Story Identity

Paul:

And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” (Acts 18:6)

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:26-27)

Ezekiel, the Servant of the Lord:

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. (Ezekiel 33:6-7)

Paul:

For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Acts 13:47)

Promised Messiah Servant:

The LORD says [to the Promised Messiah Servant]: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6)

Simeon sang, “….for my eyes have seen your salvation [in this baby]…a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:32).

Paul:

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:13-18).

The Lord himself:

The LORD’s “own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak” (Isaiah 59:16b-17)

Paul, who are you? What are you doing?

“Who am I? I am a prophet Ezekiel. I am the Servant of the Lord and the Light to the Gentiles. I am the Warrior of the Lord.”

Really Paul? Those are strong words. Those are words the Lord used to describe Jesus or himself! Jesus, the true Ezekiel and prophet. Jesus, the Servant. Jesus, the true Divine Warrior. Yet, Paul unabashedly peppers descriptions of his calling with metaphors and persons/types from the Old Testament. His calling he recounts in Galatians is seeped with parallels from Jeremiah’s calling (perhaps Isaiah’s too). Why? How? Is this too bold? Paul?

“I am one with the Lord in Spirit (1 Cor. 6:17). I am the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19). I carry around the presence of the Lord, the life of Christ in my body (2 Cor. 4:11). He is my life (Col. 3:4; Gal. 2:20). His mission is my mission. His work is my work. United with him, I carry on what he was doing in the Old Testament through Elijah and the promised Messiah, fulfilled in Christ, now carried out by Christ through his Spirit in my body and my work and my life.”

It is Christ’s union with him in which he grounds this. The truth behind it: God is still carrying out his story, still fulfilling his purposes, still adding depth and dimension to the Old Testament shadows. Christ is still active as the Prophet Elijah/Watchman, as the Servant of the Lord/Light to the Gentiles, active as the Divine Warrior—but through Paul. Christ—active! Continuing his work on this earth after his ascension! Paul repeatedly speaks of his ministry being carried out by Christ’s power and sufficiency.  

Us too. Really? Are we that bold? But we, united with Christ.

The story of Israel is Christ’s story. The story of Christ is our story. We are an Israel now.

The story of Ezekiel is Christ’s story. It is thus our story. We are watchmen.

The story of the Messianic Servant is Christ’s story. We are now servants, lights to the Gentiles. Not in the same way as Christ, he is the unique Servant, the only atoning Perfect Lamb. But that is the real union with him—he is the Servant in Us. He is the Light in us. We carry that treasure around in jars of clay.

We are baptized into him, raised with him, united with him. His life is our life. We take his mantle upon us by the Spirit. His mission. His work. And if it is his, do we doubt? If it is his, it will be his power. His presence, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mat. 28:18).

I tremble—what intimacy. I struggle to put into words the heart heaves. His power. His mission. I am part of his story, his mission. A vessel, but a bold, bold vessel with himself active in me and through me by his Spirit.

Do we read the Old Testament to let it form our identity? Our purposes? This is us, this is our story. There are no Christians who are not part of this. There are no Christians who are not servants, watchmen, warriors, carrying out Christ’s story. That is what it means to be in Christ, to be little-Christ’s (Christians).

Are we carrying out our own story? Or do we realize how identified we are with Christ himself that we know and intentionally live out his story in his power and his presence and his Spirit? We are Christ’s watchmen, Christ’s light, with Christ’s own armor.

His own!

What privilege.

What intimacy.

What power.

What hope.

What closeness with our Lord.

What fulfillment.

What dignity and purpose.

What history—our activities in sharing the gospel, being the church, takes on a history from the beginning.

Our God continued his story in Christ. And continues his story in us.

Watchmen. Light. Servants. Fighting the good fight with his armor. Warriors.

Wow.