In Christ Alone
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
What do you consider the key factors that shape someone’s identity? Is it what they “do” (e.g., job, hobbies, activities, accomplishments? Is it their roles and relations (e.g., I am a … mother, father, sister, brother, wife, husband, grandma, grandpa)? Is it their age? Is it their experience? Is it a matter of their nationality or politics or social clubs? Is it their genetics? Or is it some combination of all these things?
We live in a world in which we believe that we “create” our own identity. Our culture celebrates the stories of those who “make something of themselves.” Our society extols those who have gone on the “journey of self-discovery” or those who have “gotten in touch with themselves. But, what about Christians? How would we define our identity? Where does our identity come from?
For all of the contributing factors that go into shaping our identity, Paul would argue the most important factor of our identity as Christians is that we are “in Christ” and Christ is “in us.” Over and over again in the Scriptures, Paul celebrates the powerful message of what it means to be “in Christ.”
- In Christ – we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- In Christ – we are raised to new life (Romans 6:1-11)
- In Christ – we stand free and forgiven for there is NO condemnation for those in Christ (Romans 8:1)
- In Christ – we know that all things will work together for our good (Romans 8:31-39)
- In Christ – we are children of God, heirs of God’s eternal kingdom (Galatians 3:26)
- In Christ – we are covered with His righteousness (Galatians 3:27)
- In Christ – we who were once far off have been brought near (Ephesians 2:13)
So, the question is how do I know that I am “in Christ”? When we once again turn to the Scriptures, we hear a common theme, believe and be baptized! In Baptism, we have been brought into Christ and Christ has entered into me. It is always amazing to me to see how many of the passages referenced above are connected to the gift of Baptism. As Lutheran Christians, we believe that Baptism “does” something! Baptism is God’s work within our lives, where He is busy naming and claiming and saving us from the power of sin, death, and the devil. We do not simply say, “I WAS baptized.” No, each and every day we have the opportunity to proclaim to ourselves and others, “I AM baptized.” And that baptismal identity helps shape who we are and how we live. It gives us confidence as we trust the promise that the good work that God has begun in us, He will certainly bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May you live this day in these gifts of your Baptism. For in the gift of Baptism, we celebrate the core belief of salvation by grace. God comes to me by no action of my own, and he washes me of my sin and makes me part of his family.
God’s Peace,
Pastor Kurt Ebert
Outside of Christ, I am only a sinner, but in Christ, I am saved. Outside of Christ, I am empty; in Christ, I am full. Outside of Christ, I am weak; in Christ, I am strong. Outside of Christ, I cannot; in Christ, I am more than able. Outside of Christ, I have been defeated; in Christ, I am already victorious. How meaningful are the words, "in Christ."
Watchman Nee
"Remember, you are not a tree, that can live or stand alone. You are only a branch. And it is only while you abide in Christ, as the branch in the vine, that you will flourish or even live."
Robert Murray M'Cheyne
