled after Christ and empowered by the Spirit. Paul expresses this truth to the Christians in Galatia: “
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20).
This is undoubtedly a testimony worth memorizing and modeling. Paul writes that the old self who attempted to live apart from Christ is dead and his new self lives in Christ. He actually says, rather, Christ lives in him. The life Paul now lives on earth he lives in union with Christ through faith. Paul declares that he is crucified with Christ (old self is dead), and Christ lives in him (new self is alive in Christ). It is only by this work of God, that one can be identified in Him as well as reflect His love to others. Such love in the church is a witness to the world that we are His as well as testifies to the hope found in Him (see: John 13:25 and John 17:23-26).
Our being identified in Christ adopts us into His forever family. Therefore, our identity that unites us with Him unites us with brothers and sisters all over the world and spanning all of time. It is within this Christ-centric community that we share in Christ’s love extending it to one another and to the world.
It is an honor to be a part of God’s forever family with each of you. Out identity in Christ blesses us with community with Him and other believers. Let’s encourage each other to embrace Christ’s love, share it with one another, and spread it to throughout the world. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!