Who We Are

Whenever the theme music for the original CSI television show started it got me pumped up for that evenings episode. If you have watched CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) you know what I’m talking about. If you are one of us older people, you may be more familiar with the theme song due to the band who originally played it. The song is “Who Are You?” by The Who.

Much more than just the lyrics of a song, the question, “Who are you?” is an important one to ask. Ask yourself the question, “Who am I?” What immediately comes to mind? Do you like your answer, or are you uneasy about what pops in your head? My hope is that by the time you finish reading this you will be reminded of who you are in God’s eyes as He looks at you through the blood stained lens of His Son. As believers, our identity is in Christ, not in ourselves. I think it would serve our purposes to list several passages that will help us get your thoughts aimed in the right direction:

-John 1:12: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (ESV).

-1 John 3:1a: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (NIV).

-Romans 8:17: “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” (NIV).

-1 Corinthians 3:16: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (ESV).

-2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (ESV).

-1 Corinthians 12:27: “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (NIV).

-Philippians 3:20: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (ESV).

If we really understand how God feels about us, if by faith we truly embrace in our inner most being, that our identity is in Christ, then how we live out our lives will take on a completely new approach. We wil have a new, positive and ecouraging attitude as we look forward to Paradise restored.

Free From Condemnation

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2, NIV).

So many people have trouble really accepting God’s grace and mercy. They’re use to rules, “to-do lists,” and instructions, so they emphasize Law to the exclusion of grace. But Paul’s emphatic statement, “no condemnation,” means there is no longer judgment, accusation, or bondage to sin for the believer. It is essential that we put our faith in the work Christ did on our behalf and to walk in the liberty that his sacrifice brings us.

When Satan whispers in our ear trying to condemn us, Jesus springs into action on our behalf. He defends us before the Father as a lawyer defends their client in a court room. He cries out, “I object! They were already found guilty but their judgment was carried out on Me. I took their place, I took their punishment, I took their sin, so they are acquited of these accusations!”

As far as people go, if they try and tell you (or make you feel) insignificant or treat you like you’re garbage, or if they have a habit of always making you feel “less than,” then shut them out. Don’t listen to what they have to say. Remeber, being “in Christ” makes what they are saying completely false.

Our Worth is from Position not Performance

Our worth, or value, comes from our identity in Christ. It comes from our position, who we are, in Christ, NOT from our performance.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29, ESV).

It is important to realize that Jesus is not only talking about being physically tired. We see this because he says, “you will find rest for your souls.” It is absolutely exhausting when we try and prove our worth by works. And the reason for this is it causes us to be “heavy laden,” or “weary and burdened.” Only Christ can bring freedom from the “tyranny of any demands for approval” (Frazee, Randy. “Think Act Be-lieve Like Christ, p.62). We are eternally secure in our position in Him because of who He is and what He has done.

Photo Attribution: “Hello, mu name is anonymous” by Quicc Dombrowski; CC 2.0

We Live to Demonstrate, Not Prove, Who We Are in Christ

What is a fool proof way to know we are actually expressing who we are in Christ? For one, we are using the gifts he gave us to glorify him. Second, our lives radiate the fruits of the Spirit. Or, as one author puts it, “It’s feeling deep down that this kingdom activity I’m engaged in is a gift from my Creator and the reason I’m on this planet” (Ibid., p.63).

Building Others up not Tearing them Down

“If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:15-16, NIV).

Because of our new identity in Christ, we can concentrate on building others up, not tearing them down. If we are a believer, God lives in us and we in Him. We must live in love toward others as the above passage makes clear.

The more we realize and embrace who we are in Christ, the more our actions will start to show our true identity. It will boil down to not letting anyone, or anything, devalue who we are, and who our brothers and sisters in Christ are.

“We will be set free to use our words for building bridges not burning them. To use our hands to hug, not hurt. To use our feet to bring, not take away. To use our hearts to inspire, not conspire. To raise the level of any room we are in, not bring it down” (Ibid, p.63).

You may have heard the sayings, “We need to be Jesus with skin on,” or “You may be the only Jesus some people ever see.” The point of these cliche’s is really just to remind us we are to exercise the same characteristics that Jesus did when he was here walking the earth.

Privately and publicly our goal is to walk in Jesus’ foot steps. As we love God and continue to grow deeper in that love, thinking and acting like Jesus will begin to come about naturally.

I think it would be fitting to close out this article with a passage that has already been used, but is forever a reminder we will need to revisit:

This was a guest post from Dr. Jeff Hagan.

Jeff is an ordained Christian minister with over 23 years of ministry experience. He has attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Luther Rice Seminary, Tyndale Seminary and a handful of other institutes as well. He has earned several degrees including the Doctor of Christian Education and the Doctor of Theology.