Identity in Christ (Part 1)

Lessons – Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church

We have had an unexpected hiatus from our Christian Identity and OPC History adult Sunday school course, but I am planning to resume our study tomorrow. We will consider more closely our identity in Christ, seeking to answer the question, “What does it mean to be a Christian?” from biblical, theological, philosophical, and even psychological perspectives.

We will explore the theology of union with Christ, covenantal and redemptive-historical aspects of identity, and contemporary issues with the notion of the self. If you would like to prepare ahead of time, please read Ephesians 4:17–24; Romans 5:1–21; 1 Corinthians 15:35–49; and John 15.

I recommend Carl Trueman’s forthcoming book, Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution, which is a condensation and reworking of his larger work, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self.

These subjects are not merely intellectual curiosities. We are in a crisis of the “self,” and it is critical that we understand who we are: created in the image of God, redeemed by Christ, and being conformed to his image in life, death, and resurrection.