The recent security breaches at Target, Home Depot, and other million dollar merchants, have left many of us extremely nervous concerning identity theft.   It has become a lucrative business as personal information is illegally accessed and sold to the highest bidder whose intent is to defraud and swindle.  It is an event we pray never happen to us. Similarly, theft of our spiritual identity can be a costly event.  Why is protection of our spiritual identity important?

First, our spiritual identity connects us to our source of life, God the Father. In Christ Jesus” we are reconciled to God. Now we are “children of God” and His “son” (John 1:12; Rom. 8:14). Understanding our spiritual identity, we can access those rights and privileges that are rightfully our “birthright”. Our identity, which was loss in the garden, was restored at the Cross.

Secondarily, our spiritual identity replaces the distorted view we have of ourselves communicated by Satan and the world, and through unhealthy attachments and relationships. It is here that we develop “false identities” of who we are. These false identities leave us brokenhearted and emotionally damaged. God’s truth, our identity in Christ Jesus, is needed to replace the lies we believe (John 8:32; 10:13).

The key perpetrator of spiritual identity thief is Satan. Our true identity was established in the Garden of Eden. There man was created in the image of God and shared unbroken fellowship with the Father. He was given authority over all creation and total access to limitless resources (Gen. 1:28). That was God’s identity for man–beloved creature and ruler–until his identity was “stolen” through deceit and deception. Satan took man’s glorious identity, given by God the Creator, and robbed him of his “good name”, leaving him “spiritual bankrupt.”

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20  (KJV)

While “identity” denotes that set of characteristics that constitute our essential self or personal uniqueness, it also describes our sameness with groups.  We identify with groups based on their characteristics, values, and/or belief system.  For example, we may identify with a particular area (Midwesterner, New Yorker), a certain demographic (Baby Boomers, Gen-X, Millennials), or even a certain cause (MADD—Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, Save the Whales).    Our identity with certain groups may be intentional in hopes of elevating our status or gaining influence.  Identification with Christ is, however, what really matters both now and for eternity.

“Identification”, for purposes of our teaching today, denotes association in name, feeling, interest, or action.  When identification is used in this manner, it is usually followed by the preposition with, such as, “He preferred not to identify himself with that group.”  How do we identify with Christ and what does it look like in our lives?  Mark Hankins, in his book, The Power of Identification in Christ, gives us great insight as to where identification with Christ begins:

“Your identification with Christ or who you are in Christ begins with the grace of God.  God puts you in a place where you can see His glory, get in His presence, know and experience Him.”

This grace of God was demonstrated to us through the gift of His Son Jesus Christ.

 “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” Titus 3:4-6

So how do we begin this journey of identifying with Christ?  We begin identification with Christ by identify with…

His death.  Before Christ came into our lives we were dead in our trespasses (Col. 2:13).  We were bound by our human tendencies to follow the impulses and temptations generated by the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).   Now with Christ, our old nature has been put to death ((Ep. 4:22; Mark 8:35).  This dying to sin and self is possible as a result of the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

His burial.   What do you do with dead things? You bury them!  Sin is no longer “operative” (effective) in the believer’s life.  We do not have to respond to sin’s demands (Col. 2:12) and we are released from Satan’s control over our lives (Romans 6:11-12).    To return to a lifestyle of sin is as unthinkable for a Christian as for one to dig up a dead corpse!

His resurrection.  We have been “quickened” (made alive) by the Spirit (Ep. 2:1,5 ; 1 Pet. 3:18) and are raised by the power of God into “newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).  This power (dynamis) is the same power that God used when He raised Jesus from the grave (Ep. 1:19-20).   It is now the believer’s privilege and responsibility to “appropriate” that power in our Christian walk. 

His glorification.  Since we died and were raised with Christ, we will also be glorified with Him (Ep. 2:6).  The believer’s greatest hope is to partake in the future glory with Christ (Rom. 8:17).  This hope outweighs any trials we may experience now and becomes the goal of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14).  Through identification with Christ’s glorification we see the culmination of God’s plan of salvation (Rom. 8:30).

Why is identification with Christ important?  By identifying in Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and glorification, we begin to shed ourselves of the earthly entrapments that compete for God’s love and affection.  Christ becomes the standard as to what true love and obedience looks like—love for our Father and love for one another.  During this process of identification, transformation begins.  Our spirit man no longer must be coaxed to do what is right but finds joy in fulfilling God’s purpose, as willing bondservants to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Pet.1:1).

