BY now most of you know my moderate fascination with words, how words are used, their origins and how they change over time (or not). In preparation for our study of this chapter of Principles of Spiritual Growth that is dealing with Identification (Cptr 8), I took a moment to see the dictionary definition of this word. As I suspected, the newer dictionaries contain a familiar understanding of the word: an act or instance of identifying; the state of being identified; something that identifies a person or thing, as in “He carries identification with him at all times.” But I enjoy the older dictionaries that seem to get us closer to the original meaning and ideas of words, and looking at some of the older ones there is a different view observed.
IN the 1828 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, Identification is defined as: the act of identifying, or proving to be the same; also, the state of being identified. We note here that this definition has a closer affinity in view to sameness or union. It is as though that which represents or identifies me does more then merely point to or portray me – it IS me.
THE root of identification is identify, and is seen in the 1828 edition of Webster’s Dictionary as: to make to be the same, to unite or combine in such a manner as to make one; to treat as being one or having the same purpose or effect; to consider as the same in any relation. It also presents the definition: to establish the identity of; to prove to be the same with something described, claimed, or asserted; and further – to become the same; to coalesce in interest, purpose, use, effect. It is in this last form along with to make to be the same, to unite or combine in such a manner as to make one, that our author -and those he is quoting in this chapter- see our identification in Christ described in Scripture. When Christ died on the cross, the Scripture instructs me that I’m so identified with Him – in union with Him – that I died with Him (Rom 6, Gal. 2:20).
HERE is a quote to add to the ones below from John Piper, United with Christ in Death and Life, Study in Romans: If you are a Christian, God created a union between you and Christ, as Rom. 6:5 says. Because of this union, you died with Christ, when he died. Because you died, you are now free from the guilt and power of sin in your fullest and truest identity, that is, in your union with Christ. And because of this unshakable position and identity, you are already justified, and you are most certainly being sanctified, but you are not yet perfected. Therefore, confirm this great transaction by reckoning yourself to be what you really are in Christ. http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/united-with-christ-in-death-and-life-part-1
AGAIN, this harbors back to all that we have previously seen and studied concerning our wondrous Position in Christ. Remember, my condition may and will vary and change, but my Position in Christ is fixed, constant, and immovable, rooted in the perfect work of redemption accomplished and applied by Christ on the Cross. But, as we shall see below, it is on the basis of faith that these things are accepted, with the implications and realities of change that follow.
PAUL writes that all this is true, that we should no longer be slaves of sin (Rom 6:6b); stating the affirmative that as we plumb the depths of God’s infinite grace, presenting [ourselves] to God as being alive from the dead, and [our] members as instruments of righteousness, … sin shall not have dominion over [us] (paraphrase of Rom. 6:13-14).
SO much more can and needs to be said on this; but let’s get to the last three quotations in the closing comments of this important chapter 8, in Principles of Spiritual Growth (Part One of the Complete Green Letters).
With highest regards in Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10; Isa. 30:15; Jas. 1:2
*************************
Chapter 8—Identification – Part 3 (conclusion)
William Culbertson: “Who died on the cross? Of course, our blessed Lord died on the cross; but who else died there? ‘Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that we should no longer be in bondage to sin; for he that hath died is justified from sin. But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him’ (Rom. 6:6-8)” (God’s Provision for Holy Living, p. 46).
Reginald Wallis: “God says in effect, ‘My child, as you reckoned on the substitutionary work of the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation, now go a step farther and reckon on His representative work for your victory day by day.’ You believe the Lord Jesus died for your sins because God said so. Now take the next step. Accept by faith the further fact that you died with Him, i.e., that your ‘old man was crucified with Him’” (The New Life, p. 51).
James R. McConkey: “Because He died ‘death hath no more dominion over Him,’ and because of our union with Him ‘sin shall not have dominion over you,’ even though it is present in you. Our ‘reckoning’ ourselves dead to sin in Jesus Christ does not make it a fact—it is already a fact through our union with Him. Our reckoning it to be true only makes us begin to realize the fact in experience” (The Way of Victory, p. 16).
