Gospel of Grace and our Identity in Christ

Gospel of Grace and our Identity in Christ 恩典福音與我們在基督裏的身份 Pastor Iho Tree (崔誼厚牧師) ihotree@aol. com, (H) 314 -579 -9637 1

What is “Identity身份” 1. In psychology, “identity” refers to a selfsameness, internal cohesion, and self-respect -Who I am? What is my purpose? What are my values? Keyes, Beyond Identity, p. 1 2. Everyone gets their identity, their sense of being distinct and valuable, from somewhere or something. Keller, The Reason for God, p. 162 2

Our “Identity身份” is a Derived One - 2 • “A table or a chair just “is, ” but a human being need to feel that he or she exists in terms of something, some standard or point of integration. ” (p. 8) • “Humans will always compute their values in terms of something, whether that something is worthy or able to bestow value on them or not. It is only when people reach beyond humankind that they can get any conclusive affirmation of themselves. ” (p. 9) • “If your identity is rooted in God himself then he can give you a sense of both coherence and self-acceptance amid the rapid change of this world and in the face of death – the ultimate threat to identity. ” (p. 11) Keyes, Beyond Identity. 4

Our “Identity身份” Lost • We can’t “create” our own identity. Humanity’s identity is always derived. • Once fallen humanity rejected God’s revelation, then our identity is lost. • Since our identity is derived, we end up finding other things from which we derive our identity from (usually in an clumsy way). . 5

Who are you? - 1 • I am an student. That is your occupation, I didn’t ask you what you did for a living. Do you become a nobody if you lost your job? • I am from China. That is where you are from, I didn’t ask you where you are from. • I am the mother of 3 children and all of them got their Ph. D. Did I ask you about your children’s education? • My name is XXX. That is you name, but who are YOU? You are nothing but 3 Chinese characters? • I have a 3 masters degrees and 1. 5 Ph. D. I didn’t ask you how many degrees you have, I asked who are you? • I am a Saturn owner. (problem Saturn is going out of existence). I didn’t ask you what kind of car you drive, 6 but who are YOU.

Who are you? - 2 • I have 3 degrees from XXX university in China. That is good, I am glad for you, but I didn’t ask you how many degrees you got in China before you came to UW, but who are YOU. • My father is a high government official in China. Fine, but I didn’t ask about your father’s occupation, I asked who are YOU? • I graduated 1 st in my class from XXX high school. • I got into Beijing University with XXX points at age XX • I am a tenured professor in an ivy league school • I have never failed at anything I attempted in my entire life • Jesus says “a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. 人的生命并不在于家道丰富” (Lk 7 12: 14)

Our “Identity身份” Lost • We can’t “create” our own identity. Humanity’s identity is always derived. • Once fallen humanity rejected God’s revelation, then our identity is lost. • Comparison of a Christian’s identity compared to that of an atheist. 8

Identity Lost – 1 (Meaning of my Life) God’s Revelation Atheism The world has no creator. Organic The world has an intelligent Creator. came out of inorganic through an The created world reflects the power violent accident (Miller-Urey and majesty of the Creator. experiment, 1953, Univ. of Chicago). Since all life forms came out of an Everything created has purpose, “accident” and is a product of meaning and is a product of “chance, ” there cannot possibly be intelligent design. The Creator God any purpose and meaning in any has a role for all things to play. life form’s existence. Human beings are the created in the image of God. They are God’s crowing achievement in creation. God’s role for them to rule over the rest of the Creation on behalf of God. Human being is just a higher life form, another product of accident. Their purpose of existence is left for human being to figure out. There are many different views on this subject. 9

Identity Lost – 2 (Value and Freedom) God’s Revelation Atheism God has infinite value. As beings The price of rib eye steak is quite created in the image of God, human high but there seems to no market for beings have intrinsic value in and of human flesh. Slaughtered cows are themselves. Jesus says “a man's life sold at a high price but dead human does not consist in the abundance bodies are quickly buried. So what is of his possessions. ” (Lk 12: 14) the value of a human life? Human beings are noting but Human beings have a soul (mind) and complex biochemical machines. a body. Our soul (mind) is created in Human brain is an interrelation of the image of God. We can think, will chemical and physical properties we and know the world outside of us. do not yet fully understand. God is free. Since human beings are As a biochemical machine, we don’t created in the image of God, we are have genuine choices just as my PC’s genuinely free to make real choices. OS doesn’t have genuine choices. 10

