"Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!"
2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 (AMPC)
Further reading and
Arequently Asked Questions
Nobility 101 (Identity in Christ)
Session 1
The primary and foundational focus of this session is understanding one's identity in Christ. Without a clear grasp of this identity, other spiritual concepts and actions may not make sense or be effectively applied. Knowing who you are in Christ is crucial for understanding your purpose and unlocking your potential, allowing you to access everything you need for life and godliness. The session aims to help participants realise their true identity in Christ, rather than simply adopting a new doctrine or set of beliefs.
God's Desire For Humanity
God's greatest desire for your life is for you to prosper and be in health. His desires for you are unimaginably more than you could ask, desire or even think. (See 3 John 1:2 and Ephesians 3:20). In fact, God has already "given us all things that pertain to life and godliness," (2 Peter 1:3-4 ) and therefore everything needed for a fulfilling and godly life is already available to every believer, even if they are not aware of it.
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FAQ'S
1. Why is understanding one's identity in Christ so critical, and what is the enemy's primary tactic?
Understanding the believer’s identity in Christ is critical because it provides access and ability to receive everything a believer needs. In session one, we discuss how people often fail to walk in the blessings, power, and authority God intended because they have a wrong perspective of who they are in Christ. The enemy's primary tactic is always an attack on your identity. This is exemplified in the story of Adam and Eve, where Satan tricked Eve into trying to become something she already was, and in so doing, caused her to lose that which she already had (Genesis 3:1-7). Similarly, immediately after God spoke from heaven declaring Jesus to be His beloved son, Satan tempted Jesus by questioning His identity asking; ‘If thou be the son of God…’.(Matthew 3:17- 4:3,6) Every time believers ‘miss God’ or ‘sin’, it is because they have lost sight of who they are, having stepped outside of their true identity in Christ.
2. What is the Bible's role in understanding our identity, and how should it be approached?
The Bible is the believer’s final authority and ‘life manual’ for understanding their identity, however, it is often presented out of context. This being so, we would do well to set aside all preconceived notions and traditions, even those from religious teachings, and instead, directly examine for ourselves what the Bible actually says. Jesus said that the traditions of men can often ‘make the word of God of non-effect’. (Mark 7:13) The Bible is not primarily a religious book, but rather ‘a legal book, a historical book, and a biographical book’, primarily about ‘a king, a kingdom, and his royal family’. Understanding this ‘bigger picture’ – God as king, the kingdom, and humanity's relation to them both – makes the Bible very straightforward and clearly reveals humanity's true place and purpose.
3. What was God's original plan for humanity and the Earth, and how was it disrupted?
God's original plan was to establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, with humanity as His vice regents / royal family. Motivated by His nature of love and desire to share, God created man (Adam) in His own image and likeness, just a shade lower than Himself, giving him dominion over the Earth and all he had created. Adam was meant to be a ‘perfect reflection of God’, ruling the earthly domain and making Earth a reflection of Heaven, (Genesis 1:26-28, Matthew 6:10). This plan was disrupted by Adam's ‘act of treason’ – his disobedience and declaration of independence from God’s government. By eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam declared his independence from the government of heaven and became the servant to whom he yielded himself to obey (Romans 6:16) therefore handing control of Earth over to Satan, effectively creating an "independent state separate from Heaven and from God."
4. How does the concept of being "born again" relate to a believer's identity and nature?
Being ‘born again - or more accurately, "born from above" (see John 3:3 original translation) signifies a complete transformation of one's spiritual nature. Before being born again, an individual inherits his sinful nature from Adam's bloodline. However, upon hearing the Word of God, believing it in their heart, and confessing it to be true, a person is "born again" from a completely different bloodline. This new birth means becoming a "brand new creation" or a "new species of being that didn't exist before” (2 Corinthians 5:17) and therefore receiving a new, righteous spiritual nature. This new nature is united with Christ, making the believer "one with Christ" (1 Corinthians 6:17) and identical to Him in spirit. From this point forward, the believer no longer has a sin nature; any sin committed after being truly born again is usually due to the believer being deceived into claiming their old identity and forgetting they have been recreated anew.
5. What is the significance of being "in Christ," and how does it relate to the analogy of marriage?
Being "in Christ" is one of the most important precepts in the Bible, signifying a complete and total union with Christ. This union is likened to a marriage (Ephesians 5:30-32): just as a spouse inherits the assets (or debts) of their partner in marriage, a believer, by virtue of their union with Christ, inherits everything that is His. When a believer is united with Christ, their sin becomes His (and which He nailed to the cross), and everything that is His; righteousness, peace, power, authority, and faith etc. become theirs. This shows that believers are already complete in Christ, possessing all that is needed, but believers are often unconscious of this truth, much like a billionaire who is unaware of their wealth. The challenge then becomes renewing the mind to this understanding and acting upon this inherited identity, rather than striving to earn it.
6. Explain the three-part nature of man (spirit, soul, and body) and how being born again impacts each part.
Man is a three-part being: spirit, soul, and body. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
- Spirit: This is the primary and inner most part of man, consisting of the conscience, intuition, and the ability to communicate with God. This is man’s person or self.
- Soul: This includes the intellect (mind), the will, and the emotions. The soul is like man’s "software" that up to the point of rebirth has been programmed by the "old self."
- Body: This is the outward physical aspect of man, experienced through the five senses (sight, touch, taste, smell and hearing). The body is likened to the "hardware" of a man.
When a person is born again, their spirit is immediately made new and perfect (regenerated by the Holy Spirit), and becomes united with Christ. This newly regenerated spirit carries the righteous nature of God. However, the soul (mind, will, and emotions) is left unchanged. It retains the ‘old programming’ from the previous, sinful nature. Therefore a crucial aspect of Christian growth is "renewing the mind" or "repenting" (changing the way one thinks) to align the soul's beliefs with the new righteous nature of the regenerated spirit - much like updating an old computer with new software. The body manifests that which the renewed mind accepts from the spirit.
Although the spirit of the born again believer has become identical to Christ (1 John 4:17, 1 Corinthians 6:17) nothing reaches the body or ‘outward man’ without passing through the soul, hence the necessity of renewing the mind to experience outward transformation (Romans 12:2). The journey for a born-again believer is not about progressively becoming something new, but rather about learning to understand and walk in the authority and identity they already possess as one united with Christ.
Audio Summay
Click the link below for a brief audio summary of
Session 1
🔈 Audio Summary: Session 1
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Scripture References
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- 3 John 1:2
- Ephesians 3:20
- 2 Peter 1:3-4
- Genesis 3:1-7
- Matthew 3:17 - Matthew 4:3,6
- Mark 7:13
- Genesis 1:26-28
- Matthew 6:10
- Romans 6:16
- 1 Corinthians 6:17
- Ephesians 5:30-32
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23
- 1 John 4:17
- Romans 12:2