The Church's True Identity

January brings with it the promise of fresh starts and new beginnings. It's a time when we naturally think about purpose, direction, and what truly matters. But have you ever stopped to consider why the church exists at all? Not just as a building or an organization, but as the gathered people of God?

The answer to this question isn't found in programs, attendance numbers, or how busy our calendars are. It's found in understanding our identity and the mission God has given us.

A Divine Declaration of Identity
The Apostle Peter gives us one of the most powerful descriptions of who Christians are in 1 Peter 2:9: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Notice the four phrases Peter uses: chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, and a people for his own possession. Each phrase reveals something profound about our relationship with God. We didn't earn this identity. We didn't accumulate enough favor or good works to deserve it. God simply chose us because He loves us.

This is revolutionary. Our identity doesn't come from what we've done—it comes from what God has done. It doesn't matter what your past looks like or even what your present looks like apart from Christ. What matters is that God has called you into His kingdom and given you a new identity, one that is defined by Him alone.

Chosen for a Purpose
But here's where it gets even more compelling. God didn't choose us randomly or without purpose. Look again at that little word "that" in Peter's declaration. God chose us, ransomed us, and made us His own so that we would proclaim His excellencies.

This is the heartbeat of why the church exists: to exalt Christ by proclaiming His excellencies to the world.

The word "proclaim" means to publicly announce or herald. It's bold, public declaration. And "excellencies" refers to God's supreme qualities—His surpassing greatness and everything that makes Him glorious. We proclaim His holiness, His justice, His mercy, and most of all, His saving grace.

The Danger of Losing Our Mission
When churches lose sight of this foundation, something dangerous happens. Good activities replace godly mission. The church becomes event-driven and task-oriented, measuring success by attendance numbers, program offerings, or calendar fullness.
Activity is not the same as obedience.

Jesus warned the church in Ephesus about this very thing in Revelation 2:5. They were doctrinally sound and busy with good works, but they had lost their first love. They had replaced devotion to Christ with religious activity.

The command was clear: "Remember therefore from where you have fallen. Repent and do the works you did at first."

We need programs not for the sake of having programs, but because they proclaim the excellencies of God. We don't gather for Bible study just because it's what we've always done. We don't sing songs simply because we enjoy the music. Every ministry, every gathering, every activity must answer one question: Does this exalt Christ and declare His excellencies?

If it doesn't, it needs to be cut.

Four Pillars of Mission
A church that understands its identity will naturally live out its mission through four interconnected purposes:

First, exalting Christ through gospel-centered worship and prayer. Everything must point to Christ. He is the supreme focus, not our preferences or traditions.

Second, equipping believers for the work of ministry. The church exists to build up believers into maturity so they can go into the world and make an impact with the gospel.
Third, embracing one another in Christian community. God always speaks in plural language when addressing believers. We are called together, built up together, and sent out together. You cannot live the Christian life alone.

Fourth, extending God's kingdom through evangelism and missions. We come to be equipped so we can take the message out into the world, that people might hear the gospel and come into the body of Christ for the glory of our King.

What We Proclaim
So what exactly are these "excellencies" we're called to proclaim?

We proclaim God's holiness—that He is utterly pure, completely set apart, and wholly other than us.

We proclaim His justice—that He is righteous in all His ways and the only one who can execute true, righteous justice.

We proclaim His mercy—that He is compassionate, slow to anger, and utterly patient with us.

But most of all, we proclaim the excellency of His saving grace. Jesus Christ took on flesh, became sin for us though He knew no sin, and stood in our place under God's wrath so we wouldn't have to. This is rescue. This is a transformation. Death to life. Blindness to sight. Slavery to freedom. Condemnation to justification.

This is not God helping you become a slightly better version of yourself. This is being called out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Moving Forward
As we stand at the beginning of a new year, we face a crucial question: Are we committed to being a church—a people—that exists to exalt Christ?

Not a church that's merely busy, but one that's purposeful. Not an organization focused on maintaining traditions, but a living body united around proclaiming the excellencies of the King who saved us.

This undeserved grace demands to be proclaimed. The glory of our King demands it. Whether to those in our immediate area or across the globe, the message must go forth.
We are God's chosen people. We belong to Him. And we exist for one supreme purpose: to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.

This is why the church exists. This is who we are. And this is the mission that should set our hearts ablaze.