Finding Your Identity in Christ: Colossians 3:1-11

This is the full text of a sermon I preached on June 12, 2011:

Please turn in your copy of God's Word to Colossians chapter 3, v. 1-10. Before we begin tonight, I want to take just a few seconds to thank this congregation for everything it's done for me over the past 8 years that I've been a member here. I first of all want to thank you for the opportunity to work with your youth for the past two summers. It has been a great ministry experience, and I thank you for your generosity. Second, I want to thank you for the love and support and wisdom that you've given me over the past 8 years. The love of God's people is always essential to spiritual growth (that's why coming to church is so important!) What you see tonight is really just a product of this church's efforts, prayers, and love. I am forever indebted.

The Apostle Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes:

3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your [1] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: [2] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. [3] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self [4] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, [5] free; but Christ is all, and in all." (ESV)

Let's pray.

"Gracious God and Heavenly Father, we thank you for the opportunity to worship you tonight. We pray for blessing upon your Word. Forgive the one who teaches, for his sins are many. Help us to see Jesus and Him only. In his name we pray, Amen."

Introduction

Ever since I've graduated college, I've started to notice the strangest thing about myself. Maybe at some point you've noticed it about yourself as well. I am, without a doubt, becoming more and more like my father. I look like more and more like him every day. To this point I've even noticed that I've started dressing like him. I watch the same movies, appreciate the same things, listen to the same music, tell the same jokes, and I even sound like him. Relatives can't tell us apart on the phone.

Now this might seem strange for a 22 year old to have the qualities of a man over twice his age. But, if you're honest, most of you out there can attest to the same thing. As a matter of fact, this process is natural, all too natural. Perhaps you've noticed that every now and then you'll catch a little of your mother or father in you too. The thing is, I don't try to be like my dad. It's not like I get up every morning and say to myself, "Self, be like dad." No! It's simply just natural. And if you're in Christ, the process happens in much the same way. And that's what I think Paul is trying to tell us here in Colossians 3: that discovering your true identity changes you.

To that effect I have three points that I want to make tonight, all concerning the Christian's identity and how that changes us.

1. What our identity is not:

Did you know that you are suffering from an identity crisis right now? Most, if not all of you, don't actually know who you really are! And if that's true (and it is) then you are most likely often deeply frustrated with the daily dealings of life, whether that be family, school, or work. Why is that? It's because we are attempting to define ourselves and satisfy our deepest desires outside of Christ.

Think about it. What does it mean to define ourselves? How can we tell our true identity? What makes Brian "Brian," and what makes you "you"? Many people go on all kinds of self help and spiritual journeys trying to "find themselves." We see it all the time on daytime talk shows. But what is our identity? Who are we?

Basically, our identity is found in the thing that makes us feel good about ourselves. It is the thing that we use to justify ourselves to the rest of the world. It is the thing which, when we are examined, we point to to say that my life was worth living.

That means that its different things for different people. For some, it is work or job (doing well at work gives you a reason to live). For others, its school (getting an A makes you feel important). For others, its their athletic ability (preforming well on the football field makes shows that their life is valuable). For some, its romance (living for a husband, wife, or significant other gives us meaning).

Essentially, our identity is what we love the most. It gives meaning to the story of our lives. Notice what Paul says in v. 5: "put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" Here Paul is listing a set of sins. Notice, however, that they are not "things" or actions that you do. Sexual immorality is not an "action;" it is the condition of the heart that causes one to break God's law. Impurity is not action, it is a mindset that causes you to sin. Passion and evil desire are the root of sin, not the angry words we said to our spouse this morning or the actual lie we spoke. And the root of all of this, says Paul, is covetousness, which is idolatry itself! So what does this mean? It means that the problem with sin is not so much what we do as it is what we love. By nature, we love our false identities, whatever they may be, and then those things come to define us. They r the things we latch onto to find meaning and significance.

That's why it often feels like death when we lose our idols, and in part, it's because it is like death! If we've made an idol out of our spouse, when they don't serve us properly, then we get angry and furious. If we've made an idol out of our work, we feel absolutely terrible when we screw up or fail. And when we make an idol out of our athletic abilities, we break down when we drop the pass or miss the kick. Oftentimes we'll just cover it up with lies or facades. How many times have we seen a professional athlete or actor go delusional when their world falls apart? That's why Paul sneaks in admonitions against anger and lies, which seem kind of out of place here. See v. 8: "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth." When our identities are shattered, we get angry, furiously angry. See v. 9: "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices." When our false identities are shattered, we lie to cover it up and maintain just a little sense of worth.

Now don't hear what I'm not saying. I'm not saying that there isn't God ordained joy to be found in work or marriage or sports or school. There is. Enjoy it, for it is good. What I am saying, however, is that we must not make these things ultimate. They must not become fake identities.

2. What our identity is (in Christ):

So how do we fight this? Where do we get real meaning and identity from? Well what is a Christian's identity? There are three things to look at quickly here, but I wish I had more time.

