Living From Our Identity In Christ - Pastor Craig Winnington

• 04/04/2019
• SLC Stuart Price

 

 

 

    “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have

    passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

 

    2 Corinthians 5:17.

 

    “Therefore” refers to what has previously been stated, notably verse 15 -

    “…...He (Christ) died for all, that those who live should live no longer

    for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”

 

    The great truth that makes Christianity different from other religions is

    the truth of the resurrection. It is this fact that empowers us to live a

    life that God has ordained for us. i.e. - a life lived “in Christ”. When we

    don’t embrace our identity in Christ as the foundation of our faith, we

    allow the ‘old nature’ to rob us of who we are in Him. One of the fastest

    growing crimes in the world today is identity theft. 1 in 15 people in the

    world are subjected to this fraud. Identity theft occurs when someone gains

    ‘unauthorised access to your personal identification information and uses

    it to commit other crimes.’ If we don’t value our identity and protect it,

    we become susceptible to losing it. When we as Christians allow the ‘self

    life’ to rule our lives we allow ‘unauthorised access’ to rob us of our

    ‘identity in Christ’ and we plunge into a defeated lifestyle. In Genesis

    32:24-31 we read the story where Jacobs’ name (supplanter) became Israel

    (Prince with God) – old nature/new nature. In v31 “He limped on his hip.”

    When we embrace our ‘identity’ in Christ, i.e. the new nature, our

    ‘spiritual walk’ must change accordingly if we are to live an effective

    Christian life.

 

    In Genesis 35:9-10 God endorses Jacobs name again. “Your name is Jacob –

    but ISRAEL SHALL BE YOUR NAME.” When you follow Israel's life you will find

    a pattern that when circumstances of life confronted him, Israel resorted

    back to his old nature of Jacob to deal with the situations. An example of

    this is found in Genesis 45:25-28 – where Jacob knew that Joseph, his son,

    was alive. In verse 27 it says “….the spirit of Jacob...revived!” v28 “Then

    Israel said!” Do we fluctuate between the flesh and the Spirit in living

    the Christian life? Romans 8:5-8 “Those who live according to the flesh set

    their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the

    Spirit the things of the Spirit.” V8… “So then, those who are in the

    flesh cannot please God!” We will live our lives by one of two choices – we

    will please God or we will please ourselves.

 

    The gap between time and eternity is becoming shorter. I believe we are in

    a season where God wants His church to embrace their ‘identity in Christ’

    and believe that He will do what He has promised. Let us pursue His

    Presence, His Promises, His Power, and believe for a mighty outpouring of

    His Spirit and see souls brought into the Kingdom and miracles performed in

    His Name. The mandate of the church has never changed…. “Thy Kingdom come

    on earth as it is in Heaven.”

 

    Pastor Craig Winnington

 

    Have a blessed week ahead

 

    Pastor Stuart & Colleen