The Gospel Gives Us A New Identity
Worshiper- The problem with humanity is not that we stop worshiping; the problem is that we worship the wrong things. We were created to worship God, but have chosen to worship and serve created things rather than our creator (Romans 1:18-32). Through the finished work of Christ we are free to once again live lives of worship to Him. This encompasses all of life, even the smallest details. No longer do we live for ourselves but rather for the Glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Family- We are not simply saved as individuals, we are saved “into” something called the church. This is given many different names in Scripture but the primary one is that of a family or the “household of God.” (Eph 2-3) We are to relate to God as our Father and each other as brothers and sisters “in Christ.” This leads to a deep loving community that displays the power of the gospel to a watching world (John 13:35).
Bond-Servant- Our lives are no longer our own, they are owned by Christ (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Therefore the point of our lives is to serve God and other people. We do this by taking a radically different approach to our Time, Talent, and Treasure. In the Old Testament (Deut 15) a bond-servant was someone who voluntarily entered a life of service because their master was so good. It is one of the chief ways that Christians refer to themselves in the New Testament, a Bond-servant of Christ.
Missionary- God has not only saved you, he has also sent you. Missions is not only something we do on the other side of the world, it is something we do right here in our own city. God has reconciled us (restored the relationship) to himself and to each other and has now entrusted us with the “ministry of Reconciliation” to share with others (2 Cor. 5:16-21). We are placed
Learner- The word disciple literally means learner or follower. The Christian life is a journey not a destination. We will spend the rest of our lives trying to live out of these new identities.
How does the gospel help me grow?
The gospel is not just the entry point into the Christian life, it is also the dynamic by which I relate to God. Growing in godliness happens by continually reflecting on the gospel or “good news” of Jesus’ death and resurrection on my behalf. As I reflect on this and God’s word, I become aware of just how big a “gap” there is between my sinfulness and God’s standard. This often happens simultaneously with me growing in holiness. As I become more aware of just how big of “gap” there is, all the Jesus did for me becomes more and more important, the cross becomes more and more central in my life, and I am driven to worship rather than pride (in my own goodness) or despair (for not meeting expectations). The graphic below helps to illustrate this dynamic.