A. You have died

Look at verse 3: "for you have died." It is a well known fact to you that as a Christian, the old self has been killed with Christ on the cross. You have died in Christ. That's what we symbolize every time we baptize a new believer. When they go under the water, they die to their old sinful selves. That's why we talk about being born again. Jesus, talking to Nicodemus in John Ch.3, spoke about the necessity of new birth. You've got to be born again.

So what does this mean for you? It means a lot of things. It means that you are free from the power of sin (more on that later). It means that you are not the same person that you used to be. It means that you will be with Christ in heaven. But here, for Paul in this passage, it means this: that you are dead to your old identities. No more are you to associate yourself and gain your meaning out of "earthy things." No more are you to seek significance out of spouses or jobs or whatever else you might find. Why? Because that stuff is dead. It leads to death, it has no good road. And you are dead to it. You are cut off from it, and it doesn't have to define you anymore. Your old life and your old identity is gone. You don't have it anymore.

B. You have risen

So where do you get your new identity from? Where do you find your meaning in life? Quite simply, in Christ. See v. 1: "if then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God." Now this is a marvelous truth! We all know that we are dead to sin. In sin we have died and are deserving of the punishments of hell. Without Christ, we would be condemned to eternal torture and separation from God, no matter what way we chose. But in Christ, we are risen. We are free from the powers of sin, and we are free to be children of God and bask in His love. So what does this mean for you? It means this: that your identity is found only in that you are risen and in Christ! You are not primarily mother or father, you are risen in Christ! You are not daughter or son, you are risen in Christ! You are not a teacher or a student, but you are risen in Christ! You are not a welder or a mechanic or a banker or a doctor or husband or wife. you are risen in Christ.

That's why Paul says in v. 11: "there is not Greek and Jew, circumscied and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free." He says this because in the presence of Christ, we are no longer defined by nationalities or things that we do. Who we are is defined by this simple fact: that we are risen in Christ.

C. Your life is Christ's

Paul continues to confirm this fact in a grand crescendo in v. 3-4. Here he says three incredible things. First, in v. 3, your life is hidden in Christ. What does it mean to hide something? If I hide my Bible in this pulpit, what do you see? Not a Bible. All you see is a pulpit. In fact, you don't even see a Bible there at all. All you see is a pulpit. It's the same with our life in Christ. We are now one with Christ, sharing all of His benefits and enjoying His salvation. When God looks at you, he sees only Christ. Your life, identity, and meaning is so wrapped up in Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross that it begins to define who you are. I am no longer just Brian the youth pastor and seminary student. I am Brian, the redeemed and saved in Christ, child of the living God.

That's why Paul can say in v. 4 that our life is Christ. In fact, he says it just like that: "When Christ, who is your life..." Because we have died, we have no life. There is no life in our false identities. There is no life in the sins and sinful desires we pursue. There is no ultimate life in putting all our eggs in the basket of our jobs or our relationships or money. But there is life in Christ. There is meaning in Christ. There is purpose in Christ. In fact, in Him is the only meaning and truth. Finding our meaning in Christ is the only pathway to any future.

And what is that future? Look at v. 4: "when Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Quickly, let's note two things. First, our final future destination is being with Christ. If that is the future to which we are heading, we might as well now begin to center our lives on the reality of that truth. If Christ is our life in the future, He should be our life now. Second, so many of us spend our lives trying to get some type of glory. It could be as grand as winning the NBA championship, or it could be as silly as having a nicer car than the neighbor. But either way, when we seek glory, what we are really seeking is meaning and significance. But Paul says you don't do it that way...you do it God's way. We will finally receive glory when Christ comes again and makes all things new again. And then we will find our meaning in Christ.

3. How This Changes Us

So whats the beef with all of this? How does this change us? Remember my opening illustration, about growing to look like my dad by simply being my dad's son? It's the same way with us and Jesus! You are God's child. You are his beloved. You have been showered with wonders of love and grace. Your best friend came to earth, shed His glory, and died on a cross to set you free. You have received a new life, a new calling, and a new identity in Him. And you've received a new future in Him as well. He has your identity.

So how does this change us? By calling us to simply look to Him. Meditate on God's love for you. Ask Him to reveal more and more of it. Marvel at the fact that your life is now hidden in Christ's, who is sitting beside God the Father! Thats what this whole passage is saying: set your hearts and minds on Christ, Who is above, and Who has done so much for you. Rest in him, and stop running or working or calling or trying or thinking or worrying and simply rest, just rest! Stop trying to define yourself with everything else, and define yourself in Christ! Don't seek the things that are below..they are of no value to you! You are in Christ, and your life is hidden in Christ, not what you do! Rejoice in the reality of God's goodness to you in Christ. Find your meaning and identity in Him, and stop trying to find it in the things of this world. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light His goodness and grace. We would do well to remember that. Let's pray.