In our secular culture, there is a general outcry as people feel stifled in their identity. It is largely encouraged for us to embrace our “true” selves fully as the highest form of freedom. Yet, as Christians, we know that we were born into sin and that sin has distorted our identity as God’s image-bearers. Though we are reconciled to God in Christ, we must still be watchful that our identities do not become wrapped up and expressed in that which is sinful, but stay submitted to Christ in prayer, thought and deed.

In God’s mercy, we do have forgiveness of sin and the imputed righteousness of Christ that makes us righteous before our Holy God. Who we are is not fully realized in Christ though, as Paul wrote, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6, English Standard Version) Though we struggle and strive now, we have the glorious hope that when Christ returns, we will be brought to completion and leave behind the sin that so easily ensnares us.

The struggle of understanding who God has made us to be — uniquely, the individual calls and characteristics God has given us — is familiar to all of us.

First, let us remember this life is not about us. It is actually very freeing to not worry about whether or not you are actually enacting the unique identity God has given you. Focusing on Christ daily and taking care to serve others takes away that weight of trying to understand yourself. Why? Because we are not then worrying about trying to understand and express who we are, we are simply living as we already are.

Second, our identity needs to always be submitted to Christ. Most of us can probably agree that we have excused our behavior by saying some variation of, “that’s just how I am.” One of my favorite Instagram pages, @withlovejillian, talks about this a lot on her page, and it has blessed me so much. If our identity isn’t in line with scripture and who Christ calls us to be, then we need to submit that part of our identity to Christ and act in line with who He calls us to be. Why? Because we love Jesus and we want everything we do to be in obedience to Him that others may come to know our Savior.

Who Are We?

We are followers of God, with full assurance of eternal life: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28, ESV)
We are loved by God and made alive by Christ: “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5, ESV)
We are proclaimers of our Savior: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2: 9-10, ESV)
We are children of God: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:1-2)
We are crucified in Christ, and our Savior lives in us: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no lover I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, ESV)

Whoever we are individually in our talents, calling and personalities is to be submitted to Christ. But we can also rejoice in God, that He has given us such things to take joy in when it is rightly expressed for His glory. Do not bear the burden of right expression, but focus on Christ daily, pray for help and guidance, and give thanks to our God who is so good to us.

Who We Are