Identityfeatured

Merriam-Webster definition of identity: The distinguishing character or personality of an individual.

The definition of identity is such a broad statement when we think about trying to find our own personal identity. How in this world do we narrow down all the different options of finding and defining our own personal identity.

We used to be able to use markers that seemed to be immovable, things like, church, career, family structure to help narrow down an individuals definition of identity. For example, in the 1950’s 84% of women were stay-at-home moms, this seemed to be something that women just accepted as part of their identity whereas today we see that number range from 24-28% opening up the ability to define oneself outside of the home.

Church attendance has seen the same shift, in the 1930s to the 1980s there was a 70% rate of attendance with families. Now we see that percentage down to only 20% of Americans who say they attend church regularly, eliminating this as another option for what makes up our identity.

As we slowly wittle away at the things that used to be used to establish our identity, this begs the question, how does one find their identity?

Your Identity

According to Burlap to Cashmere the Bible is the “basic instructions before leaving earth”. All kidding aside, the Bible is our instruction book, it is our guiding light, it seems only fitting to look to the instruction book then to find what our definition of identity is.

Image Bearer

Most are probably familiar with Genesis 1:26-27 where it says, “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. We as humans, are shaped and molded by God into His likeness. When we become Christ followers that likeness takes a shift and goes deeper. Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” When you except Christ as The Son of God, the savior of us all, your actions and behaviors, your attitude will be different. You bear His image in all that you do, in who you are and how you behave, you are now showing Him through you to those around you.

Delivered From Death/Eternal Life

To me this is a big one because when we are really honest with ourselves, who isn’t afraid of death? Well those of us who are Christ followers shouldn’t be because we are delivered from death! The Bible says that the death is by definition the wages of our sins, Romans 6:23. We all have to die because we are all sinners. However in John 5:24 Jesus says ” I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” What an incredible gift!! We will have eternal life! (John 3:16, Matthew 25:46)

New Creation

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 3:15. When we pronounce Christ as our redeemer, the sin that we have committed past, present and future has all been removed. God now looks at as through Jesus. It’s as if he is looking through a lens of Christ who is perfect, to us only able to see Christs’ perfection. With that being said, we don’t have a license to keep with our old behavior. “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!” (Romans 6:1) “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9) We are made new, as we seek Him more, as we learn more about who he is and what he has done for us, our desires become His desires, we are new!

This part is both an immediate internal switch and a long-term external process. As soon as we accept Christ as our savior our spirit man is immediately transformed into a sinless spirit sealed for the day of redemption. However, the external, our behaviors start transforming as well and continue to be transformed through our life journey. “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) We do this through the renewing of our mind. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” The transformation of our behaviors comes from us changing the way we think which in turn changes the way we behave.

In Christ

This characteristic is given to those who believe that Christ is God, made flesh and dwelt among us, lived a perfect sinless life, gave himself up to die for us on the cross and there toke on the sins of all mankind, died and defeated death by raising to life again then ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. When we except that as truth we then are described as being “in Christ”, you are in relationship with Him. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

Temple of the Holy Spirit

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” You are no longer an empty shell of a human, you are now carrying with you everywhere you go, the Holy Spirit. You are a living, breathing house for the Holy Spirit! How awesome that God has been so kind as to give us such a gift! The Holy Spirit is our helper, our guide, our comforter. He also helps us be transformed into Gods likeness by helping our behavior become more like His; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (1 Corinthians 6:19, 3:16, John 14:26, Romans 8:26, Galatians 5:22-23, Acts 2:38)

You Are An Heir

Talk about the ultimate transformation. We go from being a sinner, one who is against God to a joint heir with Christ. We are now adopted into Gods family as sons and daughters. We get to share in Christs inheritance, His eternal kingdom! “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Prayer,

Thank you God for giving us an identity!! Help us to strive to be more and more like you, focusing on the things that help renew our mind toward you and our behaviors to mirror those of the Holy Spirit. Help us to be good stewards of the vessel that you have given us so that we might be a good temple for the Holy Spirit!

In Jesus’ name, Amen