If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:13

The identity of a True-Born Believer in Y’shuaJesus as Lord, Messiah, is deeper than the external appearance—it is the driving force of our lives in concert with one another. Whether we are dark or light skinned, live on one continent or another, work in fields, or offices, or drive truck, we are all born of the Blood and Flesh of Messiah. We are one in Him. We “have been all made to drink into one Spirit” as Paul heard it from G-d.

Unbelievers have a conscience, an internal mechanism, that provides some guidance in their lives—if the conscience isn’t seared, that is. This conscience is placed there by G-d that the whole of humanity doesn’t simply go bonkers before giving a chance to build a complete people for G-d’s Name upon Earth. This explains why non-believers do things that are considered good, even righteous, while worshiping false gods, or not god at all.

Unlike the conscience of an unbeliever, True-Born Believers have the Spirit of G-d, the Mind of Messiah. We are sealed. Our names are written in the Book of Life with permanent ink. Conscience can be seared, deformed, destroyed. The sealing of G-d is once forever. Like the Blood of the Lamb upon the doorposts of Jews in Egypt protected from the Death Angel, we are protected from eternal death, even from the Wrath of G-d when finally the last of those who are to be saved are brought into the Body of Messiah.

Back in my days with Calvary Chapel, we sang a song that included the lines from a Psalm, How good and pleasant it is when brothers (and sisters) dwell together in unity. We need to shed our fleshly concerns, our worldly ways, and see one another as One in Messiah. Then we can, together, in the unity of the Spirit of G-d, with one voice, give praise to our Lord and seek His way on Earth, drawing all that are willing, able, into fellowship with Him.

This is our true identity on Earth.

I was Christian, I was Buddhist, I was Hindu, I was Jew
Now I am only one in You, awaiting my ultimate fate
Doubting not what You have told me to be true
I am one people, I belong to You—I knell at Your gate.

From “I Wait” by Wil Robinson ©1989

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .