As previously mentioned, the term “Christ” is little more than Jesus’ proper name in much of the popular mind. In the early church, however, one’s identity as a believer was dictated by his or her faith and confession that Jesus was “the Christ.” As John says, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God” (1 John 5:1). Put bluntly, the distortion of messianic expectation robs people of their identity as children of God. Moreover, it robs people of their boldness in bearing the Christian name—as Peter exhorts, “If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name” (1 Peter 4:16, csb). The name that we bear as followers of Jesus inherently confesses our messianic hope. - John P. Harrigan, the Gospel of Christ Crucified, p.137-138