IF YOUR IDENTITY IS OLD SCHOOL; ITS TIME TO WALK IN YOUR NEW IMAGE.

NEW IDENTITY

“…For in him we live and move and have our being.…” (ACTS 17:28 NIV).

The Christian identity has been high jacked, abused, misrepresented, twisted, and contaminated over the years from inappropriate use and by groups whose agenda does NOT match that of Jesus Christ at all.

Real Christians are like Jesus PERIOD and are progressively being conformed to his image. “…In this world we are LIKE JESUS…” (1 John 4:17 NIV). “…be conformed to the IMAGE OF HIS SON…” (Romans 8:29 KJV).

God sent Jesus Christ because he loved “THE WORLD,” which includes all people, everywhere. “For God so loved THE WORLD, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life…” (John 3:16).

Jesus Christ did NOT die for ONE ethnic “race” of people. He died for the HUMAN race. God did NOT die for one GROUP of people. He died for all people. God did NOT die to support mankind’s different agendas. He died for God’s agenda: the GREAT SALVATION. “…Christ …. died for sins ONCE for “ALL”…” (1 Peter 3:18 NASB).

“… Christ died for OUR SINS according to the scriptures; And ...he was buried, and …he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV).  ^“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son...” (1 John 4:10 KJV).   “For Christ …. died for sins ONCE for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;” (1 Peter 3:18 NASB).

Jesus Christ did NOT die for your political issues, your sexual immoralities, your prejudices, your hatreds, your particular church group, your one race of people, or your specific worldview. Jesus Christ died for God’s purposes ONLY. “… Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And ...he was buried, and …he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV). “….THE SON OF MAN CAME “NOT” to be served but to serve others and TO GIVE his life as a ransom for many…" (Matthew 20:28 NIV).

Jesus Christ did NOT come for any purpose of man AT ALL. Jesus came to do his Father’s will ONLY. “…I seek NOT mine own will…but THE WILL of the Father which hath sent me...” (John 6:38 KJV).  “…For I have come down from heaven “NOT” TO DO MY WILL BUT to do THE WILL of him who sent me…” (John 6:38 NIV).

It was OBVIOUS that Jesus Christ was presenting SOMETHING NEW.  Jesus Christ was NOT doing something COMMON, or carnal, or polarized, or selfish as many people identifying with Christianity do these days. "…Behold, I will do SOMETHING NEW …” (Isaiah 43:19-20 NASB). "I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images... "Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare NEW THINGS Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you." (Isaiah 42:9 NASB).  

Nicodemus said this about Jesus Christ.

“….NO MAN can do these miracles that thou doest, EXCEPT GOD BE WITH HIM…” (John 3:2 KJV).

People tack the word Christian on their causes, purposes, agendas, lifestyles, organizations, churches because Christianity represents one of the highest standards of ethics and morality. It calls for holiness.

Christianity may represent one of the highest standards of ethics and morality, but it does NOT mean the people CLAIMING the Christian identity are actually representing those holy standards. “…Ye shall know them by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). “…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).

According to historical literature Mahatma Gandhi is quoted as saying: “I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” That was Gandhi’s observation of those claiming the Christian identity.

Jesus Christ distinctly tells how you will recognize HIS Christians. “…BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW that ye are my disciples, “if” YE HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER…” (John 13:35 KJV). “…God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV). “…every one that loveth …. KNOWETH God. He that loveth NOT KNOWETH NOT God; for God is love…” (1 John 4:4-8 KJV).

In addition, “…My sheep (disciples) HEAR HIS VOICE, and I know them, and they follow Me…” (John 10:27 KJV). “…whoever believes in me (my disciples) WILL DO THE WORKS I HAVE BEEN DOING, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father...” (John 14:12 NIV). "Anyone who loves me (my disciples) WILL OBEY MY TEACHING. …” (John 14:23 NIV). "…If you hold to my teaching, YOU ARE REALLY MY DISCIPLES…” (John 8:31 NIV).

