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Gospel of Graceand

our Identity in Christ 恩典福音與我們在基督裏的身份

Pastor Iho Tree ( 崔誼厚牧師 )ihotree@aol.com, (H) 314-579-9637

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What is “Identity 身份”

1. In psychology, “identity” refers to a self-sameness, internal cohesion, and self-respect --Who I am? What is my purpose? What are my values?Keyes, Beyond Identity, p. 1

2. Everyone gets their identity, their sense of being distinct and valuable, from somewhere or something. Keller, The Reason for God, p. 162

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Our “Identity 身份” is a Derived One - 1

• When the God reveals to us that human beings are made in the image of God, it implies that our identity is a derived one – derived from God.

• We can’t “create” our own identity. It is always derived.

Gen 1:26  神说：“我们要照着我们的形象，按着我们的样式造人；使他们管理海里的鱼、空中的鸟、地上的牲畜，以及全地，和地上所有爬行的生 物！” 27  于是，　神照着自己的形象创造人；就是照着他的形象创造了人；他所创造的有男有女。

Gen 2:7   耶和华　神用地上的尘土造成人形，把生气吹进他的鼻孔里，那人就成了有生命的活人 (living being) ，名叫亚当。

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Our “Identity 身份” is a Derived One - 2

• “A table or a chair just “is,” but a human being need to feel that he or she exists in terms of something, some standard or point of integration.” (p. 8)

• “Humans will always compute their values in terms of something, whether that something is worthy or able to bestow value on them or not. It is only when people reach beyond humankind that they can get any conclusive affirmation of themselves.” (p. 9)

• “If your identity is rooted in God himself then he can give you a sense of both coherence and self-acceptance amid the rapid change of this world and in the face of death – the ultimate threat to identity.” (p. 11)

Keyes, Beyond Identity.

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Our “Identity 身份” Lost

• We can’t “create” our own identity. Humanity’s

identity is always derived.

• Once fallen humanity rejected God’s revelation,

then our identity is lost.

• Since our identity is derived, we end up finding

other things from which we derive our identity

from (usually in an clumsy way) . . . .

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Who are you? - 1

• I am an student. That is your occupation, I didn’t ask you what you did for a living. Do you become a nobody if you lost your job?

• I am from China. That is where you are from, I didn’t ask you where you are from.

• I am the mother of 3 children and all of them got their PhD. Did I ask you about your children’s education?

• My name is XXX. That is you name, but who are YOU? You are nothing but 3 Chinese characters?

• I have a 3 masters degrees and 1.5 PhD. I didn’t ask you how many degrees you have, I asked who are you?

• I am a Saturn owner. (problem Saturn is going out of existence). I didn’t ask you what kind of car you drive, but who are YOU.

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Who are you? - 2• I have 3 degrees from XXX university in China. That is

good, I am glad for you, but I didn’t ask you how many degrees you got in China before you came to UW, but who are YOU.

• My father is a high government official in China. Fine, but I didn’t ask about your father’s occupation, I asked who are YOU?

• I graduated 1st in my class from XXX high school. • I got into Beijing University with XXX points at age XX • I am a tenured professor in an ivy league school • I have never failed at anything I attempted in my entire life• Jesus says “a man's life does not consist in the abundance

of his possessions. 人的生命并不在于家道丰富” (Lk 12:14)

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Our “Identity 身份” Lost

• We can’t “create” our own identity.

Humanity’s identity is always derived.

• Once fallen humanity rejected God’s

revelation, then our identity is lost.

• Comparison of a Christian’s identity

compared to that of an atheist.

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Identity Lost – 1 (Meaning of my Life)

God’s Revelation Atheism

The world has an intelligent Creator. The created world reflects the power and majesty of the Creator.

The world has no creator. Organic came out of inorganic through an violent accident (Miller-Urey experiment, 1953, Univ. of Chicago).

Everything created has purpose, meaning and is a product of intelligent design. The Creator God has a role for all things to play.

