God’s Communication Goals, Part Three: Identity Theft
“He’s the class clown.”
“He’s nothing but trouble.”
“She’s so stupid.”
For your entire life, people have been telling you who you are and who you should be. You’ve been labeled. You’ve been shaped by voices. Some of you have been so impressed by the opinions and words of those around you, you’ve lived your life as if you were “that person,”
Others of you are so confused about who you should be, you take on multiple identities. You are whoever you need to be at the time.
Some of you are just so sick of yourselves, you’ve pretty much given up on figuring out who you are.
You are a victim of Identity Theft.
You have a true identity.
The identity with which God created you.
The identity that is fully and completely yours because of the blood Jesus shed for you on the Cross.
The identity that allows you to fulfill your call and purpose in God’s kingdom.
The identity that allows you to live in freedom, above condemnation.
The identity that allows you to love yourself so you can be free to love others.
In fact, you can’t love others with a godly love, unless you first understand God’s love for you and also love yourself.
If you pay close attention, you will discover that much of God’s communication with you is somehow connected to one of these two things:
Who God is
And
Who you are
Why does God want you to know who you are?
Because He knows all about your identity crisis.
He knows all about the thief.
Because He wants you to realize your importance in the scheme of His eternal plans. He wants you to know your position and your supernatural authority in Christ.
You must know who you are if you are ever going to be all God created you to be.
And unless you’ve been shaped by the Word of God, you are not who you think you are.
Has your identity been stolen?
Let today be the day God redefines you.
Read these slowly, in the first person. Out loud, if you can.
I am…
Justified (declared not guilty) -Rom 3:24
Not condemned- Rom 8:1
Set free from the law of sin and death- Rom 8:2
Sanctified and made acceptable- I Cor 1:2
Righteous and holy in Christ -I Cor 1:30
A new creation -2 Cor 5:17
One in Christ with other believers -Gal 3:28
Blessed with every spiritual blessing- Eph 1:3
Holy and blameless- Eph 1:4
Covered with God’s love- Eph 1:4
Adopted as God’s children -Eph 1:5-6
Forgiven- Eph 1:7
Brought under Christ’s headship- Eph 1: 10-11
Marked by the Holy Spirit -Eph 1:13
Raised up to sit with Christ in glory -Eph 2:6
God’s work of art- Eph 2:10
Brought near to God- Eph 2:13
Sharing in the promise of Christ -Eph 3:6
Able to approach God with freedom -Eph 3:12
A member of His Body (the church) -Eph 5:29-30
Given fullness in Christ- Col 2:10
Free from your sinful nature- Col 2:11
Promised eternal glory- 2 Tim 2:10
A Child of God- 1 Jn 3:1,2
Christ’s friend -Jn 15:15
Born of God- 1 Jn 4:7
An heir of God- Rom 8:17
A Joint heirs with Christ- Rom 8:17; Gal 4:7
A Child of promise -Rom 9:8; Gal 3:14
Given the mind of Christ -1 Cor 2:16
Crucified with Christ- Gal 2:20
Connected to the true vine- Jn 15:1,5
The temple of God- 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19
One spirit with the Lord- 1 Cor 6:17
A Saint- Eph 1:1; 1 Cor 1:2; Phil 1:1
A Citizen of heaven- Phil 3:20
Rescued from Satan’s domain- Col 1:13
Hidden with Christ in God- Col 3:3
Chosen of God – holy, beloved- Col 3:12
A child of light, not darkness- 1 Thess 5:5
A Partaker of Christ- Heb 3:14
A royal priesthood- 1 Pet 2:9
A Stranger to this world- 1 Pet 2:11
An Enemy of the devil- 1 Pet 5:8
Salt on the earth -Mt 5:13
Light in the world -Mt 5:14
Chosen and appointed to bear fruit -Jn 15:16
Called to do the works of Christ- Jn 14:12
Given spiritual authority- Lk 10:19
A Ministerof a new covenant- 2 Cor 3:6
A Minister of reconciliation- 2 Cor 5:18,19
An Expression of life in Christ- Col 3:4
A Partaker of a heavenly calling- Heb 3:1
So, how about you?
