Change of Identity

John Woodward has the following helpful words on our union with Christ:

"So the way to 'full-orbed victory' is not self-effort but a deeper experience of the Cross of Christ. Romans 6:6 gives the revelation of the believer's new standing and identity in Christ: 'Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.'

"L. E. Maxwell taught this truth of identification through the following event from history: 'During the [U.S.] Civil War a man by the name of George Wyatt was drawn by lot to go to the front. He had a wife and six children. A young man named Richard Pratt offered to go in his stead. He was accepted and joined the ranks, bearing the name and number of George Wyatt. Before long Pratt was killed in action. The authorities later sought again to draft George Wyatt into service. He protested, entering his plea that he had died in the person of Pratt. He insisted that the authorities consult their own records as to the fact of his having died in identification with Pratt, his substitute. Wyatt was thereby exempted as beyond the claims of the law and further service. HE HAD DIED IN THE PERSON OF HIS REPRESENTATIVE. There we have the truth of identification in a nutshell. God's way of deliverance [from the self-life] is through death--through identification with our Substitute in His death and resurrection.'

"This new standing breaks the authority of sin in the believer's life. As the apostle Paul reasoned, 'Now having been SET FREE from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord' (Rom 6:22-23). Although we still have the flesh, the world, and the devil to contend with, we have the authority and power in Christ to live a life free from habitual sin--a life characterized by righteousness (1 John 2:3-6).

"This new standing is a wonderful truth, but there is more. Believers not only have a righteous standing and legal freedom, they have spiritual union with Christ (Col 3:1-3). This union has made their spirit alive unto God (Eph 2:1). With this 'new man' the governing disposition of the heart of God's children has been made holy: 'For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man' (Rom 7:22).

"The significance of this new spiritual life is described in this episode from [F. J.] Huegel's ministry: '. . . a young lady confessed that her life was a veritable "inferno" because of terrible pride which ruled her heart. She said that in spite of all her efforts to overcome, this thing had reached such a degree that she felt herself getting angry when she saw others happy. What was she to do? I said to her, "I am a German. Let us suppose that I no longer wish to be German, but a Frenchman. I struggle. I imitate. I agonize over the role. How far will it get me? Will I ever become a Frenchman? Of course not. But let us suppose: I die and am reborn of a French mother. How different. French attitudes are easy now. Well," I explained, "that is how Christ takes the pride [and other works of the flesh] out of us. He doesn't simply tame the monster and then call him humility. He takes our humanity to the Cross . . . The Redeemer imparts to [believers] a crucified life over which pride has no more power than a flea would have over a tiger. . . "'

"Now we rejoice in our new standing and new spiritual orientation, but what about the inward pull away from righteousness? Where does it come from? In a word, from the 'flesh'. As Romans puts it, 'For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good' (Rom 7:18,20,21).

"Now this doesn't mean that we are absolved of responsibility for sinful words and actions. However, it is critical to perceive that our human spirit (the organ of the soul that has the capacity to relate to God) is essentially holy, righteous, and therefore 'delights in the law of God.' THIS IS THE REAL YOU! 'He [or she] who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him' (1 Cor 6:17) Therefore, identity is based, not upon one's track record, circumstances, or feelings, but upon SPIRITUAL REBIRTH!

"So what is 'flesh'? In an ethical context (like Romans ch. 6) it refers to the interface of our body and soul that contains the selfish programming of thoughts, behaviors, feelings, and affections learned independently of God. 'Flesh' is IN the believer (until leaving the body at death) but FLESH IS NOT THE BELIEVER! The indwelling Holy Spirit keeps the flesh in check as we yield to His Holy power (Gal 5:16,17).

"The main condition for us to unleash this power of Christ in us is to reckon our identity in Christ and union with Christ to be personally TRUE! 'Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord' (Rom 6:11)."