The Acclimation Gauge

People like us do things like this.
Or, As God’s treasured possession we live Jesus-like lives.

Your humble dependence on God—and your readiness to accept responsibility for all he provides by his grace—positions you for the great adventure ahead. Most disciples understand that when they placed faith in Jesus, they received:

• forgiveness of their sins (Eph. 1:7)

• a restored relationship with God (Rom. 5:10)

• eternal life (John 3:16)

• the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)

What many don't realize is that they also received a new identity and a new culture. It's as if you were brought into another country and handed a new passport—as if you were ’born into’ a new pedigree. A new humanity dwelling with our God. (Eph. 2:15) And at first, ‘new’ is new! (2 cor. 5:17) You have little idea how to relate to others and to your surroundings in this new kingdom. So now comes a lifetime of learning and adapting. An exodus and an adventure!

A new, true you

What is identity? What is your true identity? 'Identity' answers the question "Who am I?" Or for the Church together, "Who are we?" The Bible is a rich source of identity markers. Some examples:

• God's son or daughter (1 John 3:1)

• forgiven, cleansed (Eph. 1:7)

• loved; and highly valued (John 3:16, Rom. 5:8)

• a peacemaker ( Matt. 5:9, Rom 14:19, James 3:18)

• a part of Jesus' Church (Acts 20:28)

• a vital part of Christ's body, with Jesus as the head (Rom. 12:4-6, Eph. 4:15-16)

• together with other believers, the Bride of Christ (Eph. 5:25-32, Rev. 19:7-9)

• you are an heir to the Kingdom of God (Rom. 8:16-17)

• you are Christ's ambassador (2 Cor. 5:20)

• a saint (Rom. 1:7, Rom. 8:27, Eph. 2:19, many others)

• a part of the priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)

• a disciple (John 8:31, 15:8)

You will spend months and years absorbing the full implications of these—and so many other—identity markers. At the same time, you're learning to 'take hold' of what you see, right?

A new homeland and culture

Likewise, the Bible says we are rescued from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of God's Son (Col. 1:13-14). We're being adopted into God's family (Gal. 4:4-6). And his family (kingdom) has a very different culture from the world. 'Culture' answers the question "What do we do?" or “How do we live?” Learning any new culture, and adapting to it, is a process. It comes in layers. The New Testament is full of descriptions of Kingdom culture. For example:

• Love is the most valuable commodity. It's the currency of this culture. (1 Cor. 13)

• Healthy relationships are fundamental to this culture (Matt. 5:23-24, Matt. 18:15-20). It's only in relationship that love can be expressed.

• This culture is marked by joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). Also mercy, virtue, impartiality, and grace.

• This culture stands opposed to darkness and spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12).

• 'Power under' (serving) replaces 'power over' (demanding). Humility and self-denial replace pride and prejudice (Mark 9:35, Matt. 23:12, James 2:1-9).

Like with your identity, you will spend years digging into ever-deeper layers of Kingdom culture. And not just to learn, but to adapt—to take hold.

Photo | Anastasia Akilenko/Shutterstock

Questions for myself

Questions for study and devotions

1. How am I described? How do I see myself differently now that I have placed faith in Jesus?

2. What is God's family (kingdom) like? How is it different from the world?

Next steps

1. Keep two lists: 'My true identity' and 'My new home culture', and add things to the lists that you discover about them.

2. Select one marker of your identity or of Kingdom culture and think about it for a while. What does it mean for you here and now? Try to be thorough.

3. Commit to a believing community—so you can know others and so you can become known.