The Believer’s Identity, Part 1
Central Thought: How we live our lives as believers, depend greatly on our knowledge of who we are in Christ Jesus.
Text: 1 John 3:1-3; 1 Peter 2:5-12; Romans 8:17
Believer’s identity stems from Christ Jesus who has given us a glorious and exalted position in God. Christ’s name stands for authority, identity, honor and character. The Bible, God’s word, is full of declarations concerning believers in Christ which are expected to conform to some expected lifestyle, disposition, actions and conduct. When these expectations are fulfilled, the Godhead is glorified. For instance, the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch, Acts 11:26. The brethren in Antioch were identified as Christ-like because they conformed to the lifestyle of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was obvious that the people in Antioch observed the style of living among the believers n Christ, completely conforming or tallying with the lifestyle of Jesus Christ their Master and Mentor. Therefore they were nicknamed “Christians”; that is Christ-like.
The believer’s identities are declared by the Godhead in the Holy Scriptures. Knowing God is a prerequisite for knowing who you are in this world and in the world to come. Knowing God makes you obedient to His word and qualifies you to identify with His character which is your inheritance in the Lord Jesus Christ. In this study, we shall examine a few of such identities which distinguish us from unbelievers.
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Explain the meaning and discuss the implications of the following identities of the believers in Christ Jesus – Son of God, Servant of God, Heir of God, Temple of God, A King, sheep of the Great Shepherd, brethren to Jesus, and ambassador for Christ, Son of God – John 1:12; Romans 8:14-16; 1 John 3:1-2:
From John 1:12, we are told that any person who receives Jesus Christ into his heart is automatically adopted into the family of God as a son.
Being a son of God, you are privileged to call God, Abba Father, my heavenly Father. When you remember this always, it should elicit a high sense of humility in your heart and cause you to live a lifestyle that is consistent with the heritage of sonship and replicate the character of God in your life. You must also abstain from sins and sinful habits as God’s character does not condone such.
A. Servant of God – Romans 1:1, 6:22; Mark 10:43-44:
Being a servant of God is one of the greatest identity of a believer in Christ. It is a divine privilege to be called a servant of God. From Mark 10:43-44, Servant of God is the position of greatness in the kingdom of God. It is most rewarding, if all believers have servant hearts so that we can be of benefit to one another. Today’s church needs more servant-leaders than bosses, in order to promote oneness, unity and teamwork in God’s vineyard. Servanthood will enable us to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ Jesus, Ephesians 5:21
B. Heir of God – Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29:
This is the believer who has the legal right to receive what God has prepared for those who love Him. True believers in Christ are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Once you believe in Christ as personal Lord and Savior, you become a child of God having equal rights with the Lord Jesus Christ who had hidden us in Him, Colossians 3:3. However, to benefit maximally from Christ’s love gesture, we must share in His suffering in order that we may also share in His glory. The heir of God takes delight in suffering for Christ through trials, temptation and persecutions, since there is an exceeding glory that awaits him in eternity, 1 Corinthians 2:9.
C. Temple of God – 1 Corinthians 3:9, 16, 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:16
“know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”, 1 Corinthians 3:16. It is a joyful experience to appreciate that believers are an embodiment of God’s presence. God dwells within us. This implies that you are not your own since Christ purchased you with a high price.
A believer must learn to honor God with his body, keep it pure and never abuse it with corruption. We do hear some people declare that god is only interested in our spirit and not the body. This is an error. Such individual should realize that what manifests in his body is actually what he has in his hear or spirit man.
The believer, therefore, should maintain a mindset that allows continuous fellowship with the Godhead with the understanding that we are God’s tabernacle of habitation.
D. A King – Revelation 1:5-6; Proverbs 31:4-5:
“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father: to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen.”, Revelation 1:6. The Lord Jesus Christ is the prince of the kings of the earth. And because He loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, made us kings and priests unto God. In the Old Testament, the office of a king and a priest were separated, but in the new covenant, Christ Jesus became both king and priest. He has through His grace made us both kings and priests of God.
Kings do no misbehave or make careless utterances as their words are authority. You are expected to rule over every situation, condition, nation around you, since the price of the kings of the earth is the source of your authority. “It is not for kings, O’ Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes strong drink, lest you forget the law of God and pervert judgment of any of the afflicted.”, Proverbs 31:4-5. Kings are to be honored, but they must remember that honor begat honor.
E. Sheep of the Great Shepherd – John 10:4, 11-15; Psalm 23:1-6:
The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Great Shepherd of the sheep, the believers. They are to hear His voice and follow Him and never follow or hear the voice of a stranger. The Great Shepherd always call His sheep by name and leads them out, goes ahead of them and the sheep follow Him since they know His voice, John 10:3-4. He leads them to well-watered and green pasture to give them nourishment, refreshment, encouragement and strength. We must stay close to the Great shepherd so that we can avoid being burnt out, weak and devastated in the ministry or service to God. The Great Shepherd has the ability to restore our souls from every devastation. As sheep, we must commit our ways to the Lord and He will direct and order our steps, Proverbs 3:5-6.
F. Brethren to Jesus – Matthew 12:49-50:
The believers in Christ Jesus are the brothers to Jesus Christ. All persons, male and female who do the will of the Father are the brethren of Jesus Christ. They are joint-heirs and one with Him in the Godhead. The Lord Jesus Christ as a brother, friend, sticks closer than a biological brother. This implies that all true believers in Christ are one in the Lord and must have compassion for one another, brotherly kindness, bowel of mercy towards one another. We must be open to the Lord Jesus Christ for He is a dependable and trusted bother.
G. Ambassador for Christ – 2 Corinthians 5:20; Philippians 3:20:
A believer in Christ is the authentic, authorized, appointed, commissioned and empowered representative of the kingdom of God her on earth. He is therefore ambassador for Christ in this world. Believers are to manifest the will of God on earth by their lives.
We are to represent heaven’s government here on earth by bringing to bear the true lifestyle and character of heaven. As citizens of heaven, a believer in Christ, is here temporarily and acting as ambassador, representing heaven in this world.
Daily Living Application
All believers in Christ have a glorious and exalted position. We should therefore, maintain the standard of who we are and what we have in Christ Jesus; so that we can remain overcomers. As a believer in Christ Jesus, you should not only be known and recognized in title or name, but also in your lifestyle and works, which represent the kingdom of God. The identity you bear should tally with your Godly lifestyle and works.
Memory Verse:
1 Peter 2:9 – “but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him ho hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”