MenuIn Christ alone we find our true identity.
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” – Philippians 3:8
At the National Youth Gathering of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod July 16-20, our Bible study focused on St. Paul’s short letter to the Philippians. We were encouraged to read through the 4 short chapters each day. One morning, our Bible study leader asked us to complete the following statement: “I am….” I listed “…a Christian, a husband, a father, a son, a pastor, a Lutheran, an American.” A few minutes later, he asked us to take a more personal look at ourselves and add to the list of things “I am….” I listed some neutral things, some things I’m trying to accomplish, and some challenges I’m working on. Again, a third time, he asked us to add to the list of things “I am…” some things that occur only in our minds – private things known only to God.
Have you ever made such a list? We tend to describe ourselves by outward things that the world sees. We describe ourselves internally by our goals and desires – the things we take pride or shame in. And if we’re honest, we confess to God things known only by Him. In Philippians 3 Paul shares his list. He lists things about himself that are positive, neutral and negative – all things that were part of Paul’s identity without Christ. All these identity markers – positive, neutral and negative – Paul counted as rubbish compared with knowing Christ. Everything apart from Christ is nothing, and will pass away. Paul knew that his righteousness (and our righteousness) comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Our true identity is in Christ. Our struggles in this world can be very tough, but the struggles of our earthly circumstances no longer define us. Instead, our identity all depends on faith in Him – “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11)
The power of Jesus’ resurrection changes us, now and into eternity. Through Holy Baptism, His resurrection is our resurrection. Through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, we poor, miserable sinners have been declared “saints” by grace alone in baptism. This is now our indelible identity forever. So with Paul we are bold to say, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”(Philippians 1:21)
I encourage you to read Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Read it as Jesus’ letter to you. As you do, the Lord will work in your life, transforming your mind to be like Christ’s. Pray that you may receive the fullness of His joy in all circumstances and live a life worthy of the Gospel, for your righteousness is through faith in Christ alone. You will discover that, in Christ, you are “more you, not less you.”
-Pastor Nickel
