Know Your Identity

 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh...

Philippians 3:3 (ESV)

How important it is for the Christian to know his or her identity. As human beings, we long for it. We identify ourselves with the school we attend, the job we work, the people we hang around, or the church we worship at, just to name a few. Our identity crafts the way that people look at us. Thomas the kid who works at the gas station and Thomas the kid who goes to Harvard may be the same person, but the way in which he is identified changes our perception of him. More than that, our identity shapes the way we think about ourselves. This is even more important because the way others see us will affect only what they think of us, but the way we see ourselves will change the way we live.

Paul too is dealing with issues of identity in the Philippian church. There had come among the church a group of people known as the Judaizers. They taught that salvation required not only faith in Christ but also the adherence to the tenants of the old covenant, especially circumcision. The issue of circumcision was important to the Jews and to Jewish men in particular because for centuries it had marked their identity. Circumcision was the sign of God's covenant with Abraham. It was a defining characteristic of any Jewish man. It is easy to see why Jewish believers would want to retain this ancient identity marker.

Paul, however, makes it clear that this idea is flawed. In fact, he calls those espousing it “dogs,” “evildoers,” and “those who mutilate the flesh” (a pun on the Greek word for circumcision which implies cutting off more than just the foreskin) (3:2). He goes on to say that “we are the circumcision” (3:3). What does he mean by this? Did he not just vehemently rebuke those promoting circumcision? In fact, Paul is arguing that true circumcision is something other than a physical act.

This idea is not new but is present in the Old Testament. As early as the book of Deuteronomy the Lord commands his people to circumcise their hearts (10:16, 30:6). In Jeremiah, he says “Circumcise yourselves to the Lord and remove the foreskins of your heart” (4:4, NASB). These early texts indicate a concern with spiritual circumcision as opposed to physical circumcision. That is to say, an appropriate heart attitude toward God. In Christ, the transition away from physical circumcision is complete. “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit” (Rom. 2:28-29).

In order for the Philippians to confront the Judaizers they had to have confidence in their identity. They had to know that who they were came not from an outward expression of the body but from an inward transformation by the Holy Spirit. They were not of the uncircumcised but were circumcised at heart.

The danger of the Judaizers was not just the practice of Jewish law but the destruction of the church's new identity in Christ. Like a freed prisoner returning to his cell, the church would shackle itself again to the law. Instead of living the free life that Christ intended, its members would again become slaves. In order for the Philippians to live abundantly in Christ, they had to recognize that he set them free from the law and that old regulations such as circumcision were no longer applicable. They had to know who they were before they could become who they were meant to be.

The same is true for us. If we want to live free and abundant lives in Christ, we first have to understand our identity in him. For those who are wondering what I mean, let me help you. You are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), a child of the living God (1 John 3:1-2), you can even call him “Daddy” (Rom. 8:15). You have been reconciled to God, and he regards you as holy and blameless (Col. 1:22). You have been justified (Rom. 5:1), you are being sanctified (Phil. 1:6), and you will be glorified (Eph. 2:6-7). You have everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). You are more than a conqueror (Rom. 8:37). You have died, and it is now Christ living in you (Gal. 2:20). I could go on, but hopefully you're beginning to get the idea.

It is essential that a Christian understand his or her identity in Christ. Too many Christians have a poor understanding of who they are, and as such they become poor followers of Christ. Either they would like to take up their cross and follow him, but it just seems too risky. Or worse yet, they have no idea that this is what they are being called to at all. If we do not know who God has called us to be, how can we live to please him?

In order to live fully for Christ, we have to know our identity. But how do we do this? Hopefully my examples provided a hint. We discover our identity from the word of God. There he speaks truth to us and shows us his plan and purpose for our lives. There we learn who we are and whose we are. Of course, that doesn't mean that every question gets answered, but it does mean that we can get the big picture of who God has called us to be. We can walk confidently in our faith, living out the identity that God has placed upon us.

The Satisfied Groom

This weekend I had the privilege of attending the wedding of some dear friends. As the bride walked down the aisle, I glanced over at the groom. Besides the huge smile, I noticed something else, satisfaction. He was completely satisfied with his bride. There was no other woman in the world whom he desired to be his wife.

