My Changed Identity
- Chelsea Robinette
- Aug 4, 2007
- Series: Gospel Stories
What are your learning now from the Gospel?
I am learning that I don't know anything. Having the Gospel reach deeper parts of my heart revealed that I don't really "get" the full meaning of the Gospel. When I had first become a Christian (5 years ago) I had thought of the gospel as a simple and tangible truth that could be mastered in less than 10 minutes. Really, how hard is it? I'm a sinner, Jesus died for me, and now I'm a new creation. But the element that I was missing was the gravity behind that simple sentence. I am fully wicked and depraved; Jesus is fully God and suffered crucifixion so he could stand in my place as an atoning sacrifice for my sins; because of His death alone I have been rescued from my deserved destruction and now stand before God pure and blameless because when he sees me, he sees his son. The Gospel went from being more theoretical and abstract to becoming personal and deeply relevant to life around me.
This process has initiated an unraveling of my intellect and a softening of my heart. I can have all the "right" gospel-centric answers, and I can share them in fluent Christianese, but unless my heart's initial response to life corresponds with the truth, power, and peace that are given through the Gospel then all I've done is rote memorization. This perspective shift has been deeply humbling and has revealed just how far I have to go to be like Christ.
How is it changing your identity?
There is an unbelievable amount of freedom when the Gospel fully infiltrates your heart and renews your mind. The moment this really began for me was when I was introduced to the concepts of predestination and election at the Kaleo Membership Class. I was blown away that Jesus Christ, Son of God, chose me by name, left his throne in heaven, was persecuted and exiled on my behalf, and died a sinner's death so that I, Chelsea Robinette, could be reconciled to a holy and perfect God. This element of Jesus' life and work has given me a freedom and confidence that I had never known before. I am loved by the ultimate love and accepted by the highest authority. Slavery to people's opinions, standards, or expectations seems silly when I meditate on the value that I have been given through the life, death, and choice of Jesus.
What idols have you identified and seen the gospel free you from?
Before the Gospel had really transformed my heart I was enslaved by my concern about what people think about me and frozen by a fear of being hurt by people. I was so consumed by how people interpreted me or responded to me that I began to isolate myself. However, recognizing Jesus' full acceptance of me and the radical new identity I have been given through the cross, I have been freed to love and serve because Jesus' love for me is so vast and his service was so reckless. His model of living and serving the church has dramatically transformed how I understand my role and capabilities as a daughter of the King.
How is grace impacting your life story?
Even though I'm a new creation, I'm still a mess and totally wicked. And even though I know the Gospel answers for most questions my heart isn't constantly living in response to this undeniable truth. Unless I am saved by grace, my inconsistencies and failures are enough to make a life in Christ feel hopeless and futile. How can I be effective for the kingdom if I keep messing up? However grace has taught me that what I do and what I don't do is irrelevant when my entire salvation is rooted in grace. Grace has given me a boldness and security that I lacked when I was living under a works-based mentality.
How is this changing your life story?
When your big brother is Jesus and he sits in heaven as your advocate things have to change. I want to be bold because I'm speaking his message. I want to serve because I have nothing to loose. I want to be reckless by the world's standards because my security rests in an unchanging God. My life was bought at the highest price and I am compelled to live accordingly.
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