Identity Lost – 3 (Morality – Right and Wrong) God’s Revelation Atheism Since the Creator God is a moral being, the universe has objective morality -- true right and wrong. (Rom 2: 14 -15) God, the Law giver, tells me what is right and want is wrong. Since there is no moral creator, the universe has no objective morality. All right and wrong (ethics) are only products of human society. No one can tell us what to do (teenagers would add: especially my parents). Since human being are created in the As a complex biochemical machines, human beings don’t really have image of God, and since God is a genuine moral choices. They cannot moral being, humans are true moral be held accountable for their actions agents who can make genuine moral which is the result of other factors. choices. They are held accountable In suffering, they see ourselves as by God and others for the choices victims of impersonal forces in a they made (Gen 3). closed universe of cause-and-effect. 11

Identity Lost – 4 (Suffering and Knowledge) God’s Revelation Atheism Adam, the first human being sinned. When I face difficulties, I tend to As a result all his descents are sinners. blame others, the bad circumstances I am sinner living in a world full of or “bad luck” instead of looking into sinners. Suffering is a result of my own sinful nature (if there is such humanity’s sins. a thing at all. ) There is an explanation for human There isn’t any explanation for sin being’s evil behaviors and suffering and sinful behavior (e. g. , global in this world. The Bible promised terrorism). There is no hope that God will eradiate suffering will stop one day. As a biochemical machine, mankind God is all knowing, as a creature created in the image of God, we can don’t really have a thing called the “mind. ” I am not sure a machine can know, our mind can “grasp the reality that surrounds us. ” We can have I am forced to be a skeptic until the genuine knowledge. day I die. 12

Identity Lost – 5 (End of Life) God’s Revelation Human being are created to have everlasting life. Death is a consequence of humanity’s sins. Our soul will survive after death. Atheism Death is the extinction of personality and individuality. Since there is no Creator, neither life (which is an accident) nor death has any meaning. History has no meaning. Its a linear History has purpose and meaning. It stream of events linked by cause and is under the sovereign guidance of the effect but without an overarching Creator God. It going toward God’s purpose. Besides, one day the intended end. (see Biblical Worlduniverse will be a cold (~ 4 K), dark and-Life View PPT talk tomorrow expanse when the last star burns out. morning. ) All life form will die. As someone in Christ, I am part of “Life is a tale Told by an idiot, full the New Creation. I will never lose of sound and fury, Signifying my identity and I am headed for nothing. ” (Shakespeare, Macbeth) 13 greatness in the New Creation.

Sin and the Identity Issue • We usually think of “sin” are a violation of God’s commandments. Note: in Chinese “sin” and “crime” both got folded into one word: 罪. But in English: “sin” is a religious term and “crime” is a legal term. • There is another way to look at sin. 14

Sins as a Perverted Order (Keller) 1. The essence of sin is not primarily the violation of laws but a wrecked relationship with God, one another, and the whole created order. . . • Order at Creation: God, man/woman, animal, plant, mineral. • Order at Fall: plant (fruit), animal (serpent), woman/man, God. (Gen 3) 2. All sins are attempts to fill voids. . . Because we cannot stand the God-shaped hole inside of us, we try stuffing it full of all sorts of things, but only God may fill it. (Barbara Brown Taylor) 15

Sins: Seeking an Identity Apart from God (Keller) 1. “Sin is the despairing refusal to find your deepest identity in your relationship and service to God. Sin is seeking to become oneself, to get an identity, apart from Him. 2. Everyone gets their identity, their sense of being distinct and valuable, from somewhere or something. Kierkegaard asserts that human beings were made not only to believe in God in some general way, but to love him supremely, center their lives on him above anything else, and build their very identities on him. Anything other than this is sin. (p. 162) 16

Sins: Making a Good Thing into an Ultimate thing 1. “Most people think sin primarily as ‘breaking divine rules, ’ but Kierkegaard knows that the very first of the Ten Commandments is to “have no other god before me. 除了我以外，你不可有別的神。” So according to the Bible, the primary way to define sin is not jus the doing of bad things, but making of good things into ultimate things. ” 2. “It is seeking to establish a sense of self by making something else more central to your significance, purpose, and happiness than your relationship with God. ” 3. We go through life trying to prove to ourselves and others that “I’m not a bum. ” This is another way of 17 “justifying ourselves” before God and others.

Examples of Making a Good Thing into an Ultimate thing 1. Another name for the “ultimate things” is an “idol” – a false god. “god” is an “object of worship. ” “worship” is “an object of adoring reverence or regard” – what is the most important thing in your life and gives you purpose, meaning, significance, security and occupies your mind, heart and will. 2. Adam and Eve turned a fruit into an idol – that which give ultimate meaning in life (如 神能知道善惡. ) 3. David’s “counting the troops” - His idolatry cost the lives of 7, 0000 Israelites. (1 Chron 21: 1 -14) 4. Solomon kept the concubines of the kingdom he conquered to display his strength before other nations. They, in turn, snared him into worshipping other gods. 5. Seminary graduates are warned not to fall into the 18 temptation of the 3 Bs – Body, Bucks, and Bricks.

Sin and the Identity Issue A brief look at some of the most common idols that we derive our identity from. 19

Idols of our Hearts – 1 (Tim Keller) o Power idolatry: “Life only has meaning/ I only have worth if: I have power and influence over others. o Approval idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I am loved and respected by ____. o Comfort idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I have (this kind) of pleasure experience, a particular quality of life. ” o Image idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I have a particular kind of look or body image. ” 20

Idols of our Hearts – 2 (Tim Keller) o Control idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I am able to get mastery over my life in the area of ________. o Helping idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: people are dependent on me and need me. ” o Dependence idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: someone is there to protect me and keep me safe. ” o Independence idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I am completely free from obligations or responsibilities to take care of someone. ” 21

Idols of our Hearts - 3 (Tim Keller) o Work idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I am highly productive getting a lot done. ” o Achievement idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I am being recognized for my accomplishments, if I am excelling in my career. ” o Materialism idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I have a certain level of wealth, financial freedom, and very nice possessions. o Individual person idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: this one person is in my life and happy there and/or happy with me. ” 22

Idols of our Hearts - 4 (Tim Keller) o Religion idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I am adhering to my religion’s moral codes and accomplished in its activities. ” o Irreligion idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I feel I am totally independent of organized religion and with a self-made morality. o Racial/cultural idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: my race and culture is ascendant and recognized as superior. ” o Inner ring idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: a particular social grouping or professional grouping or other group lets me in. ” 23

Idols of our Hearts - 5 (Tim Keller) o Family idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: my children and/or my parents are happy and happy with me. ” o Relationship idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: Mr. or Ms. ‘Right’ is in love with me. ” o Suffering idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I am hurting, in a problem—only then do I feel noble or worthy of love or am able to deal with guilt. ” o Ideology idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: my political or social cause or party is making progress and ascending in influence or power. (Tim Keller. Romans: A Study Course in the Gospel, 24 version 2. 0, 1997)

Idols of our Hearts - 6 (Uniquely Chinese) o School idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I got into XXX university. ” o Green card idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I got my Green Card / Citizenship. ” o Male heir idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I have a son. ” o Tenure idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I got a tenure. ” o Big house idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I have a 5 bedroom house. ” o Job idolatry: “Life only has meaning/I only have worth if: I have a high-paying job. ” 25

The Right and Wrong Model Wrong! God Right! Christ Redeemed Humanity, The Church Renewal of Creation Western Individualism Covenantal World View 26

Identity Lost, Identity Gained – 1 (Jack Miller) Identity Outside of Christ Identity in Christ (an orphan in the universe) (a child of God) Feel alone; lack a vital daily Have a growing assurance intimacy with God; “a that God is really my loving vacuum of self concern. ” Heavenly Father (1 Jn 4: 16) Full of anxiety over “felt Trust the father and have a needs; ” friends, money, etc. ; growing confidence in His "I’m all alone and nobody loving care; freed from worry. cares. " Live on success/fail basis; Learning to live in daily selfmust “look good” at any cost; conscious partnership with performance-oriented. God; not fearful. 28

Identity Lost, Identity Gained – 2 (Jack Miller) Identity Outside of Christ (an orphan in the universe) Identity in Christ (a child of God) Feel condemned, guilty and unworthy before God and others. Feel loved, forgiven and totally accepted because Christ’s merit really clothes me. Have a “little faith, ” lots of fear, no ability to really trust God. “I’ve got to fix it. ” A daily working trust in God’s sovereign plan for my life as a loving, wise and best plan. Labor under a sense of unlimited obligation, trying hard to please, burnout. Prayer is the first resort; “I am going to ask my father first!” Daddy (Abba), Father! 29

