Who Am I in Christ?
When a person believes that Christ died on behalf of sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, God saves him (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). This salvation is not based on works of righteousness that a person has done, but according to God's mercy, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:4). God’s seed is placed within the believer, making him a legitimate child and spiritually alive to God (1 John 3:9; 1 Corinthians 6:17). Because this salvation begins in the spirit—the rational center of the human being (1 Corinthians 2:11)—it does not rely on feelings, nor does it affect the person’s outward appearance. However, this does not change the fact that something profoundly significant has taken place.
In addition to being washed of all sins and born again, the believer is immersed into the body of the Christ by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12–13). Humans are not individually created beings; we are all part of one creation. God created Adam, built Eve, and all others were propagated from them (Genesis 1:27; 2:7; 2:22; 4:1). As the head of God’s creation, because Adam trespassed and sinned—separating himself in spirit from God and becoming subject to physical death—his bent nature, along with its condemnation, was passed down to his offspring (Genesis 5:3). Therefore, all humans are subject to physical death and are born separated from God in their reasoning, under condemnation (Romans 5:12, 17). However, in Adam’s sin, he also gained the knowledge of good and evil, thereby obtaining a conscience, which was likewise passed on to his children. Thus, no one can point to Adam and blame him for his condition, for with this knowledge each person is responsible to seek out and find God (Hebrews 11:6).
When God raised Jesus from the dead, He created a new creation, the Christ—the last Adam (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 15:45). For all who direct faith toward Christ through the gospel message, Christ is now their Head. The believer is taken out of Adam and immersed into Christ, where the archaic things have passed away, and all things have become new.
This new man, of whom all believers are now a part, was created in righteousness and piety of the truth (Ephesians 4:24). Righteousness refers to conduct that is morally right and justifiable, and piety is the expression of holiness through action. As the Head, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to the members of His body (1 Corinthians 1:30). Therefore, the believer is regarded by God as righteous. God is not ignoring the sinful actions or condition of the believer—who has not yet received his full redemption—but rather treats him as though he is already fully glorified, granting him all things pertaining to life and godliness so that, even in his present condition, he may victoriously live a godly life (2 Peter 1:3–4).
In Christ, the archaic things have passed away. These things involve our old nature: deceitful cravings from the flesh, outbursts of wrath, inner burning angers, doing wrong, attributing false things to others, filthy language, fornication, sexual uncleanliness, passionate desire to do wrong, covetousness—which is idolatry—and all such works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19–21). Behold, all things have become new. Therefore, as the elect of God, we are to put off the former conduct and put on the new man, manifesting a quality of Christ’s character: holiness, compassion, kindness, humility, objectivity of mind, long-suffering, bearing with one another, and being gracious (Colossians 3:11). The new man does not sin in anger, giving a place for the devil. He does not steal, but works with his hands so that he may have to give to those in need. Rotten words do not come out of his mouth, but rather words that are necessary for edification in a gracious manner. He is not bitter, does not hold onto an inner burning anger, is not wrathful, clamorous, or blasphemous, for he has put away all wrong (Ephesians 4:29–32). This is who I am in Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, and the life that I now live is by faith in the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me—Galatians 2:20.
Since I am in Christ, as a branch in the vine is able to produce fruit because of the vine, the Holy Spirit produces fruit in me, which is the character of Christ who dwells in me. Therefore, my mind is focused on the things above and is yielding to the righteous desires I have from the Holy Spirit, Who now indwells me. He produces within me love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, objectivity of mind, and self-control, which free me from living by law to live out from faith (Galatians 5:22–23).
For this reason, through faith—not by works of my own righteousness—I take God at His word and apply what He has given me to my life, adding to my faith virtue, and to virtue, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control, to self-control, patience, to patience, godliness, to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love. As these things are mine and abound in me, I can never be unfruitful in the full experiential knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ, for I am not short-sighted or blind, forgetting that I have been cleansed from my old sins (2 Peter 1:5–8).