This is not an article about sexual identity.  Rather, it is an article about our new identity in Christ.  But I do wish to begin with those who identify as either gay or transgender.  Some time ago, I heard a Christian give a presentation.  He said he was a gay Christian, and because of his faith in Christ, was determined to live a celibate life.

To be clear, I was appreciative of his commitment to be faithful to the gospel until death.  But his presentation started a thought process in my head.  And it had to do with identity.  Truth be told, we all have a sin style.  Another way of stating this is to say that there are temptations that are unique to all of us.  Some of us are prone to not just materialism, but theft.  If that is a temptation you feel, might I suggest you not volunteer to be on the team counting the offering each Sunday in your local church.  If you struggle with lust, might I suggest you find an accountability partnership in your viewing habits.  If you struggle with anger, might I suggest you practice patience and thankfulness in all things.  If you struggle with gossip, discipline yourself to speak words of blessing.  Each of us struggles with some sins more than others.  And on that note, some struggle with same sex-attraction, whereas some never do.

But might I suggest that we don’t identify with our sins.  We should not say, I am a Christian luster, or a Christian thief, or a Christian pugilist who has chosen not to practice.  Rather than identify with the sins of the flesh, scripture calls us to identify with the new nature.  Consider what Peter says of us: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10, ESV).

It has been noted that Peter uses language that once pertained to Israel and applies it to the followers of Jesus.  That is not to say that Israel does not have a place in God’s economy, but that the true fulfilment of God’s promises are in the church and in the individual people of God.  What is also of interest is that although we still struggle with the flesh on this side of eternity, this is not the identity which believers claim.  Our identity is rooted in Christ and shaped by what He has declared us to be—His chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people of mercy.

While it is true that some sins of the flesh do not yield as easily as do others, and some fights with our fallen nature may take a lifetime to conquer, we do not despair.  Yet we confess the words of 1 John 4:4, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”  And so, while the battle rages, we do not lose hope.  Neither do we lose our identity.  Remember, you are a new creation.  Remember that the old has truly passed away.  Remember Christ lives in you by His Spirit.  Remember your identity.