Identity in Chrisis?

Where do you find your identity?

Everyday we are introducing ourselves to strangers and establishing our identity. For some, identity is found in skin color. For others, identity is placed in family, nationality, culture, or occupation. When someone asks us who we are, we attempt to answer the question by establishing value in our identity: "I am American"; or, "I am a doctor." In many Eastern cultures it is proper to identify yourself with a family heritage: "I am Joshua, the son of Nun"; or in the case of many Asian cultures, introductions are made by family name, name, and title. The underpinnings of all this is to establish worth [value] in who we are, what we do, and where we come from. Even modern psychology teaches us that self-worth and identity are essential ingredients to positive mental health.

But the Scriptures point us toward a greater heavenly identity that no worldly value can match. By faith in Jesus Christ we are elevated to the position of sons and daughters of God.

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4:4-7)

Paul teaches us that God appointed a time to send his Son Jesus into this world as one of us so that we could be purchased back from the claims of sin and death. According to the law, the only acceptable payment is blood. And by the blood of Jesus - God's only Son - we are now adopted into God's family as legitimate sons and daughters.

Our adoption by faith in Christ is no less powerful or less meaningful than God's relationship with his Son Jesus. We inherit all the blessings, rights, and entitlements that Jesus Christ receives as the Son of God.

Neither do we need to build value in our christian identity because our value and worth are intrinsic to the family of God. We are by nature more precious than gold, silver, or any precious jewel because we are in Christ Jesus. Our identity in Christ transcends the need for positive mental health or self-worth. It transcends any cultural, ethnic, national, family, or occupational claims.

But I believe the best quality of our adoption is that we now have the Spirit of Jesus in our hearts, which enables us to cry out to our Heavenly Father as our Daddy. God is not simply a strict disciplinarian; he is a caring, loving Father who is deeply committed to us in every circumstance.

So, do you live by faith in the Son of God? Then you are a child of God. Your entire identity is wrapped up in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Your value or worth is not diminished in anyway because you have been adopted. You are in equal righteous standing with Jesus Christ and nothing this world can offer compares to who we are in him.

So what if we introduce ourselves for who we truly are the next time someone asks, "Who are you?" We will be making the boldest identity claim man can ever know.

I am Jay Silvas, son of God. I work for my Father as an educator, husband, father, brother, friend, and pastor.

Who are you?