Since all life forms came out of an “accident” and is a product of “chance,” there cannot possibly be any purpose and meaning in any life form’s existence.

Human beings are the created in the image of God. They are God’s crowing achievement in creation. God’s role for them to rule over the rest of the Creation on behalf of God.

Human being is just a higher life form, another product of accident. Their purpose of existence is left for human being to figure out. There are many different views on this subject.

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Identity Lost – 2 (Value and Freedom)

God’s Revelation AtheismGod has infinite value. As beings created in the image of God, human beings have intrinsic value in and of themselves. Jesus says “a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Lk 12:14)

The price of rib eye steak is quite high but there seems to no market for human flesh. Slaughtered cows are sold at a high price but dead human bodies are quickly buried. So what is the value of a human life?

Human beings have a soul (mind) and a body. Our soul (mind) is created in the image of God. We can think, will and know the world outside of us.

Human beings are noting but complex biochemical machines. Human brain is an interrelation of chemical and physical properties we do not yet fully understand.

God is free. Since human beings are created in the image of God, we are genuinely free to make real choices.

As a biochemical machine, we don’t have genuine choices just as my PC’s OS doesn’t have genuine choices.

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Identity Lost – 3 (Morality – Right and Wrong)

God’s Revelation AtheismSince the Creator God is a moral being, the universe has objective morality -- true right and wrong. (Rom 2: 14-15) God, the Law giver, tells me what is right and want is wrong.

Since there is no moral creator, the universe has no objective morality. All right and wrong (ethics) are only products of human society. No one can tell us what to do (teenagers would add: especially my parents).

Since human being are created in the image of God, and since God is a moral being, humans are true moral agents who can make genuine moral choices. They are held accountable by God and others for the choices they made (Gen 3).

As a complex biochemical machines, human beings don’t really have genuine moral choices. They cannot be held accountable for their actions which is the result of other factors. In suffering, they see ourselves as victims of impersonal forces in a closed universe of cause-and-effect.

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Identity Lost – 4 (Suffering and Knowledge)

God’s Revelation AtheismAdam, the first human being sinned. As a result all his descents are sinners. I am sinner living in a world full of sinners. Suffering is a result of humanity’s sins.

When I face difficulties, I tend to blame others, the bad circumstances or “bad luck” instead of looking into my own sinful nature (if there is such a thing at all.)

There is an explanation for human being’s evil behaviors and suffering in this world. The Bible promised God will eradiate suffering.

There isn’t any explanation for sin and sinful behavior (e.g., global terrorism). There is no hope that suffering will stop one day.

God is all knowing, as a creature created in the image of God, we can know, our mind can “grasp the reality that surrounds us.” We can have genuine knowledge.

As a biochemical machine, mankind don’t really have a thing called the “mind.” I am not sure a machine can “grasp the reality that surrounds us.” I am forced to be a skeptic until the day I die.

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Identity Lost – 5 (End of Life)

God’s Revelation AtheismHuman being are created to have everlasting life. Death is a consequence of humanity’s sins. Our soul will survive after death.

Death is the extinction of personality and individuality. Since there is no Creator, neither life (which is an accident) nor death has any meaning.

History has purpose and meaning. It is under the sovereign guidance of the Creator God. It going toward God’s intended end. (see Biblical World-and-Life View PPT talk tomorrow morning.)

History has no meaning. Its a linear stream of events linked by cause and effect but without an overarching purpose. Besides, one day the universe will be a cold (~ 4K), dark expanse when the last star burns out. All life form will die.

As someone in Christ, I am part of the New Creation. I will never lose my identity and I am headed for greatness in the New Creation.

“Life is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.” (Shakespeare, Macbeth)

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Sin and the Identity Issue

• We usually think of “sin” are a violation of God’s commandments.

Note: in Chinese “sin” and “crime” both got folded into one word: 罪 .

But in English: “sin” is a religious term and “crime” is a legal term.

• There is another way to look at sin.

