2023-11-19

The Uniquenss of The Gospel (3) - New Identity vs Trying to Be

How can you live a stress-free life? 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV): Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV): But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

 Galatians 2:20 (NIV): I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

All religions give us a set of rules such that by following them we may attain or become the saints or gods. It is doing first to become.  

But the Gospel message is that God, through the Holy Spirit, gives you a new birth with a new identity. You are born into God's family,

John 1:12-13 (NIV): Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

We do good work because we are a good person to start with.  We don't do good to become good. Many rich people give to charity to gain a good name. Some become rich through dubious means but give generously as a cover-up or a sense of guilt. 

Acting from our identity is simple and easy. Trying to be what we are not is a big struggle.

Believers must realize who they are and then act out from their being.

See also: 

Live a stress-free life by knowing your identity in Christ first, and with the assurance and confidence just live out the new life. Fight from the position of victory against the enemy. 

You don't have to struggle to become because you are already there, accepted and established, by the grace of God.

May God empower you in your walk with Him. 

Lim Liat (c) 19-11-2023

The following ChatGPT's improvement of my writing is very good, especially its rewrite of the bible verses. The meanings come out better. Hope you like it.


2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV): In Christ, a profound transformation occurs—a new creation emerges. The old, with its limitations and shortcomings, fades away, making room for the arrival of the new and extraordinary.

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV): Embrace this truth: you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation—God's treasured possession. Your purpose is to proclaim the praises of the One who rescued you from darkness, ushering you into the brilliance of His divine light.

Galatians 2:20 (NIV): My former self has been crucified with Christ, no longer dictating my existence. Instead, Christ resides within me, and the life I now lead is a manifestation of faith in the Son of God, who demonstrated unparalleled love by sacrificing Himself for me.

Contrary to many religious doctrines that prescribe adhering to rules to achieve saintliness or divinity, the Gospel delivers a different message. Through the Holy Spirit, God orchestrates a rebirth within you, granting you a brand-new identity. You are not merely following a set of rules; you are born into God's family.

John 1:12-13 (NIV): For those who receive and believe in Him, the authority is given to become children of God. This birthright transcends natural lineage, human decisions, or the will of a spouse—it is a divine birth, a testament to being born of God.

Contrary to the notion of doing good to become good, believers understand that their actions flow from their inherent goodness. Riches gained through dubious means may lead some to give generously, but true goodness arises from a genuine and virtuous core.

Acting authentically from our identity is effortless compared to the struggle of trying to be something we're not. Believers, recognizing their true identity, are empowered to live out their calling confidently.

Understanding the "Be-Do-Have" principle in Grace-Based Doctrine enables believers to live from their identity, fostering growth and a natural progression in their faith journey. This liberating perspective allows believers to share the abundance of their transformed lives with others.

In the pursuit of a stress-free life rooted in the knowledge of one's identity in Christ, believers stand firm in victory, facing challenges with assurance and confidence.

May God's empowerment guide and strengthen you in your walk with Him.

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