There are three groups of people in the world. There are those who live without God. There are those who know God and follow His Son, and then there is a group that lie in between them. They are religious towards God as well as followers of what the world offers them.
What does the Bible say about these three groups? Jesus speaks about them in Matthew 7:13-14, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell (the road that leads to destruction) is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”
Paul addresses the identity of two out of these three groups in his ministry. He travels to encourage churches to keep the faith, stay focused on Christ, and don’t let yourself get distracted by the world around you. When God prohibits him from attending in person, Paul writes letters. One such letter is to the churches in Galatia. At the end of his letter, Paul wants believers to pay attention! There are true believers doing their best to walk by faith in Jesus Christ, and there are those who have one foot planted in godly ways while their other foot is grounded in the ways of the world and self. They live in two worlds.
Living in two worlds causes an identity crisis.
Paul helps the church to become clear minded in living where your feet are walking the narrow, difficult path with Jesus Christ. Read Galatians 6:11-18 to see what Paul is wanting true believers to understand and be aware of. Lukewarm believers lurk around God’s Church. Look at Revelations 3:15-16 and 1 John 2:15-16 to learn more about what it means to be lukewarm.
In verses 12-13, there are those who act religious on the outside but are focused on themselves. Their hearts are about them, not Jesus. They walk in a safe zone where they talk about God’s love, but not the cross of Christ. They don’t want to be disliked by others. Their social circle is more important to them their relationship with Jesus and obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Paul tells how Jesus has changed him in verses 14-16. “May I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,” he says. He continues, “Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.”
Can you say the same thing? Has Christ changed you to live with this same kind of focus and fervor for Jesus?
Paul pretty much is telling the Church, who cares what outside religious acts you do or don’t do, what “counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.”15 This is the principle to live by. Walking in this way will help you to be a true believer heading to heaven.
Paul ends his letter where you see his frustration with believers. Believers have the truth. They should know better than going back to old ways that lead to living in two worlds. Believers are called to live fully alive in Christ in all areas of life. Believers know who they are. Their identity is settled by God. Walk in the newness of life that Christ freely and graciously gives to every true believer.
Here are a few truths to dwell on:
Look at what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:22 – “Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.”
1 John 3:1 – “See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t now Him.”
Look what Paul says in Ephesians 2:1-6 – “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil, the commander of the powers of the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in our hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!”)
Your identity is settled. Live out who you are in Christ Jesus.
Carol J German 