Identity Lost, Identity Gained – 3 (Jack Miller) Identity Outside of Christ (an orphan in the universe) Identity in Christ (a child of God) Rebellious towards God and Strength to be submissive; others; often spiritually cold soft (broken and contrite) and hard-hearted. heart (Ps 51: 17). Open to criticism since I Defensive; can’t listen; consciously stand in Christ's bristles at the charge of being perfection, not my own; am self-righteous (virtually able to examine my deeper proving the charge). motives. 30

Identity Lost, Identity Gained – 4 (Jack Miller) Identity Outside of Christ (an orphan in the universe) Must always be right, safe, secure; unwilling to fail; defensive; unable to tolerate criticism; can only handle praise. Identity in Christ (a child of God) Able to take risks — even fail. Since righteousness is in Christ, needs no record to boast in, protect or defend. Self-confident but discouraged, Christ-confident and defeated and lacking the encouraged because of the spirit Spirit’s power. working in me. “I’ll show ‘em—just watch my “我靠着那加给我能力的， smoke!” “Where others failed. ” 凡事都能作。” (Phil 4: 13). (will power). 31

What is my Identity “in Christ? ” - 6 l l I am a son of light, and not of darkness (1 Thess 5: 5 你们都 是光明之子、白昼之子；我们不是属于黑夜的，也不是 属于黑暗的。) I am a partaker of Christ, I share in his life (Heb 3: 14 如果 我们把起初的信念坚持到底，就是有分于基督的人了。) I am one of God’s living stones, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house (1 Pet 2: 5 也就像活石，被建造成为灵宫， 作圣洁的祭司，借着耶稣基督献上蒙　神悦纳的灵祭。) I am an alien and a stranger to this world in which I temporarily live (1 Pet 2: 11 亲爱的，我劝你们作客旅和 寄居的人，要禁戒肉体的私欲，这私欲是与灵魂争战的。 ) 37

Significance of my Identity “in Christ? ” - 1 l l “A person with a strong and true sense of identity will experience peace with self, others, and God. This person will have a certain self-forgetfulness, a lack of selfabsorption and self-consciousness. By contrast, the person with a weak sense of identity is painfully concerned with him or herself. This person is keenly conscious of being one who is fragile, unreal, and unsubstantial and feels like a loosely held together collection of roles played to the audience of other’s expectation and determined by forces outside of their control. They might describe themselves as masses of contradictory selves or as several actors on a stage without a script or director. ” Keyes, Beyond Identity, pp. 4 -5. 40

Significance of my Identity “in Christ? ” - 2 l l “The person with a negative and disintegrated attitude toward self is apt to see others as threatening competitors. ” “People with a weak identity are apt to be what Erikson calls ‘identity hungry, ’ that is in relationships with others they try to find or fortify themselves, whether by bragging, self-assertion, manipulation, or self-pitying withdrawal. Other people exist as means to buttress their weak and dependent sense of self, not as persons in their own right. Motivated by fear and anxiety they are like a baby bird in a nest with a huge open mouth pointed to the sky shouting ‘feed me!’ ‘make me feel like a person!’ They may even get a perverse satisfaction out of being hated – at least they have been noticed. ” Keyes, Beyond Identity, p. 5. 41

Being in Christ and our Identity Issue l l I know I am so bad that Christ has to die for me. I also know I am so loved that Christ is willing to die for me. I am precious in God’s eyes. (Tim Keller) What I have (sin, failure, shame, etc) has been transferred to Christ and what Christ has (glory, honor, success, etc) has been transferred to me. As God’s child, I am destined to inherit the New Heavens and the New Earth. My “success” in life does not depend on what I own or have accomplished but what Christ owns or has accomplished. He is my covenant representative and He lived a prefect life on my behalf. Being “in Christ” frees from l Constantly trying to prove to God, other or myself that “I’m not a bum (懶鬼). ” l The bondage of idolatry and allows me to serve God and others without my “ego” constantly getting into my way. 42

Questions for Reflection l l l How often church members examine the sense of identity of a candidate for leadership (pastor, elder, deacon, fellowship group leader) position? Do churches know how to discern a person’s sense of identity? What’s the relationship between one’s understanding of the gospel and one’s sense of identity? Explain? What happens when church allows someone with a weak sense of identity in a leadership position? How can studies in this area help a pastor build a healthier leadership team / healthier congregation? Are counseling and theology two separate disciplines? How are they integrated in the “Gospel of Grace” talks 43 (from Nov, 2008 to now)?