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Sins as a Perverted Order (Keller)

1. The essence of sin is not primarily the violation of laws but a wrecked relationship with God, one another, and the whole created order . . . • Order at Creation: God, man/woman, animal, plant,

mineral. • Order at Fall: plant (fruit), animal (serpent),

woman/man, God. (Gen 3)2. All sins are attempts to fill voids . . . Because we

cannot stand the God-shaped hole inside of us, we try stuffing it full of all sorts of things, but only God may fill it. (Barbara Brown Taylor)

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Sins: Seeking an Identity Apart from God (Keller)

1. “Sin is the despairing refusal to find your deepest identity in your relationship and service to God. Sin is seeking to become oneself, to get an identity, apart from Him.

2. Everyone gets their identity, their sense of being distinct and valuable, from somewhere or something. Kierkegaard asserts that human beings human beings were made not only to believe in God in some general way, but to love him supremely, center their lives on him above anything else, and build their very identities on him. Anything other than this is sin. (p. 162)

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Sins: Making a Good Thing into an Ultimate thing

1. “Most people think sin primarily as ‘breaking divine rules,’ but Kierkegaard knows that the very first of the Ten Commandments is to “have no other god before me. 除了我以外，你不可有別的神。” So according to the Bible, the primary way to define sin is not jus the doing of bad things, but making of good things into ultimate things.”

2. “It is seeking to establish a sense of self by making something else more central to your significance, purpose, and happiness than your relationship with God.”

3. We go through life trying to prove to ourselves and others that “I’m not a bum.” This is another way of “justifying ourselves” before God and others.

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Examples of Making a Good Thing into an Ultimate thing

1. Another name for the “ultimate things” is an “idol” – a false god. “god” is an “object of worship.” “worship” is “an object of adoring reverence or regard” – what is the most important thing in your life and gives you purpose, meaning, significance, security and occupies your mind, heart and will.

2. Adam and Eve turned a fruit into an idol – that which give ultimate meaning in life ( 如 神能知道善惡 .)

3. David’s “counting the troops” - His idolatry cost the lives of 7,0000 Israelites. (1 Chron 21:1-14)

4. Solomon kept the concubines of the kingdom he conquered to display his strength before other nations. They, in turn, snared him into worshipping other gods.

5. Seminary graduates are warned not to fall into the temptation of the 3Bs – Body, Bucks, and Bricks.

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Sin and the Identity Issue

A brief look at some of the most common idols that we derive our identity from.

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Idols of our Hearts – 1 (Tim Keller)

o Power idolatry: “Life only has meaning/ I only have worth if: I have power and influence over others.

o Approval idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I am loved and respected by ________.

o Comfort idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I have (this kind) of pleasure experience, a particular quality of life.”

o Image idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I have a particular kind of look or body image.”

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Idols of our Hearts – 2 (Tim Keller)o Control idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only

have worth if: I am able to get mastery over my life in the area of ________________.

o Helping idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: people are dependent on me and need me.”

o Dependence idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: someone is there to protect me and keep me safe.”

o Independence idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I am completely free from obligations or responsibilities to take care of someone.”

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Idols of our Hearts - 3 (Tim Keller)o Work idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have

worth if: I am highly productive getting a lot done.”

o Achievement idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I am being recognized for my accomplishments, if I am excelling in my career.”

o Materialism idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I have a certain level of wealth, financial freedom, and very nice possessions.

o Individual person idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: this one person is in my life and happy there and/or happy with me.”

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Idols of our Hearts - 4 (Tim Keller)o Religion idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only

have worth if: I am adhering to my religion’s moral codes and accomplished in its activities.”

o Irreligion idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I feel I am totally independent of organized religion and with a self-made morality.

o Racial/cultural idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: my race and culture is ascendant and recognized as superior.”

o Inner ring idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: a particular social grouping or professional grouping or other group lets me in.”

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Idols of our Hearts - 5 (Tim Keller)o Family idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have

worth if: my children and/or my parents are happy and happy with me.”

o Relationship idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: Mr. or Ms. ‘Right’ is in love with me.”

o Suffering idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I am hurting, in a problem—only then do I feel noble or worthy of love or am able to deal with guilt.”

o Ideology idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: my political or social cause or party is making progress and ascending in influence or power.

