In Search of Who You Are
By

Dr. Paul Carlin

The Church’s Number One
Congregational Health Problem

The most important teaching recorded in the Bible for the believer is “positional truth.” Positional truth is a phrase that describes the believer’s spiritual standing before God. Before God, there is a difference in our position and our condition, in our standing and our state. It is life-changing when a Christian comes to understand the difference.

Getting It Right

2 Corinthians 15:22 explains “position” like this: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Every person is either “in Adam” or “in Christ.” Through the natural birth a person is “in Adam.” Through the spiritual birth a person is “in Christ.” Ephesians 2:13 explains the from-Adam-to-Christ salvation experience like this: “But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near.” (Amplified)

Through the miracle of the new birth, God spiritually repositions a person from in Adam to in Christ. Before God, the saved, born again person is no longer “in Adam,” but now “in Christ.” At the moment of the new birth, a person passes from death to life. Paul the Apostle addresses the Christian believers in Ephesus (Eph. 1:1), in Philippi (Phil. 1:1) and in Colosse (Col. 1:2) as being “in Christ Jesus.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 says it like this: “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away and behold, all things become new.”

Our “standing” before God is all that we are in God’s mind by virtue of our union with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our standing in Christ is absolutely perfect just as Christ is perfect. God reckons us perfect, because we believe in Christ and belong to Him. “Christ gave himself for our sins …. For by the one offering He made forever perfect in the sight of God all those whom He is making holy.” (Heb. 10:14 TLB) But as to our “state,” how far from perfect that is. There is a difference in our standing and our state just as there is a difference in our position and our condition. Positionally, we are in Christ. Conditionally, however, we are in the world. So as far as our standing before God is concerned, the Prodigal was a son (his standing); but so far as his state was concerned, he was in a far country. (Luke 15:11-24)

The Bible also describes our union with Christ by using the word “with.” The truth is you were crucified with Christ (Gal.2:20), dead with Christ (Rom. 6:8; Col 2:20), buried with Christ (Rom. 6:4; Col 2:12), quickened with Christ (Eph. 2:5; Col. 2:13) raised with Christ (Eph. 2:6; Col 3:1), living with Christ (Rom. 6:8), glorified with Christ (Rom. 8:17), reigning with Christ (2 Tim. 2:12) and hid with Christ (Col. 3:3).

What is Positional Identity Disorder?

Christians who search for identity and significance in a career, profession, entertainment, religion, pulpit, calling, authorship, scholarship, possessions, education, houses, children, grandchildren, business, things and/or people are PID positive. Positional Identity Disorder is a Christian who does not know who he/she is in Christ. PID is trying to become who you already are. PID is when you mistake what you do for who you are. Having been saved, you have not really acted on the basis of all you have become and you have forgotten who you are in Chris, if in fact you ever really knew.

To illustrate PID:

One pastor was habitually bothered with depressed moods, never satisfied with his performance and guarded his pulpit with his life. When he lost his pulpit because of a local church fight, he finally discovered his identity was not in his pulpit and performance, but in Christ.

A Christian businessman struggled with relationship problems. Through a series of financial failures, he discovered his identity was not in his business, but in Christ.

A wife struggled with control issues in her marriage until she realized that her identity was not in her husband or with who is in charge. When divorce shattered her home, she finally discovered that her identity was not in control or in her husband, but in Christ.

For over 20 years one evangelist believed his own press releases until he discovered his identity was not in recommendations, accolades, crowds and numbers. When the evangelist was discovered in a sinful lifestyle, he lost the recommendations, accolades, crowds and numbers. He lost his ministry as it had been, but found his identity in Christ.

What are some symptoms of PID?

Positional Identity Disorder is not a mental disorder. You will not find it listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV). PID is a spiritual disorder. PID may, however, well be your source of problematic thinking, darkened emotions, and godless behavior.

Some common symptoms of PID are:

A search for significance. If you are in Christ, you are already significant. Christians often misinterpret importance for significance, i.e., if you are important, you are significant.

A low self-image. You think little of yourself as a person. Your LSI has produced certain unconscious complexes as: guilt, insecurity, gluttony, inadequacy, narcissism, manipulation and hostility. A positive self-concept grounded in God’s unconditional love is essential for a healthy self-image.

Depressed moods. Nothing or very little seems to be really interesting, important, or enjoyable to you.

Doubts. You experience arguments in your brain over spiritual things, especially concerns about your personal relationship with Christ. Your mind is like a battlefield.

Perfectionism. Nothing is ever good enough. Shades of gray disappear and you see only black and white.

Performance. Trying rather than trusting. You believe that your acceptance is directly related to your performance, i.e., the better you perform and the more you do, especially if it is church-related, the more loved and accepted you will be. A neurotic striving to gain approval is a classic symptom of PID.

Legalism. You base your spiritual maturity on the number of things you do not do that are wrong. You are very proud that you are not as awful as most Christians.

License. Under the grace system you feel you can do whatever your little heart desires and it is OK. You are very proud that you are not all bound up with rules like some Christians. Are you PID positive?

Is there a treatment for PID?

PID is a treatable disorder. It is not only treatable, but it is curable. There are three treatment steps to the cure:

#1 Knowing. You cannot do an end run around the cross. Romans 6:6-8 says, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him … Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” God wants you to know that when Christ died, you died; when He was buried, you were buried; when He was resurrected, you were resurrected. The first step knows that Christ did a finished work on the cross that included us. It is not what you can do, but what He has already done.

#2 Reckoning. Romans 6:11 says, “Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Reckoning is the bottom line. The old man is dead! You no longer have to be a slave to the old self. Once you were in Adam. Now you are in Christ. The reckoning process is like having your own funeral. When Christ died, you died. So now you have closure. You give it up! You exchange self-effort for His finished work on the cross. You quit trying and start trusting or abiding in Him.

#3 Yielding. Romans 6:13 says, “Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” By faith, you exchange your life for His life. You yield yourself to Christ, His finished work and allow Him to live His life through you. That is the life of rest. There is a rest, here and now, for the people of God. (Heb. 4:9-11)

Here are your seven Biblically true, personal, Christian PID busters: (1) I am deeply loved by God. (1 John 4:9-10) (2) I am completely forgiven and am fully pleasing to God. (Rom. 5:1) (3) I am totally accepted by God. (Col. 1:21-22) (4) I am a new creation – complete in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:17) (5) I am what I am by the grace of God. (1 Cor. 15:10) (6) I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength. (Phil 3:9) (7) I am a work in progress. (Phil. 1:6; 2:13)

The Therapon Institute
PO Box 1168 Crockett, TX 75835
936-544-5400

In Search of Who You Are By

Dr. Paul Carlin

In Search of Who You Are
By