Here’s an understatement: People are suffering from an identity crisis. Everywhere you turn, our culture is redefining everything: gender, sexuality, marriage, parenting, family, race, work, crime, policing, victims, you name it. No one seems to know who they really, are and we are watching the tragic results of this all around us.
There is no good reason why any follower of Jesus Christ should not know who they are. Here are a few things God tells us about ourselves.
You are an image-bearer in God’s creation called to rule over His creatures, reflect Him, and replenish the earth (Gen. 1:26–28; Col. 3:10; Psa. 8:5–8).
You are a male or female by God’s design and called to reflect your gender distinctiveness (Gen. 1:27).
You are a sinner by birth and delivered by faith in Christ who died and rose again on your behalf (Psa. 51:5; Gal. 2:20).
You are born again and adopted into God’s eternal family, called to love, respect, and obey your heavenly Father (1 John 3:1; Gal. 4:5).
You are a sheep in God’s flock called to follow the Great Shepherd (John 10:14–15).
You are a slave in God’s world called to submit to His perfect will (Rom. 6:19, 22).
You are a branch in God’s vineyard called to bear fruit (John 15:5).
You are a citizen in God’s kingdom called to follow the law of Christ (Eph. 2:19; Gal. 6:2).
You are a joint-heir in God’s inheritance called to look forward to enjoying His glorious riches (Rom. 8:17).
You are a wrestler on God’s team called to grapple against the spiritual forces of darkness (Eph. 6:10–13).
You are a boxer in God’s fight called to buffet your body and make it your slave (1 Cor. 9:26).
You are a priest in God’s nation called to offer up spiritual sacrifices to Him (1 Peter 2:9).
You are a runner in God’s race called to “run with endurance” and “run in such a way that you may win” (Heb. 12:1; 1 Cor. 9:24–25).
You are a light in God’s dark world called to shine forth His gospel light (Matt. 5:14–16).
You are salt in God’s decaying world called to season others and bring a preserving effect (Matt. 5:13).
You are a soldier in God’s army called to fight the good fight of faith (1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 4:7; 2 Tim. 2:3).
You are a living stone in God’s spiritual house called to build up His house (1 Peter 2:5).
You are a farmer in God’s field called to work hard in the field of ministry (2 Tim. 2:6).
You are a bride in God’s marriage called to be faithful to your ultimate spouse (Rom. 7:4–6).
You are a walker on God’s pathway to life called to walk “in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called” (Eph. 4:1).
You are a saint in God’s impure world called to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:14–16).
You are a functioning member of God’s body called to use your gift to build others up (1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:15).
You are an ambassador for Christ called to represent His reconciling gospel in this foreign land (2 Cor. 5:18–20).
You are an alien and stranger in God’s cursed world called to “abstain from fleshly lusts” (1 Peter 2:12).
You are heirs of God and joint-heirs of Jesus Christ called to display the riches of His grace (Rom. 8:17; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:27).
You are a disciple of Jesus Christ called to follow Him and grow to be like Him (Matt. 10:24–25).
Pastor Jeff