(Tim Keller. Romans: A Study Course in the Gospel, version 2.0, 1997)

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Idols of our Hearts - 6 (Uniquely Chinese)o School idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have

worth if: I got into XXX university.”o Green card idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only

have worth if: I got my Green Card / Citizenship.”o Male heir idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have

worth if: I have a son.”o Tenure idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have

worth if: I got a tenure.” o Big house idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have

worth if: I have a 5 bedroom house.” o Job idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth

if: I have a high-paying job.”

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The Right and Wrong Model

GodGod

Western IndividualismWestern Individualism

ChristChrist

Redeemed Humanity,Redeemed Humanity,The ChurchThe Church

Renewal of CreationRenewal of Creation

Covenantal World ViewCovenantal World View

Wrong!Wrong! Right!Right!

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林後 II Cor. 5:21 “II Cor. 5:21 “ 　神使那無罪的替我們成為有罪的，使我們在他裡面成為　神的義。” “ 你們是知道我們的主耶穌基督的恩典的：他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮，要使你們因他的貧窮成為富足。” 林後 II Cor. 8:9

The Great ExchangeThe Great Exchange

““替我們成為有罪的””

““ 在他裡面成為 神的義””

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Identity Lost, Identity Gained – 1 (Jack Miller)

Identity Outside of Christ(an orphan in the universe)

Identity in Christ(a child of God)

Feel alone; lack a vital daily intimacy with God; “a vacuum of self concern.”

Have a growing assurance that God is really my loving Heavenly Father (1 Jn 4:16)

Full of anxiety over “felt needs;” friends, money, etc.; "I’m all alone and nobody cares."

Trust the father and have a growing confidence in His loving care; freed from worry.

Live on success/fail basis; must “look good” at any cost; performance-oriented.

Learning to live in daily self-conscious partnership with God; not fearful.

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Identity Lost, Identity Gained – 2 (Jack Miller)

Identity Outside of Christ(an orphan in the universe)

Identity in Christ(a child of God)

Feel condemned, guilty and unworthy before God and others.

Feel loved, forgiven and totally accepted because Christ’s merit really clothes me.

Have a “little faith,” lots of fear, no ability to really trust God. “I’ve got to fix it.”

A daily working trust in God’s sovereign plan for my life as a loving, wise and best plan.

Labor under a sense of unlimited obligation, trying hard to please, burnout.

Prayer is the first resort; “I am going to ask my father first!” Daddy (Abba), Father!

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Identity Lost, Identity Gained – 3 (Jack Miller)

Identity Outside of Christ(an orphan in the universe)

Identity in Christ(a child of God)

Rebellious towards God and others; often spiritually cold and hard-hearted.

Strength to be submissive; soft (broken and contrite) heart (Ps 51:17).

Defensive; can’t listen; bristles at the charge of being self-righteous (virtually proving the charge).

Open to criticism since I consciously stand in Christ's perfection, not my own; am able to examine my deeper motives.

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Identity Lost, Identity Gained – 4 (Jack Miller)

Identity Outside of Christ(an orphan in the universe)

Identity in Christ(a child of God)

Must always be right, safe, secure; unwilling to fail; defensive; unable to tolerate criticism; can only handle praise.

Able to take risks — even fail. Since righteousness is in Christ, needs no record to boast in, protect or defend.

Self-confident but discouraged, defeated and lacking the Spirit’s power.

Christ-confident and encouraged because of the spirit working in me.

“I’ll show ‘em—just watch my smoke!” “Where others failed.” (will power).

“ 我靠着那加给我能力的，凡事都能作。” (Phil 4:13).

