Understanding My Identity in Christ

1. Read: Galatians 2:20

2. About the Text:

1) The churches of Galatia had been convinced by some teachers to observe the Mosaic law for salvation.

2) This is tantamount to being justified by the law, not by faith.

3) Paul tells us that building again the things that we destroyed makes us transgressors (v.18).

3. The fundamental issue in Galatians is one of identity.

1) Would the churches go back to being justified by the law and simply be Jews justified by the law?

2) Would the churches understand the change they underwent in becoming Christians to be justified by faith?

3) What does it mean to have our identity in Christ?

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. The old man lived a lifestyle of sin.

1) Titus 3:3 “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.”

2) Eph.2:2-3 “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”

2. God called Christians to put off the old man and put on Christ.

1) Ephesians 4:21-24 “21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

2) Colossians 3:9-10 “9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”

3. We are baptized to do exactly this, identify ourselves with Christ.

1) Romans 6:3-11

2) Galatians 3:26-29

1. This is not just about ceasing to sin; it is about changing our identity from the old man to the new.

1) 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

2) Colossians 2:7-10

2. Our identity is in Christ because He is the new Adam and redefines humanity.

1) Romans 5:14-15 “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

2) 1 Corinthians 15:22 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

3) 1 Corinthians 15:45 “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”

3. With our identity in Christ, God sees the righteousness of Christ in us.

1) We are forgiven because we are in Him – Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

2) 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

3) Romans 5:17-18 “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

1. My faith in Christ maintains my identity in Christ and that saves me.

1) Colossians 2:12 “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

2) Galatians 3:24-25 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

3) Galatians 5:6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

4) Romans 1:17 “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

5) Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

6) 2 Corinthians 5:7

2. My identity in Christ is maintained by Christ’s love for me.

1) He is the good shepherd. John 10:27-30

2) Ephesians 5:2 — “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

1. Understanding our identity in Christ means . . .

1) My Old Identity has been Crucified.

2) My New Identity is in Christ.

3) My New Identity is Maintained by my faith and Christ’s Love.

2. Invitation