The Root of Most Problems

Published January 20, 2011 Identity in Christ has been an ongoing church phrase in recent years. This is my attempt to settle the matter. The average church spends more time correcting actions rather than revealing identity. It comes down to this: Your identity is not found in what you do. Your identity is found in who God says you are. As many have said, you are a human being, not a human doing. There is nothing you can do to change your identity because your identity is already established (as a believer). We are called to be Christ-like, not merely act Christ-like. That is why Jesus talked about false prophets who prophesied in *His+ name and did signs and wonders, yet Jesus said, I do not know you. Why? Because being like Jesus requires you to actually know Him, His character, and His nature (through relationship), while acting like Jesus only requires you to know a book and some good principles. False prophets look like sheep, their actions look right, but its their hearts and motives that are off. So when you have church cultures that are teaching behavior modification instead of teaching identity, you end up with lots of people who are trying to be clean outside the cup rather than people who actually know who they are [as sons of God].

Living from your identity is as simple as this: Behavior that follows as a result of understanding who you are. You cannot have behavior that is consistent with who you are if you do not understand who you are.

Take this example: Say that were in the Medieval days. And suppose there was a boy who grew up in an orphanage, and at the age of 18, it was revealed that He was actually the Kings son. The King, overjoyed to discover his lost son removes his son from the impoverished living situation and brings the son into his palace. Even though the boy grew up and identified himself as an orphan, he now has the privilege to identify with his true Father rather than the past circumstances. And from there, he can eitherchoose to hold on to his old lifestyle, way of thinking, and upbringing as an orphan, or he can renew his perspective and embrace his new position as royalty and the privileges and responsibilities that come with it. But, so long as the boy identifies with the fact that he was an orphan rather than the fact that heis now a prince, he will behave as he used to behave because he does not understand who he has become. He will hide away his Fathers wealth for himself in fear that he might lose it. He will not trust any of the Kings servants or his new brothers and sisters because he secretly thinks everyone is against him because these were his mindsets when he was an orphan. He will be hesitant to talk to strangers because he is fearful that someone will discover his past and scorn him for it. He will take any chance he can to get position or power because he fears being controlled. He will cut down anyone he feels has the potential to surpass him in skill or position. He will do all of that because he still believes that is who he is. His behavior was what was considered normal in his past (living in an orphanage), and unless he is able to renew his perspective, he will be stuck living in his old man the way the old man thought and behaved (Rom 12:1-2). But, if the boy accepts his new identity as a son and prince, then all of his old behavior will eventually be realigned to his new identity (Rom 6:11). All of his old habits and mindsets will fade away when he begins to realize that they are no longer consistent with his [new] identity (Gal 5:24, Col 3:9). So, when believers say, Oh Im just a sinner saved by grace, that is no different than the orphan boy saying, Oh Im just an orphan who now lives in a palace. It shows that the orphan still identifies with his past (his old man) and has not learned to get his identity from his Father. He has an identity in the old man rather than an identity in the King *of kings+. (Gal 3:26-27, Eph 5:8-9) It comes to a point where the boy begins to realize, Oh I was an orphan (sinner), but now Im royalty (saint)! That was my past before my dad found me, but now Im a prince in my Fathers Kingdom (Col 1:13-14) so that means I dont need to act like an orphan anymore, because Im not! (Rom 6:6). When that shift happens identity in Christ is no longer a church clich. It becomes the basis from which you live. So when Christians say, Oh Im just pessimistic, Im just lazy, Im just an angry person, Im an introvert, Im bitter, they often feel powerless to change because they still believe they are an orphan. They do

not realize that their nature has changed, and when they shed the old identity, the old behavior and mindsets will follow suit. When they finally believe they are now a prince in a palace, they will realize how foolish it is to behave like an orphan (1 Peter 1:14-16). My friend Daniel said this: If God is love, and I am one spirit with Him, what does that make me? its not about going out and TRYING to love people, but rather about going out and just being who you already are. In fact, the entire Christian life is not about TRYING to be something or become something, its about being who you are. Thats why its important to see yourself as God sees you. Its not about trying to manage who you were. Its about learning to live out who you have become. Its not an attempt to change behavior, its a change in natures; its not changing the orphans behavior, its a prince who is no longer an orphan. The bad mindset of being unable to love people disappears when you realize that Love is who you are. The bad habit of responding in anger crumbles when you realize that your nature is to be patient (Gal 5:22). Now, love and patience are natural outflows rather than forced behaviors.

You were living in fear but then you realize its your nature to be bold (Prov 28:1). You dont feel like youre capable of transforming the world around you and then you realize that its your nature to be leaven. You were stuck in anxiety and worry and then you realize that its your nature to have peace (Isaiah 26:3, Rom 14:17, Isaiah 9:6). You were stuck in depression and then you realize its a lie because that old man died and the new mans nature is joy (Rom 14:17,John 15:11). I dont need to try to be holy, I need to understand its already in my nature to be holy (2 Cor. 5:21). I dont need to try to be bold, its who I am. I dont have to try to be patient, its who I am. I dont need to try to get out of depression, it is my nature to be joy. I dont need to try to be less pessimistic, I live and breathe hope. Its not that Im ignorant of the fact that I used to try and fail, its discovering that in Christ, I have a new predisposition to be everything I used to try to become. Its when you realize who you are, that you realize that you were behaving below your nature you were living short of your potential.

One time, I was at the hospital to minister to people with my friend Susan. Things were going slow, I didnt feel like ministering to people. I felt like I had to try to show people the love of God. I randomly started thinking about lights and lightbulbs I realized, they dont try to stay on thats just how theyre wired. If they have electricity, and the wiring is right, it will be on. It doesnt struggle to try to stay on. It doesnt have to force itself to pierce darkness, thats just what it was made to do. Immediately my perspective shifted, I no longer felt like I had to try, because I already was. Its my nature to love. Its my nature to demonstrate love. Immediately I found joy in ministering to people because I was just expressing myself and my nature instead of trying to become an expression. You are to model your life after Jesus (Luke 6:40, John 14:12, 1 John 2:6, 1 John 4:17). This is the essence of the phrase identity in Christ. Jesus was Love, was Peace, was Life, was Healing, was Deliverance, was Salvation, was the Rock, was Joy, was Holy, was Patient, was Humble, was Hope etc etc. A revelation of Jesus is a revelation of yourself. Who Christ is, is who you are empowered to become and partake in the same divine nature(2 Peter 1:2-4). Ever hear the phrase like father, like son? That is the goal. When you read the Word (John 1:1), you should discover Jesus his character and nature. That is who you were created in the likeness and image of (Gen 1:26). If you get this, learning to look more like Jesus is no longer an effort, but just a simple act of renewing your mind. You will no longer try to be humble, try to be holy, try to have faith, try to love neighbors and strangers, try to be happy/joyful let me reiterate what my friend Daniel said: its not about going out and TRYING to love people, but rather about going out and just being who you already are. In fact, the entire Christian life is not about TRYING to be something or become something, its about being who you are. Thats why its important to see yourself as God sees you. Thats great news to me, because the last time I checked, God sees Jesus when He looks at me.

Be sure to check out Part 2 of this series Heres a huge list of verses on your identity.

This video will rock your socks: