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God's Role in Shaping Christian Identity and Purpose

Christian identity and purpose are fundamentally shaped by God's character and actions, as revealed in Scripture. Central to this understanding is the nature of God himself, who is described as strong, the Divine Being, and the Lord [6]. The Bible takes the existence of God as a given, rather than arguing for it [6].

God's character is defined by attributes such as love, which is sovereign, great, abiding, unfailing, unalienable, constraining, and everlasting [3]. This love is manifested towards perishing sinners, saints, the destitute, and cheerful givers [3]. God's holiness is also a core aspect of his nature, serving as the standard for human holiness [5]. Christians are commanded to be holy, reflecting God's character, and are elected and called to holiness [5].

A key aspect of God's role in shaping Christian identity is through Jesus Christ. Christ is identified as God, Jehovah, and Jehovah of glory, equal with God the Father [1, 4]. He is the image of God, the Creator, Mediator, Prophet, Priest, King, Judge, and Shepherd [1]. God has chosen to reveal himself fully in Jesus Christ, meaning that understanding Jesus is equivalent to understanding God [14]. Christ is the "one Lord" of the Church, and the "Head or Lord of Christ, as Mediator between God and man, is God the Father" [9, 13]. The Spirit's work is to transform believers to be fully like Christ [12].

The concept of Christian identity is rooted in humanity's creation in God's image [8]. This image, though marred by sin, is renewed in believers through Christ [11]. Ignorance characterized the heathen state, while knowledge of God and his revelation in Christianity defines the Christian [11]. This renewal in knowledge leads to a deeper understanding of God's Son and maturity in the Lord [12].

Christian purpose is intrinsically linked to this renewed identity. Believers are called to holiness, with Christ desiring and effecting holiness in his people [5]. The gospel itself is described as the way of holiness, which is necessary for God's worship [5]. Without holiness, no one will see God [5]. The ultimate goal of Christian ministry is for the community to deepen its understanding and experience of faith, growing into maturity with Christ as the standard [12].

The unity of believers is also a significant aspect of Christian identity and purpose, reflecting the unity between the Father and the Son [10]. This unity, fostered by the indwelling Spirit, serves as a testimony to the world that God sent Christ [10]. The Christian life is characterized by faith, hope, and love [2]. Hope is an essential element of Christian life, with Christ being its actual object [2]. Unbelievers are described as being without this hope [2]. The Christian calling aims for the name of Jesus to be magnified in the lives of believers, showing forth his virtues and being adorned with the graces of his Spirit [16]. This salvation from sin is according to God's grace [16].

The justification of believers, both circumcised and uncircumcised, occurs through faith, underscoring God's singular role in salvation [7]. Adam and Christ represent two distinct humanities: one natural and enslaved to sin, the other spiritual and destined for life [15]. Christ's life-giving Spirit supersedes the natural life, leading to a spiritual body that supersedes the physical [15].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hope — One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4)." Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope, because it is in”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ is God — As Jehovah -- Isa 40:3; Mt 3:3. As Jehovah of glory -- Ps 24:7,10; 1Co 2:8; Jas 2:1. As Jehovah, our RIGHTEOUSNESS -- Jer 23:5,6; 1Co 1:30. As Jehovah, above all -- Ps 97:9; Joh 3:31. As Jehovah, the First and the Last -- Isa 44:6; Re 1:17; Isa 48:12-16; Re 22:13. As Jehovah's Fellow and Equal -- Zec 13:7; Php 2:6. As Jehovah of Hosts -- Isa 6:1-3; Joh 12:41; Isa 8:13,14; 1Pe 2:8. As Jehovah, the Shepherd -- Isa 40:11; Heb 13:20. As Jehovah, for whose glory all things were created -- Pr 16:4; Col 1:16. As Jehovah, the Messenger of the covenant -- Mal ”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holiness — Commanded -- Le 11:45; 20:7; Eph 5:8; Col 3:12; Ro 12:1. Christ Desires for his people. -- Joh 17:17. Effects, in his people. -- Eph 5:25-27. An example of. -- Heb 7:26; 1Pe 2:21,22. The character of God, the standard of -- Le 19:2; 1Pe 1:15,16; Eph 5:1. The character of Christ, the standard of -- Ro 8:29; 1Jo 2:6; Php 2:5. The gospel the way of -- Isa 35:8. Necessary to God's worship -- Ps 24:3,4. None shall see God without -- Eph 5:5; Heb 12:14. Saints Elected to. -- Ro 8:29; Eph 1:4. Called to. -- 1Th 4:7; 2Ti 1:9. New created in. -- Eph 4:24. Possess. ”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: God — (A.S. and Dutch God; Dan. Gud; Ger. Gott), the name of the Divine Being. It is the rendering (1) of the Hebrew 'El, from a word meaning to be strong; (2) of 'Eloah_, plural _'Elohim. The singular form, Eloah, is used only in poetry. The plural form is more commonly used in all parts of the Bible, The Hebrew word Jehovah (q.v.), the only other word generally employed to denote the Supreme Being, is uniformly rendered in the Authorized Version by "LORD," printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argume”
  7. Romans “since indeed there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith, and the uncircumcised through faith. -- Romans 3:30”
  8. Genesis “God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. -- Genesis 1:27”
  9. Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 4:5: One Lord - Jesus Christ, who is the governor of this Church. One faith - One system of religion, proposing the same objects to the faith of all. One baptism - Administered in the name of the holy Trinity; indicative of the influences, privileges, and effects of the Christian religion.”
  10. John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 17:21: that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may be one in us--The indwelling Spirit of the Father and the Son is the one perfect bond of union, knitting up into a living unity, first all believers amongst themselves; next, this unity into one still higher, with the Father and the Son. (Observe, that Christ never mixes Himself up with His disciples as He associates Himself with the Father, but says I in THEM and THEY in US). that the world may believe that thou hast sent me--sentest me. So the grand impression upon th”
  11. Colossians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Colossians 3:10: And have put on the new man - See on Rom 12:1-2 (note). Is renewed in knowledge - Ignorance was the grand characteristic of the heathen state; Knowledge, of the Christian. The utmost to which heathenism could pretend was a certain knowledge of nature. How far this went, and how much it fell short of the truth, may be seen in the writings of Aristotle and Pliny. Christianity reveals God himself, the author of nature; or, rather, God has revealed himself, in the Christian system with which he has blessed mankind. Christianity teaches a man the true knowledge both ”
  12. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:13: 4:13 The goal of ministry is for the whole Christian community to understand and experience the Christian faith more deeply and gain a deeper knowledge of God’s Son. In this way, believers will be mature in the Lord (see 1 Cor 2:6; 14:20; Phil 3:15; Col 1:28; 4:12; cp. Heb 5:14; Jas 1:4; 3:2). The standard of maturity is Christ himself; the Spirit’s transforming work is to make people fully like Christ (Rom 8:29).”
  13. 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 11:3: The head of every man is Christ - The apostle is speaking particularly of Christianity and its ordinances: Christ is the Head or Author of this religion; and is the creator, preserver, and Lord of every man. The man also is the lord or head of the woman; and the Head or Lord of Christ, as Mediator between God and man, is God the Father. Here is the order - God sends his Son Jesus Christ to redeem man; Christ comes and lays down his life for the world; every man who receives Christianity confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father; and ”
  14. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 1:19: 1:19 God in all his fullness emphasizes that God has chosen to reveal himself fully in Jesus Christ. Seeing Jesus and understanding him therefore means seeing and understanding God (see John 14:6-11). The false teachers seemed to be saying that Christians needed to look to other spiritual beings to find out more about God (see Col 1:16, 20). But Christ is sufficient for all our knowledge of God (cp. 2:8-9).”
  15. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:45: 15:45-49 Adam and Christ founded two distinct humanities: One is natural and earthly, enslaved to sin and death; the other is spiritual and heavenly, purified and destined for life. Adam represents the natural (physical) body and Christ the spiritual (resurrection) body. See also 15:21-22; Rom 5:12-21. 15:45-46 Just as Christ’s life-giving Spirit supersedes the natural life, the spiritual body will supersede the physical body.”
  16. 2 Thessalonians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Thessalonians 1:12: That the name of our Lord - This is the great end of your Christian calling, that Jesus who hath died for you may have his passion and death magnified in your life and happiness; that ye may show forth the virtues of him who called you from darkness into his marvellous light. And ye in him - That his glorious excellence may be seen upon you; that ye may be adorned with the graces of his Spirit, as he is glorified by your salvation from all sin. According to the grace - That your salvation may be such as God requires, and such as is worthy of his grace to co”
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