Our identification with Christ is our personal witness and commitment to the values and beliefs that are associated with Him.  Our life is now hidden in Christ and our attention is focused on a heavenly agendas and kingdom building (Col. 3: 1-3).   In the identification process, we become conformed to the image of Christ, which has always been the desire of the Father (Rom. 8:29).  It is through our identification with our Savior that we achieve our true identity of “Christ-likeness”.

“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”  Colossians 2:6-7 (NKJ)

“And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” Rev. 12:11a (NKJ)

As I was finishing my evening devotions, I asked the Lord why we, as believers, have such a difficult time receiving the power He has given us to live out His purpose.  As I finished my reading, this thought came to mind, “You cannot claim what you do not proclaim!”  In other words, there is an apparent disconnect between what we mentally believe and how we personally walk out that truth in our lives.   We fail to make a personal proclamation.

Our failure to boldly proclaim and claim God’s power in our life may be as a result of choosing to operate independently, outside of God’s direction.  We may opt to follow the path of “diys”—do it yourself.  This may be a good approach in doing home projects but not in the advancement of one’s spiritual maturity.  Failed efforts are reflective of our failure to accept our own human imperfection.  In reality, what seemed to be the “best way” results  in failure to proclaim God’s sufficiency and failure to claim His desired outcome for our lives.  “For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”       (Ep. 2:10, NLT).

Lack of success in our personal proclamation often stems from a lack of understanding and acceptance of our identity in Christ.  “In Christ, in Him, of Him” was used most often by Paul in his letters to the Early Church.  It describes our special union with Christ and the benefits we can “proclaim and claim” as a result of that union.  We are one with Christ, therefore what Christ has we also possess.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ep. 1:3).

Satan desires that we remain “spiritually ambivalent.”  If he can silence our proclamation of the freedom and goodness to be found in Christ, he can continue his campaign of deception, disbelief, and disobedience in the believer’s life.  It is the proclamation of believers in Christ that will ultimately lead to Satan’s defeat (Rev. 12:11a).   In Christ, we have “redemption, righteousness and access”, just to name a few.  Once we better know who we are in Christ, we can boldly proclaim and claim His power and presence in our lives.

 Good to the Last Byte…

Using your Bible concordance, find scriptures that include “in Christ”.  Begin to see all the things we have and are becoming as a result of our special union with Christ.

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Ephesians 5:15-16 (NKJ)

“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”  Colossians 4:5 (NKJ)

As a child, I remember going with my parents to shop for groceries.  Upon paying the bill, my mother would be given “redemption stamps” (equal to the grocery receipt) that could be later exchanged for household items, i.e., dishes, flatware, or cookware.  After saving enough stamps, we’d go to a local redemption center and trade in our stamps for our special selection.  My mother felt this was a great way to get the “most bang for her bucks”—groceries AND household items.  While stamp redemption worked well for my mother’s budget, there’s a different kind of redemption believers should pursue as they endeavor to accomplish God’s purpose for their life.  It’s redeeming the time.

The New International Version (NIV) of the Bible translates redeeming the time to mean “making the most of every opportunity.”  The meaning is further illuminated by Bible interpreters to mean “to make wise and sacred use of every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal and well-doing are as if it were the “purchase money” by which we make the time our own.”   (Thayer Lexicon)

In our Ephesians text, Paul reminded believers that they were no longer agents of darkness but were to redeem the time by being “light in the Lord” (Ep. 5:8).  Their new identity was to be evidenced by their fruit—goodness, righteousness and truth.  They were to walk “circumspectly, not as fools” (verse 15).  There is urgency in Paul’s message to the church at Ephesus because the “days were evil” meaning there was a general disregard for what was right while embracing that which was profoundly immoral, wicked, and depraved.  The days continued to be evil into the 21^st century.

To the church at Colosse, Paul saw an opportunity for the Christian family to redeem the time.  Believers were advised to “walk in wisdom” (sophia).  This wisdom was very special in that it described a “skill and discretion in imparting Christian truth”.  It required “devout and prudence communication with men who were not disciples of Christ.”  The NIV rending of Colossians 4:5 states it more clearly, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.”  In other words, Paul was speaking about “life witnessing” where the believer became the “living testimony” as to the life changing power available to individuals who enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (Titus 3:4-6).

Today Paul’s use of “redeeming the time” draws attention to believer’s solemn responsibility to proclaim and practice Christ-centered principles in their home and in their community.  While society exchanges moral absolutes for what seems “right in their own eyes” (Judges 17:6), believers must be “committed to God’s truth in every element of our lives as the separation between light and dark become apparent in the world and in our society.”  We are to redeem the time by renouncing world system standards and boldly proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.  By redeeming the time, believers will become viable change agents” for Christ until He returns (2 Peter 3:11-12).