In our fallen world, it's not enough just to know the truth. We have to make sure that we are really believing and living according to it. To do that, we have to fight the lies that try to sneak into our minds.

Show Notes:

Living out our identity in Christ: How to Fight the Lies

In episode 1, we defined identity and looked at some of the implications of finding our identity in anything other than who God says that we are. Last week, we defined identity in Christ and listed some of the things that God says about us. This week, we are going to take that information and hopefully make it more real.

Before we can learn how to apply these truths, we need to know some things about human behavior and the way we operate. First of all, all negative behavior we do is because of a perceived unmet need. For example, a baby who's pacifier falls on the floor might cry; a young child who is hungry might throw a tantrum; a teenager who doesn't feel loved and accepted might act out for attention. Though the specific behaviors change with age and are somewhat dependent on personality, you can trace every sinful act you've ever done back to a need you thought wasn't being met.

The second thing is that all people live what they believe. They don't always live what they say they believe, but the convictions and beliefs you have deep down are the ones that are going to come out through your actions. This can have good results and bad ones. If you believe that you are a failure, you won't really put any effort into your work because you think it's destined for nothing anyway. On the other hand, if you really grasp identity in Christ, you can live a joyful, free, purpose-filled life.

Now when we put these two truths together—that everyone lives what they believe and that all sinful behavior is based on perceived unmet needs—we realize something. If we are acting out because we believe we have needs that aren't being met, it isn't enough just to muscle our way into changing the behavior. If we still believe there's an unmet need, the behavior will be back.

We can combine these two truths into one by saying, "All sinful behavior is based in lies we are believing, whether about God, ourselves, other people, or the world around us." In order to change the behavior, we have to change the lie. To do that, we need the truth.

So let's back up a second and give an example. Imagine my friend and I are hanging out, and I say something off-hand that's cruel. After the words are out of my mouth, I realize they were wrong, and I'm surprised I even said such a thing. What lie(s) am I believing? If I'm trying to bring her down, it's a safe bet it's because I'm trying to make myself look good. That means that on some level, I'm feeling insecure. Maybe she's better at something than I am, and I wish it was the other way around. If I'm feeling insecure, that means one of the lies I'm believing is that my value is determined by what I do. The way to correct that lie is to remind myself of the truth that my value is fixed in Christ. He gave me value simply by creating me and then reiterated that value by dying for my sins on the cross. Nothing I or anyone else does can ever diminish that value.

Now the trick here is that people are forgetful, and lies are sneaky. Because of sin, everything is moving from a state of order to a state of disorder. That's the second law of thermodynamics, and it's true of our minds as well. We can know and be living out the truth one day, but if we're not careful, lies will sneak back in and supplant the truth. Suddenly we'll find ourselves back in the same patterns of sinful behavior, living the same lies.

So how in the world do we make sure we are living in the truth? There's two things you should know that are helpful. First, you have to make an emotional connection with the truth before it will take hold and root out the lies. That's why it's not simply enough for me to say, "Your value is fixed in Christ. Because He died for you and is interceding on your behalf before the Father and placed the Holy Spirit inside you, your value can't be changed." You can mentally agree with me that it makes sense and is true without it actually changing your life. That's because we are both logical and emotional beings. Truth has to connect with us on both levels before we truly believe it.

How do we do that? Even though we all have moments of both, I think we lean more to one side of the equation or the other. We are either inclined to emotionally connect without logically understanding or to logically understand without emotionally connecting. The first leads to foundationless touchy-feelies and emotional rollercoasters. The second leads to legalism. If you fall in the first camp, you need to make an effort to understand what you believe to the point that you can articulate it back to another person. Never be content in how much you know about God and the Bible.

If you fall in the second camp, you have to make sure that you are not learning for the sake of learning and never connecting truth to your own life. Emotional connection is made through personalization. That's why good Bible study books ask thought-provoking questions about how the material applies to your life. So if you're trying to connect with the truth about who you are in Christ, ask some questions of yourself. What is my identity in right now? That is, what do I think defines my value? What would make me feel purposeless and worthless if it were to disappear? Once you know the answer to those questions and have engaged your emotions, clearly identify the lie you're believing and then tell yourself the truth until your emotions change and you feel the joy and peace that the truth brings.

The second thing that is helpful in keeping the lies at bay is to do this over and over again. Every time you make both an emotional and logical connection with truth, it cements in a little more. Even so, never assume you've arrived or that lies won't sneak back in. Be on the lookout for signal behaviors that tell you you're back on the wrong track. Have friends who will tell you when old patterns are popping up again.

I hope this episode has been helpful to you. Next week, we are going to talk about how having our identity in Christ can help us in the face of personal criticism and some of the lies and truths specifically related to that topic. I hope you'll join me then.