Identity

Tonight at GCL we are talking about how the Gospel has affected our lives. Last week XP asked me to think of something to share and I was totally down. Afterwards though I had no idea what I was going to say. I feel like there is so much to talk about how the Gospel has affected me recently it's totally awesome Jesus is definitely alive. Finally last night I settled on talking about my new identity in Christ. I think the most powerful experience of my summer was realizing that I was part of God's kingdom and that I had a new identity in him.

Galatians 2:20

"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."

That verse took on a whole meaning to me. It became personal. I can still remember clearly the moment I realized this too. I was sitting in my room crying out to God asking Him why all this crap was happening in my life and I said "Lord I have chosen you why is this happening?" And then it hit me. I have chosen Christ I am part of His kingdom and I have a new identity in Him. "I do not exist only You exist." I cannot describe the comfort and peace that came over me.

Identity is a powerful thing in this world and it's stressed everywhere in our culture, because along with identity comes status. And status can seem very alluring. We are enslaved to our identity of the world and striving after earthly status until we receive salvation through Christ. Paul in Romans talks about in Romans how we are slaves to the flesh and sin, but through Christ we are slaves to obedience and righteousness and above all God. With a new identity in Christ comes a sense that we belong wholly to God and His kingdom and with this comes a new status.

Romans 6:22

"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life."

Identity and belonging to God leads to eternal life. That's way more powerful than an earthly status. Everything on this earth is fleeting. One day there will not be a University of Florida. There won't be a Gainesville, FL or a Niceville for that matter. One day the United States of America will cease to exit. But God's Kingdom cannot be shaken it endures forever.

Hebrews 12:28-29

"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."

We have been given the free gift of salvation through Christ and this new identity all because of God's grace. We have done nothing. I'm not worthy anymore than anyone else, but our God is a consuming fire and I have been consumed. I cannot describe the joy I feel that I am dead to this world and the life I live I now live by faith in Jesus. I am part of something eternal. My citizenship is in Heaven. No identity or status on earth can even compare to that kind of eternal identity. This summer when I experienced that I feel like I understood for the first time what my salvation and dying to myself really meant, and for the first time I felt like my salvation was authentic. It was nothing I did on my own it was a free gift from God that was revealed to me through suffering and choosing to attempt to live like Jesus.

Anyways that's how the Gospel has been affecting me lately. It has been a really powerful experience for me to reflect back on what has been transformed in my life as of lately by the Gospel. I strongly encourage you all to talk about it. I would love to hear your story, but you don't have to tell me just talk about the Gospel and your life to someone it's empowering.