I think that this is a beautiful picture of how Christ looks at the church and we as members of it. He is entirely satisfied with his bride. He does not look upon us and see our blemishes or our imperfections. He sees us as cleansed by his blood and purchased by his love. In Isaiah 62:5 the Lord speaks to Israel saying, “For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons will marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you.”

It is so important for we as Christians to recognize that our God rejoices over us. He loves us, he is proud of us, and we are his great desire. He does not take his bride with reluctance, but with overwhelming joy. He is satisfied.

Rejoice in the Lord

 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. Philippians 3:1 (ESV)

This passage begins with the exhortation “rejoice in the Lord.” It is a beautiful phrase, but what does it mean? Earlier, in speaking of his imprisonment, Paul says, “ Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance…that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (1:18-20, NASB). Paul makes it clear that he rejoices in the exaltation of Christ. Paul does not see his deliverance in terms of human chains but in terms of what Christ can do through him. This is why he can speak of being delivered whether he lives or he dies, for he is confident in either case that Christ will be glorified. Thus, Paul does not derive his joy from his circumstances but from the glory of Christ.

It is into this kind of joy that Paul has already called the Philippians. This is why he speaks of writing it again. In chapter two he says, “even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me” (17-18). This joy is of the same kind that Paul has previously discussed. It is joy in the glorification of God. Thus, Paul cares not if his life is to be poured out, emptied, or used up in the service of the kingdom. He is following the example of Christ who “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (2:7).

To rejoice in the Lord, is to rejoice in his glory. There are many things in this world in which we are tempted to rejoice. We rejoice in our accomplishments, in our jobs, in our school work, in our spouses, in our children. These things are not bad and it can be good to derive joy from them. Indeed, Paul speaks of praying for the Philippians with joy (1:3) and encourages them to receive Epaphroditus with joy (2:29). But if we rejoice only in the things of this world and fail to rejoice in the Lord, we will find our joy to be temporary, hollow, and unfulfilling.

Imagine if Paul had rejoiced in his missionary work, but not in the Lord. What a disaster imprisonment would have been. Unable to travel and plant churches, Paul would have found his life purpose gone and his joy sucked away. But this is hardly the picture we get in Philippians. Instead, Paul rejoices that his imprisonment has “turned out for the greater progress of the gospel” (1:12). He cares not whether he is chained or free, living or dying only that the gospel and glory of Christ are advanced.

This is so important that Paul does not mind if he seems to be repeating himself. Indeed, in chapter four verse four he will say it again, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” To rejoice in the Lord is an essential aspect of the Christian life. Until I learn to get my focus off of myself and put it onto God, I cannot follow the example of Christ. If the glory of God is not my number one priority then my priorities are misaligned. I am more likely to succumb to temptation, less likely to live in obedience, and I will miss out on the joy that the Lord has in store for me.

Paul also gives us another reason to rejoice in the Lord, he says it is safety or a safeguard. The word in Greek (asphales) means something that is firm, immovable, trustworthy, or safe. So rejoicing in the Lord provides us with stability and safety. But what sort of stability? Or safety from what? I believe Paul is saying that rejoicing in the Lord gives our joy safety and security when compared to the precarious position of those who find their joy in the world. As we have already seen, joy found in anything other than the Lord is transitory. The person who seeks their joy in this way cannot find safety and security because their joy is only temporary. They are always in danger of losing it. The person whose joy is in the Lord has security. Their joy cannot be taken away or diminished. In this way our hearts are sheltered from vicious cycles of joy and despair. If my joy is in the Lord, I will rejoice in his power and not my own, in his ability and not my own, in his glory and not my own.

If we, as believers, learn to rejoice in the Lord, we will be prepared to encounter any situation. There is no blessing so great that we would take pride in it for the blessing would only be important to us insofar as it advanced the glory of God. And there would be no trial or suffering so painful that we would be driven to despair for Christ will be exalted whether by our life or by our death. We can say with Paul, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (4:11-13).