John 11:48-50 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

Israel became a national identity. God saved a nation out of Egypt. God gave the land beyond the Jordan as an inheritance to a nation. Atonement of sin came to the nation once a year.

Psalm 68:8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

The God of the universe was identified as the God of Israel, a nation, not individual, but a people. This people wrapped up their whole existence in their identity as a nation. A person would not and could not be considered before national identity.

As a nation, they lost personal responsibility. This was a great mistake then and it is a great mistake now. There is a danger in calling ourselves Christian in that same perspective. If you cannot relate to these next statements praise God.

My family have been Christian as far back as I can remember.

I’ve always been a Christian.

My family built this church.

My mother (grandmother) told me to believe.

My father is a preacher (pastor, deacon, teacher) of course I am a Christian.

People who lay their trust in identity rather than personal responsibility are in danger. We must place our faith in Christ and not in identity. I hear it all the time and I cringe to think that these people do not understand their position as a lost sinner. They have no personal relationship with Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

Remember my devotional called Emulation? Who is it you are emulating? Here we have four examples set before us, all godly, only one is God. We have a standard set before us that is perfect. Jesus Christ walked His earthly life in perfection. He walked upright in every way.

Amos 7:7-8 Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:

Jesus Christ is that plumb line. He is the standard to which uprightness is measured. Look at the last line: “I will not again pass by them any more:” No man can or ever will meet that standard of uprightness. I cannot do it, you cannot do it. What chance do we have?

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

We no longer have to stand perfectly upright to be righteous.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Romans 3:24-26 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.