Causes, organizations, purposes, agendas, lifestyles, organizations, churches can all do good deeds, but if it identifies with true Christianity, love be a sign. “… if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I AM NOTHING. And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, IT PROFITETH ME NOTHING…” (1 Corinthians 13:2-3 ASV).

Everyone claiming to identify with Christianity is also claiming to identify with Jesus Christ, but their claim is NOT always true. “…Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I (God) profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity…” (Matthew 7:22-23 KJV).

When Christians were first called Christians, back in Antioch it was because they were recognized by unbelievers as true “disciples” or followers of Jesus Christ. “…When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the BELIEVERS were first called Christians…” (Acts 11:26 NLT).

“…the BELIEVERS were first called Christians…” Who are the true believers? “…Ye shall know them by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). “…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and SO PROVE to be My disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).

 Who can be a believer?  “… AS MANY as received him, to them GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe on his name…” (John 1:12 KJV). “…WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved...” (Romans 10:13 KJV). “…REPENT YE, AND BELIEVE the gospel…” (Mark 1:15 KJV).

Are some believers MORE special than others? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! “…YE ARE “ALL” CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH “IN” CHRIST JESUS. …There is NEITHER Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for YE ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS…” (Galatians 3:26-28 KJV).

GOD SHOWS NO FAVORITISM AND IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSON WHEN IT COMES TO THE GREAT SALVATION. “…Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God SHOWS NO FAVORITISM.  In every nation HE ACCEPTS those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all…” (Acts 10:34-36 NLT). “…Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no RESPECTER OF PERSONS: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)…” (Acts 10:34-36 KJV).

The GREAT SALVATION brings every human being on earth to the leveling ground of truth. “…ALL HAVE SINNED (including you) and fallen short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23). ALL“… [have become]…..unclean and [your] righteousnesses are as FILTHY RAGS….” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV).  Unfortunately, “…There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10 KJV). “…There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not…” (Ecclesiastes 7:20 KJV). “….Jesus said unto him ….there is none good but one, that is, God” (Mark 10:18 KJV).

At the leveling ground of God’s truth every human being, who wants to identify as a Christian is claiming they are SAVED. If they are SAVED they have answered the following questions and accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior:

1.) ARE YOU A SINNER? “…For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23 KJV).  “…As it is written, There is NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is NONE THAT DOETH GOOD, NO, NOT ONE...” (Romans 3:10-12 KJV).

2.) WHAT IS THE PAYMENT FOR SINS AGAINST GOD? “…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23 KJV). “…YE SHALL DIE IN YOUR SINS: for IF YE BELIEVE NOT THAT I AM HE, YE SHALL DIE IN YOUR SINS…” (John 8:24 KJV).

3.) IF YOU RECOGNIZE YOU ARE A SINNER AND ARE SORRY FOR YOUR SINS; CAN YOU CHANGE? “…REPENT YE, AND BELIEVE the gospel…” (Mark 1:15 KJV). “…REPENT ye therefore, and BE CONVERTED, that your sins may be blotted out …” (Acts 3:19 KJV).

“…REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD, and FAITH TOWARD our Lord Jesus Christ. …” (Acts 20:21 KJV).

4.) CAN YOU BE RESCUED FROM YOUR SINS? “…God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house…” (ACTS 16:31 KJV). "…Therefore REPENT AND RETURN, “SO” that your sins may be wiped away…” (Acts 3:19 NASB).

5.) DO YOU BELIEVE CHRIST DIED FOR YOUR SINS, WAS BURIED, AND ROSE AGAIN? “… Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And ...he was buried, and …he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV).  “…God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ DIED FOR US…” (Romans 5:8 KJV). “… believe in thine heart that GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, thou shalt be SAVED…” (ROMANS 10:9 KJV).

6.) WHY IS BELIEVING IN JESUS’ DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION IMPORTANT? The shedding of blood was commanded by God as an atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. “…without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22 KJV). “…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29 KJV). “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins…” (1 John 2:2 NIV).  HIS DEATH PAID GOD FOR YOUR “DEBT OF SIN.”

