Square 1
Bible Study for Christian Foundations
by
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Module 10-4: Christian Identity
There is no better identity than the one found in Jesus. The questions of acceptance, meaning, purpose, value, and hope are harmoniously answered in him. Successful Christian evangelism describes the Christian identity and effective discipleship grounds believers in a gospel-centered identity, strong enough to handle the full range of human experience.
What the Christian Identity Looks Like
Acceptance. With an identity in Christ, we need not assert ourselves over other people or the government because the highest person, Jesus, and the highest government, the kingdom of God, already accepts you. We need not perform for God’s acceptance, for
“You are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.”
PAUL, FROM EPHESIANS 2:8, 9
If we are saved by grace because we cannot save ourselves, then it is virtually impossible to look down on others. We can overcome oppression without becoming oppressive; we can honor our nation yet welcome in aliens.
Meaning. God’s word defines who you are:
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
PETER, QUOTING SEVERAL OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGES, FROM 1 PETER 2:9
“Chosen,” “royal priesthood, “holy nation”: these are your true race, social standing, and nationality. These give your life meaning and overcome beliefs of insignificance and futility.
Purpose. Being a Christian gives your life purpose, for you become a child of God, part of a spiritual family who extends God’s kingdom on the earth. This can defeat loneliness, isolation, and idleness. Seeking God properly aligns our various, sometimes conflicting, desires so we are not led by any of them.
“Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life.”
PAUL, FROM PHILIPPIANS 2:14–15, 16
Value. You know how much something is worth based on what you are willing to pay for it. A Christian identity assures you that you are loved and valued because Jesus paid our penalty with his life for our ultimate joy—a relationship with our heavenly Father.
“For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.”
PAUL, FROM ROMANS 5:7–10
Hope. And no matter life’s struggles and sufferings, Christian identity allows us to look upon Jesus’ suffering on the cross for our endurance and humility. For if Jesus subjected himself to the ugliness on the cross, degrading his perfect beauty and physical health, then beauty and health need not be our gods. Because of the resurrection, we have hope for a heavenly body, one without deformity, alignments, or disease.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
PAUL, FROM 1 CORINTHIANS 15:52, 53, 56–57
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About the Book
Countless academic studies, Christian leaders, and personal experience show a startling and disturbing fact about the church: most Christians do not understand their faith.
Square 1: Bible Study for Christian Foundations explains clearly what the Bible teaches, why Christians believe it, and how to walk with Jesus. The book brings foundational biblical doctrine to life through plain language, thought-provoking images, and challenging application questions for group discussion.
The purpose of the book is to provide a biblical foundation for the Christian faith, worldview, and lifestyle. So, what makes it different?
• Everything starts with God’s nature, character, and attributes
• Its pages are visually stimulating with color imagery
• The book does not begin assuming the reader has high biblical literacy or holds Christian worldview and is therefore, laced with Christian apologetics
• Square 1 treats 21st century topics like identity, human rights, and sexuality as foundational for believers to understand their faith
• The book tackles end-times and the new creation with unbelievable clarity
Square 1 is a masterful blend of theological, philosophical, pastoral, apologetical, and biblical material. At the end of this study, the reader should be able to walk out the Christian life in the power of the Holy Spirit, in expectation of Christ's return, to the praise and glory of the Father. They will also be capable of understanding, explaining, and defending the central claims of Christianity, which is the good news of Jesus Christ.
Square 1 is systematic theology for anybody.
About the Author
Demetris A. Prewitt loves Jesus Christ! He expresses that love first by loving his wife, Kiameshea, and his two kids, Makayla and Jace.
God gifted Demetris in apostolic leadership and as an evangelist who equips believers to share, explain, and defend the gospel with anyone at any time. He is an itinerate speaker who engages non-Christian audiences on the arguments for God’s existence, the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, and overcoming the philosophical problem of evil and suffering.
Since 2003, Demetris has served as an active duty service member with the US Army. His honorable service to his country includes eleven total deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, and Turkey. Through his deployments and numerous changes of station, he has experienced churches and Christian gatherings all over the world. Demetris has led at the command sergeant major level, serving as a leadership, training, operations, and human resource senior advisor at the military’s highest enlisted pay grade.
Demetris is the founder and owner of Square 1 Christian Ministries, a church leadership consulting and ministry coaching service that helps churches mobilize for missions. Demetris guides leaders in organizing their staff and ministries and developing training pathways for church members.
Demetris holds a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership from the University of Charleston–West Virginia. He has authored multiple articles for the US Army’s Noncommissioned Officer Journal, including groundbreaking works on talent management, preparing leaders for uncertain environments, and changing the way noncommissioned officers formally evaluate individual character.
Demetris’ heart is to see local churches restructured to the patterns set in the New Testament and mobilized to extend and expand the kingdom of God.