What part of your new identity do you struggle with the most?
Please share!
What a great post Sandy! More women need to read this and if they don’t already know, learn who they are in Christ. When I first understood who I am IN CHRIST, it was revolutionary for me. I am a child of the most high, the apple of His eye, an heir. That blew me away!
But if more women and young Christian girls realized this, we wouldn’t have to be so concerned with self-image. It’s not the self but who we become when the Holy Spirit dwells within us. We’re special because of Him, not us. It can change your perspective entirely when you get this. And then praise God.
I was wallowing one day, most likely after being told time and time again how I am this or that (not necessarily in the best light), and my mother looked at me and said, “if only you could truly grasp your identity in Christ. Because you have no idea.”
The enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. And for me, he has kept me impotent in thinking that I’ve out sinned God’s grace; that I even if God can forgive me, He certainly can’t use me; and Well, if He does forgive me, and does use me, it’s only time before I screw up again…So why bother?
I think it’s time to take all the negatives and replace them with God’s truth!
Thanks for the reminder of a timely necessity.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this post. I carried around a lot of these verses for over a year, and every time I caught myself falling into old patterns of thought or despair about myself I would pull them out and read the “truth”. I am now working with my daughter and son to teach them memory verses, and I am incorporating a lot of these, knowing they will help them as they start trying to find their place in this world and how to fight against the world.
It is so vital to fight the lies we tell ourselves with scripture…otherwise you are just talking yourself in circles and letting Satan in.
You gave me some new verses to carry around now too 🙂
Sandy-
What an exceptional post. A few years ago, in a lesson for our church young women’s organization, I talked to the girls about the danger of them working so hard to create their online identity (MySpace was all the rage, and I was concerned) and not realizing how little, how very.very little that actually had to do with their REAL identity. It’s so easy to forget who we are.
I was so touched by Jennifer’s description of you, how much your blog and your friendship has meant to her. Therefore, I feel particularly honored to have you along my blog as a follower. Bless you.
And may you continued to be blessed on your journey of faith. I’ll be checking in often to read up on your latest thoughts.
Merry Christmas!
I LOVE your blog! Thank you so much for praying for Abby.
I am sorry that you had to say goodbye so soon.
Found your blog thru Bella’s. Awesome post. I love the quote
“Let today be the day God redefines you. “
What a wonderful post, Sandy! I love how you put it: “shaped by voices”. That is so true.
And I love what Lindsey had to say – about carrying those verses around and reading them when I need to hear the truth.
I stuggle to believe so many of those identities in Christ. Doubt creeps in and makes me question.
And by the way, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your comments on my contentment post! I am gonna buy that book!!! Your words just so touched me and I needed to hear what you said! You are so wise! 🙂
Blessings,
Kate 🙂
For me, it’s not that I find myself dwelling on the opposite of these truths, but more that I don’t know what to think anymore.
“Others of you are so confused about who you should be, you take on multiple identities. You are whoever you need to be at the time.Some of you are just so sick of yourselves, you’ve pretty much given up on figuring out who you are.”
I’ve been in both these places and now just feel kind of numb to just about everything. I hear how people talk so confidently about there closeness with God and I long for that, just not sure why my heart seems so locked up tight.
Wow! These words hit home harder than you can imagine! Thank you for sharing this, especially the bible verses!
~Michelle
Sandy,
Thanks for reminding us who we are in Christ. I’m linking my blog to this today, not because I have very many readers, but I was so refreshed by it, that I want to share the blessing that God laid on your heart!
I too carry scripture with me. As a nurse, I sometimes need reminders of “why I’m doing this” and reminders of who I serve in my service to others. I love the idea of starting my young girls in memorizing these scriptures! We’re starting now so they can be sure of who they are in Christ when they hit puberty! Thanks again