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What is my Identity “in Christ?” - 1 I am a slave of righteousness (Rom 6:18 你们既然从罪

里得了释放，就作了义的奴仆。 ) I am a son of God; God is spiritually my father (Rom

8:14 -15 因为蒙　神的灵引导的，都是　神的儿子。你们接受的，不是奴仆的灵，使你们仍旧惧 怕；你们接受的，是使人成为嗣子的灵，使我们呼叫“阿爸、父”。 )

I am a joint heir with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him (Rom 8:17 既然是儿女，就是后嗣；是　神的后嗣，也和基督一同作后嗣。 )

I am a temple-a dwelling place-of God. His spirit and His life dwells in me (1 Cor 3:16 难道不知道你们是　神的殿，　神的灵住在你们里面吗？ )

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What is my Identity “in Christ?” - 2 I am united to the Lord and am one spirit with Him (1

Cor 6:17 但那与主联合的，就是与他成为一灵了。 ) I am a member of Christ’s body (1 Cor 12:27 你们就

是基督的身体，并且每一个人都是作肢体的。 ) I am a new creation (2 Cor 5:17 如果有人在基督里，

他就是新造的人，旧事已经过去，你看，都变成新的了！ )

I am reconciled to God and am a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18, 19 这一切都是出于　神，他借着基督使我们与他自己和好，并且把这和好的职分赐给我们， 19  就 是　神在基督里使世人与他自己和好，不再追究他们的过犯，并且把和好的道理托付了我们。 )

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What is my Identity “in Christ?” - 3

I am a son of God and one in Christ (Gal 3:26 你们因着信，在基督耶稣里都作了　神的儿子。 )

I am an heir of God since I am a son of God (Gal 4:6, 7 你们既然是儿子，　神就差遣他儿子的灵进入我们心里，呼叫“阿爸、父！” 7  这 样，你不再是奴仆，而是儿子；既然是儿子，就靠着　神承受产业了。 )

I am a saint (1 Cor 1:2 写信给在哥林多　神的教会，就是在基督耶稣里已经被分别为圣，蒙召为圣徒的人 )

I am God’s workmanship- His handiwork-born anew in Christ to do His work (Eph 2:10 我们原是　神所作成的，是在基督耶稣里创造的，为的是要我们行各样的善事，就是　神预先所安排的。 )

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What is my Identity “in Christ?” - 4

I am a fellow citizen with the rest of God’s family (Eph 2:19 这样看来，你们不再是外人和客旅，而是与圣徒一同作国民，是　神家里的人了 )

I am righteous and holy (Eph 4:24 并且穿上新人。这新人是照着　神的形象，在公义和真实的圣洁里创造的。 )

I am a citizen of heaven, seated in heaven right now (Phil 3:20 但我们是天上的公民，切望救主，就是主耶稣基督，从天上降临 )

I am an expression of the life of Christ because He is my life (Col 3:4 基督就是你们的生命，他显现的时候，你们也要和他一同在荣耀里显现。 )

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What is my Identity “in Christ?” - 5

I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved (Col 3:12 所以，你们既然是　神所拣选的，是圣洁、蒙爱的人，就要存怜悯的心肠、恩慈、谦卑、温柔和忍耐。 ; 1 Thess 1:4 神所爱的弟兄们，我们知道你们是蒙拣选的 ; Eph 1:4 就如创立世界以前，他在基督里拣选了我们，使我们因着爱，在他面前成为圣洁，没有瑕疵。 )

I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15 我不再称你们为仆人，因为仆人不知道主人所作的事；我已经称你们为朋友了，因为我从我父那里听见的一切，都已经告诉你们了。 )

I am chosen and appointed by Christ to bear his fruit (John 15:16 不是你们拣选了我，而是我拣选了你们，并且分派你们去结果子，就是结常存的果子 )

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What is my Identity “in Christ?” - 6 I am a son of light, and not of darkness (1 Thess 5:5 你们

都是光明之子、白昼之子；我们不是属于黑夜的，也不是属于黑暗的。 )

I am a partaker of Christ, I share in his life (Heb 3:14 如果我们把起初的信念坚持到底，就是有分于基督的人了。 )