7.) WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONFESS JESUS WITH YOUR MOUTH AND BELIEVE ON HIM IN YOUR HEART? “…Confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and … BELIEVE IN THINE HEART that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be SAVED…” (ROMANS 10:9 KJV). “…For WITH THE HEART MAN BELIEVETH unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made UNTO SALVATION…” (Romans 10:10 KJV).  “…For WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED…” (Romans 10:13 KJV). “…REPENT ye therefore, and BE CONVERTED, that your sins may be blotted out …” (Acts 3:19 KJV).

8.) WHEN DOES SALVATION BEGIN? THE VERY MOMENT YOU “…REPENT …AND BELIEVE the gospel…” (Mark 1:15 KJV). Once you repent and believe you are SAVED from the consequences of sin and its effects.

9.) CAN YOU FIND SALVATION ANYWHERE ELSE? “…SALVATION is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved…” (Acts 4:12 NIV). “…Jesus saith unto him, I AM THE WAY, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me…” (John 14 6 KJV). “…BY GRACE have ye been saved THROUGH FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; not of works, that no man should glory…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).  “…There is SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE…” (Acts 4:12a NLT).

IF YOU ANSWERED YES TO QUESTION 7 ABOVE AND DID WHAT IT SAID; YOU ARE SAVED. “…For WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED…” (Romans 10:13 KJV). “…REPENT …AND BELIEVE the gospel…” (Mark 1:15 KJV).

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “…Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Romans 5:1 KJV). “…Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1 KJV).

DO YOU NEED TO BE BAPTIZED? “…Peter said to them, "REPENT, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit….” (Acts 2:38 NASB). “…Confessing their sins, THEY WERE BAPTIZED by him in the Jordan River… (Matthew 3:6 NIV).  “…He that believeth and IS BAPTIZED shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned…” (Mark 16:16 KJV).

If you have truly repented, believed, and accepted him as you Lord and Savior; you are SAVED. That’s all there is to it. “…For WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED…” (Romans 10:13 KJV). “…REPENT …AND BELIEVE the gospel…” (Mark 1:15 KJV).

If you are a new convert, you need to find a church home that teaches the bible basics. Start studying the Holy Bible for yourself. Pray for God to help you live a new repentant lifestyle. “…You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen…” (2 Peter 3:18 NLT).

If you are a longtime believer, but have never truly repented you need to pray and trust God to work IN and THROUGH you. “…If My people which are called by My name SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES …AND TURN FROM their wicked ways…” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV). “…The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and WE ARE NOT SAVED...” (Jeremiah 8:20 KJV).

God through Jesus Christ SAVES you and you can NOW truly identify with the Christian Faith. You did not join a religion, or an organization, or an ethnic group, or a cultural group; you joined JESUS CHRIST. “But he that is joined (attached) unto the LORD is ONE SPIRIT…” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).

Once JOINED with Jesus Christ, the GREAT SALVATION becomes transforming. You won’t remain the same. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).

If your lifestyle was contrary to God’s holy standard before you were saved; it will be contrary to his holy standard after you are saved. "…Therefore REPENT AND RETURN, “SO” that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” (Acts 3:19 NASB). “….God …now commandeth all men every where to REPENT…” (Acts 17:30 KJV). “…EXCEPT YE REPENT, ye shall all likewise PERISH…” (Luke 13:3 KJV).

GOD WILL “NOT” CHANGE HIS HOLY STANDARDS FOR ANYONE. “…be holy, because I am holy…” (1 Peter 1:16 KJV). “…I am the Lord, I change NOT…” (Malachi 3:6 KJV).  ^“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 NIV).

IT IS DISHONORABLE TO TRY TO JUSTIFY YOUR SIN BY HIDING BEHIND THE WORD “CHRISTIAN.” “I AM A CHRISTIAN “THIS”” OR “I AM A CHRISTIAN “THAT.”” “…Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Mark 7:6 KJV).  “…for thy heart is not right in the sight of God…” (Acts 8:21 KJV).

