In this episode we discover the importance of making a distinction between our identity and our condition. This is life transforming because we tend to look at our condition and form ideas about ourselves - often feeling bad and less than we should. But when we are reminded that our identity is based on what God says about us and who we really are in his sight - our understanding of who we really are takes a whole different perspective and we have so much to rejoice about and celebrate. We are children of the King and joint heirs with Jesus!
SHOW NOTES
Matthew 3:16-17; Colossians 1:19-22; Romans 8:14-17
Identity, Condition, Attitude and Aptitude
Our Identity
A model T Ford rusting in an old barn is worth money to the collector of antique vehicles. A Stradivarius violin mouldering in pawn shop is worth big money to the one who recognizes it behind the peeling lacquer and broken strings. Their value comes from their identity in spite of the poor condition they are in.
It is true for people too. Our identity is in God, the creator of the universe. He made us in his image (Genesis 1:26-27). This is who we are. We might be rusting and moldering in some forgotten environment, of not much worth to most other people, but God values us because he made us to be his royal children. He made us to live with the royal flourishes of affection, grace and compassion. That is our genetic inheritance from God even though most of us don’t know our own roots and identity.
Jesus came to establish our identity by becoming one with us so that we could believe we are one with him (2 Corinthians 5:21). John 15:15, Romans 8:14-17 and Galatians 4:5-7 flesh out this unbelievable relationship with God.
Our Condition
Right now, our condition is not good and we experience anxiety and depression as demonstrated by our dependence on analgesics, destructive thought patterns and self-destroying behaviours. At times our self-worth resembles an corn cob, or the discarded rind of a watermelon slice, or the wrapper off a quadrant of gourmet cheese. We seemed destined for the trash heap because of our or joy self- perceived condition. Overdoses and suicide attempts are consequences of the lack of meaning in our lives.
Our condition is the sum of our attitude and ability. A bird flying over a coin is convinced it is a round object. An ant walking on the table the coin is lying on is convince it is a flat surface. Both views are factual and if the bird and the ant argue over the shape of the coin, they will never be able to resolve their differences. This is why we need to view any idea or object from more than one perspective. We now view human nature from two perspectives, attitude and ability.
Our Attitude
We have the choice of being loyal or rebellious towards others and towards God. The level of our brokenness makes this choice easier or more difficult. This is why we need a new heart or new attitude (John 3). Left to ourselves we will break out in rebellion periodically as the history of Israel demonstrated. Familial history also demonstrates that generally by the third generation members of prosperous or Christian families will abandon the principles which facilitated success for their family of origin.
Philippians 2:5-11 NLT
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbledhimselfinobediencetoGodanddiedacriminal’sdeathonacross.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hebrews 4:14-17 NLT So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Our Ability
Ability refers to our success in implementing our choices. A person with strong ability will be able to stop smoking, for instance, if they choose to do so. Weak ability means we need help to implement even our own desired choices.
We now view the nature of Jesus Christ from two different perspectives, that of his being like sinless Adam and of sinful man.
Jesus Christ was like Sinless Adam
John 1:29 NLT The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John 8:46 NLT Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?
Luke 1:35 NLT The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
1 John 3:5 NLT And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.
Jesus Christ was like Sinful Man
John 1:14, 18 NLT So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God,[d] is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
Romans 8:3 NLT The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.[a] So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
Galatians 4:4 NLT But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.
Hebrews 2:14-18 NLT Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had[a] the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
16 We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. 18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.
The following table suggests the situation we face, and the situation Jesus faced.
Nature Attitude (loyal/rebel) Ability (Strong/weak)
Adam before sin loyal strong
Adam after sin Rebellious weak
Converted man loyal/rebellious weak
Jesus Christ Loyal weak
Jesus had to depend on the Holy Spirit to given him discernment and the strength to implement his choices. When the nature of Christ is view from this perspective we can say that Jesus took fallen nature after 4,000 years of deterioration since he did not have a strong ability (Galatians 4:). On the other hand Jesus was loyal in every way to his Father and to loving everyone he met. Viewing Jesus from this perspective he is that “holy thing” or in the “likeness” of sinless Adam.
God’s Solution
And then God showed up at a baptism 2000 years ago and said, “You are my child. I love you. You are precious to me, just as you are. Trust me I am going to restore you and you will finally be all that I meant you to be. I know you never chose to be born here and you are in a mess in every way. I am God and I have the ability to re-imagine you! Wait until you see what I can do.”
“What must I do?”
“Watch and see what the Spirit will do!”
It is hard for us to believe God because of our condition. Every now and then some of us get a glimpse of our identity in God but our condition wears away at our belief in God. The evil one would snatch our identity away from us because he knows it is what will change the way we think and feel about God, ourselves and each other.
The ideal would be if we could divorce our condition and identity as God is able to do, but we are caught up in our condition through our guilt and shame. Our guilt has been taken care of by God. All our sins are forgiven; past, present and future. Shame is another story. We have believed the lies the evil one has told us through significant other people in our lives—that we are not good enough.
Because we feel we are not good enough we weave our fig leaves and hide away from God, blame others and hate ourselves. We fear being authentic because we are afraid if we were: God would not like us, others would reject us, and we would hate ourselves more than we already do.
A new convert came to the preacher and said, “No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot be faithful to my Lord. I think I’m losing my salvation.” The preacher responded, “Do you see this dog here? He is my dog. He is house-trained; he never makes a mess; he is obedient; he is a pure delight to me. Out in the kitchen I have a son, a baby son. He makes a mess, he throws his food around, he fouls his clothes, he is a total mess. But who is going to inherit my estate? Not my dog; my son is my heir!”
You are God’s heir, a co-heir with Christ. You will inherit the whole universe with Him at the Second Coming. You do not inherit because you are good enough but because you believe His promises are good enough. You have come to understand the gift of His grace.
God watches us go through our spiritual, emotional contortions and cries for our condition. He has healing and we refuse it. Sometimes because we do not recognize our need, sometimes because we are afraid to be healed, sometimes because we are rebellious and do not want to be healed.
God is greater than our fear. He loves us just as we are. He hopes against hope that we will believe in his acceptance and trust in us. Do you remember the words, “that who so ever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life?” (John 3:16). They are for you and me. Claim your identity in Christ. It is yours by God’s own word. Your identity is true even if you will not believe it. But why would you not believe God’s word?
“I am a believer!”
Ian Hartley June 2024
Comments