I am one of God’s living stones, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house (1 Pet 2:5 也就像活石，被建造成为灵宫，作圣洁的祭司，借着耶稣基督献上蒙　神悦纳的灵祭。 )

I am an alien and a stranger to this world in which I temporarily live (1 Pet 2:11 亲爱的，我劝你们作客旅和寄居的人，要禁戒肉体的私欲，这私欲是与灵魂争战的。 )

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What is my Identity “in Christ?” - 7 I am a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy

nation, a people for God’s own possession (1 Pet 2: 9, 10 然而你们是蒙拣选的族类，是君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国民，是属　神的子民，为要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明者 的美德。 10 “ 你们从前不是子民，现在却是　神的子民；从前未蒙怜恤，现在却蒙了怜恤。” )

I will resemble Christ when he returns (1 John 3:2亲爱的，现在我们是　神的儿女，将来怎样，还没有显明；然而我们知道：主若显现，我们必要像他，因为我们必要看见他本来是怎样的。 )

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What is my Identity “in Christ?” - 8

I am an enemy of the devil (1 Pet 5:8 你们要谨守、警醒。你们的仇敌魔鬼，好像吼叫的狮子走来走去，寻找可以吞吃的人 )

I am born of God, and the evil one? The devil cannot touch me. (1 John 5:18 我们知道凡从　神生的就不犯罪，而且从　神生的那一位也必保守他，连那恶者也不能碰他。 )

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Significance of my Identity “in Christ?” - 1 “A person with a strong and true sense of identity will

experience peace with self, others, and God. This person will have a certain self-forgetfulness, a lack of self-absorption and self-consciousness.

By contrast, the person with a weak sense of identity is painfully concerned with him or herself. This person is keenly conscious of being one who is fragile, unreal, and unsubstantial and feels like a loosely held together collection of roles played to the audience of other’s expectation and determined by forces outside of their control. They might describe themselves as masses of contradictory selves or as several actors on a stage without a script or director.” Keyes, Beyond Identity, pp. 4-5.

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Significance of my Identity “in Christ?” - 2 “The person with a negative and disintegrated attitude

toward self is apt to see others as threatening competitors.”

“People with a weak identity are apt to be what Erik Erikson calls ‘identity hungry,’ that is in relationships with others they try to find or fortify themselves, whether by bragging, self-assertion, manipulation, or self-pitying withdrawal. Other people exist as means to buttress their weak and dependent sense of self, not as persons in their own right. Motivated by fear and anxiety they are like a baby bird in a nest with a huge open mouth pointed to the sky shouting ‘feed me!’ ‘make me feel like a person!’ They may even get a perverse satisfaction out of being hated – at least they have been noticed.” Keyes, Beyond Identity, p. 5.

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Being in Christ and our Identity Issue I know I am so bad that Christ has to die for me. I also know

I am so loved that Christ is willing to die for me. I am precious in God’s eyes. (Tim Keller)

What I have (sin, failure, shame, etc) has been transferred to Christ and what Christ has (glory, honor, success, etc) has been transferred to me. As God’s child, I am destined to inherit the New Heavens and the New Earth.

My “success” in life does not depend on what I own or have accomplished but what Christ owns or has accomplished. He is my covenant representative and He lived a prefect life on my behalf.

Being “in Christ” frees from Constantly trying to prove to God, other or myself that “I’m

not a bum (懶鬼 ).” The bondage of idolatry and allows me to serve God and

others without my “ego” constantly getting into my way.

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Questions for Reflection How often church members examine the sense of identity

of a candidate for leadership (pastor, elder, deacon, fellowship group leader) position?

Do churches know how to discern a person’s sense of identity?

What’s the relationship between one’s understanding of the gospel and one’s sense of identity? Explain?

What happens when church allows someone with a weak sense of identity in a leadership position?

How can studies in this area help a pastor build a healthier leadership team / healthier congregation?

Are counseling and theology two separate disciplines? How are they integrated in the “Gospel of Grace” talks (from Nov, 2008 to now)?