IT IS DISRESPECTFUL AND AN ABOMINATION TO TAKE GOD’S HOLY WORD AND TWIST IT TO SUPPORT YOUR SINFUL LIFESTYLE. “…WOE unto them THAT CALL EVIL GOOD, AND GOOD EVIL; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (ISAIAH 5:20 KJV). “…He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, …they both are ABOMINATION to the LORD…” (PROVERBS 17:15 KJV).

When you are identifying with Jesus Christ, you are claiming you are  transforming, conforming, and being enabled to reflect similar characteristics too. Jesus had NO personal agenda and focused strictly on giving God glory through his lifestyle. “Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath SEEN ME HATH SEEN the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?” (John 14:9 KJV). “The Son is the RADIANCE of God’s glory and the EXACT representation of his being…” (Hebrews 1:3 KJV).

This is also how Jesus identified himself. “…And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, THIS DAY is this scripture fulfilled in your ears…” (John 4:16-21 KJV).

Jesus did NOT identify with any hate groups, political groups, sexually immoral groups, cultural agenda groups, or any other groups. He identified with God’s purpose for his life. “…The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord…” (John 4:16-21 KJV).

Jesus identified himself with his heavenly father. "I and my Father are one." (John 10:30 KJV). It is similar to saying “I am a Christian.”

Jesus was claiming he was the same as his father and reflected his characteristics too. God backed up Jesus’ claims.  “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and WITH POWER: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for GOD WAS WITH HIM. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem…” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV).

“…If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person IS A LIAR and is not living in the truth…” (1 John 2:4 NLT).  “…If we “SAY” that we have fellowship with him, and WALK IN DARKNESS (unChristlike identity), WE LIE, and DO NOT THE TRUTH…” (1 John 1:6 KJV).

Christian identity with unrighteous behavior is FAKE Christian identity. “…Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God…” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 KJV). “…Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,  or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God…” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NLT).
FOR THE TRUE CHRISTIAN THE SINFUL LIFESTYLE IS OLD SCHOOL AND THEY "NOW" WALK IN THEIR NEW IMAGE IN CHRIST JESUS!

For those “IN” Jesus Christ, the power of every action and every thought, and their very existence comes through God’s inner work THROUGH THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT.“…it is God which worketh in [them]… both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).

True Christian Identity comes when God's HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS IN THE PERSON'S HEART. “…grant[s]… [true believers]… according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man…” (Ephesians 3:16 KJV). When God grants, the true believer inner strength through his indwelling Spirit, true Christian identity will be quite apparent.

True Christian identity should PROVE who God’s disciples really are by the fruit they bear.  “…Ye shall know them by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). “…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, GOODNESS, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so PROVE to be My disciples” (John 15:8 NIV).

True believers would NEVER use Christian identity to promote the “deeds of the flesh.” “ … the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these …” (Galatians 5:20-22  NASB). "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6 KJV).

True believers use Christian Identity to give glory to God ONLY and promote his agenda; not THEIRS! “…So whether you eat or drink or WHATEVER you do, do it all for the glory of God…” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV). “…And WHATEVER you do, whether IN WORD OR DEED, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him…” (Colossians 3:17 NIV).

I DECLARE AND DECREE THAT TRUE BELIEVERS TAKE BACK CHRISTIAN IDENTITY IN THE NAME OF JESUS. MAY EVERY FAKE, PHONEY, OR IMPOSER USING, ABUSING, DISHONORING, DISREPECTING, DEFAMING CHRISTIAN IDENTITY BE REVEALED AND REMOVED….IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.

“…For “in him” we (true believers) live and move and have [their]… being.…” (ACTS 17:28 NIV).  They aim to “…Walk in the Spirit, and  …[NOT]…the lust of the flesh (sinful nature)…” (Galatians 5:16 KJV).

TRUE CHRISTIAN IDENTITY PROMOTES AND HONORS GOD, THE FATHER AND JESUS CHRIST, THE SON; “NOT” SELF! “…WHATEVER [they]… do, [they]…do it all for the GLORY OF GOD…” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).