Your Identity
(12 minute read; 2213 words)
Your character reveals your identity, “identifying” the person you really are. It is made up of the distinguishing “characteristics” (attitudes) and personality of you as a one-of-a-kind individual. In essence, it’s the attitude modifiers, which shape and define your character, that reveal your identity; happy, friendly, respectful, kind, for example.
A person’s identity is the sum of everything— thoughts, attitudes and actions, that makes them who they truly are—both on the inside and on the outside. Identity is the answer to the question: “Who am I?” or perhaps, better still, as we will soon see, “Whose am I?”
One thing’s for sure— you are the only “you” there will ever be in the history of the world. It’s the same for everybody else, too. Others may look like you and sound like you or perhaps even be your identical twin, but there is only “one you” and there will always “only be one you.” You are a one-of-a-kind creation. There’s no one like you. How special is that?
You were wonderfully made, created in the image of God, designed for success, destined to win in this life and for eternity because of God’s love for you and by His grace where He gives you what you need—a Savior, Jesus Christ, and not what you deserve—death and eternal punishment because of sin. P.S.- There is a required response you must make in order to receive His free gift of grace; repentance and faith.
Our local, national and even world-wide “identity” struggle that we see all around us today is the consequence of trying to identify as “self—minus God” which is where we all begin, by the way; separated from the one true and only living, Creator God by sin. But no matter how hard you try to do it by yourself, “self—by yourself” will never be enough. There is an expiration date for self— by yourself. Your identity will never be full and complete without Jesus Christ.
The Bible teaches that life’s brevity, for example 70 finite years here in this life, versus eternity (infinite) somewhere else— either in a place where God is or a place where God is not— serves to awaken humans to their need for Jesus, fosters wisdom, prompts the urgency in seeking Him and highlights the living hope of eternal life found only through repentance, turning away from sin and to God, and by putting your faith and trust in Christ.
Your identity must not be defined by “who” you are and what you have done, but by “whose” you are in Jesus Christ and what He has done for you through— by living the perfect you couldn’t live, died the death you deserved and then was raised for the dead in a victory over sin, death, Satan and all the powers of darkness. Your identity is what He says it is. Finding and knowing one’s identity as a follower of Jesus can change the past, the present and the future… and even for eternity. Jesus is the absolute, unchanging and indisputable “TRUTH,” that will make you free. And if He is the TRUTH, everything else is not. Nothing else and no one else can or will make you free. Eternal life begins immediately at salvation, where you are set apart by God for a special purpose in this world, and continues… eternally!
As you hear or read a clear presentation of the Gospel message, the Good News— telling of the greatest life ever lived and what He has done for you—the Holy Spirit begins His unique work. In His timing, He shines sufficient light into the darkness of your sin, where you are naturally unwilling and even unable to believe.
“No sinner can ever make the first move in the salvation process. This is what Jesus meant in John 6:44, when He said, ‘No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him.’” (John MacArthur)
The Holy Spirit draws you to Himself, unblinds your eyes, “tugs on” and softens your hardened heart, opens your mind and “convicts you about the guilt of sin, the punishment for it, your need for a Savior and about righteousness and judgment.
The Holy Spirit does a supernatural work of grace to reverse your unwillingness or ignorance and releases you from the bondage of your sin leading you to genuine repentance and enables you to come to faith in Christ.
Here is that clear presentation of the gospel message. These are the facts you must believe in your heart in order to be saved.
God, the Creator of the universe and everything in it, the one true, sovereign and only living God is holy— perfectly righteous and pure, and you and I are not. That’s a serious problem, because one day you and I will stand before this holy God, and in our sin we are completely unprepared and unequipped and will be judged, found guilty, and thrown into the lake of fire. How can an unholy person stand before a holy God on the last day and expect any thing but condemnation? We can’t. We are all sinners and have fallen short of His perfect standard of righteousness. That’s why God, in His mercy and because of His love for us, sent us exactly what we need—a Savior. Jesus Christ lived the perfect life we couldn’t live, died the death we deserved, and then rose again in victory over sin, death, Satan and all the powers of darkness. If you genuinely repent of your sins and completely surrender your life to Christ and put your faith and trust in Him, God, by His grace, will forgive you, declare you righteous through the righteousness of Jesus, and give you eternal life.
Click here for more presentations of the Good News, from The Gospel Truth App.
All who surrender to Christ in repentance and faith are forgiven, declared righteous by His righteousness, transformed by Holy Spirit through a spiritual rebirth, where you are born again as a new creation in Christ, made whole and complete for the first and for all time as you are given eternal life, and follow Jesus as Lord, Savior, and Master.
That is quite an identity!
This is something you cannot receive by yourself or any other source. The Holy Spirit (God) is involved in every aspect of your salvation.
“Are you saved by God’s grace through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ?“
If yes, then you have been transformed! You simply cannot be saved and remain the same!
In fact, the absolute, unchanging and indisputable “Truth” for every living person is this: “There is simply no solution for the human problem of sin and its eternal punishment outside the grace of the one true and only living, Creator God and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Your earthly and eternal lives will be forever changed!
The Gospel Truth App is a unique and yes, God inspired way to share the absolute, unchanging and indisputable “Truth” about the Good News of Jesus Christ, through everyone’s most personal channel, their mobile phone. Our goal is to simply tell the “Truth” of the Good News of Jesus Christ and let the Holy Spirit do what only He can do. Please share.
Notable Thoughts about Identity:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” (1 Peter 1:3-4 NIV)
(This verse underscores the living hope of eternal life through Christ, contrasting the fleeting finite nature of earthly life with the eternal promise in Him.)
“You are who you are and what you are because of what has gone into your mind. You can change who you are and what you are by knowing whose you are and changing what goes into your mind.” ~ The great Zig Ziglar
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature (with a new identity) [spiritually reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP (emphasis added)
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6 ESV
The fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in the life of a born again believer is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Add to these godliness, integrity, knowledge and perseverance… just some of the characteristics of Christ your should emulate each day.
The physical proof of salvation is a transformed life!
The Important Roles You Play in Life:
Role – /roʊl/ noun (DUTY) – the position or purpose that someone has in life.
It is your character that influences the performance of all the important roles you play in life and it is indicated by everything you think and say and do- all your actions and reactions. Good character makes your roles “award-winning.”
Here are some examples:
First and foremost, whose you are: a Christian – A born again believer and follower of Jesus Christ, a new creation in Christ, an adopted child of God, a joint-heir with Christ for eternal life; Living life God’s way: His grace, your faith; His promises, your obedience; His love for you, your love for Him, your love for yourself through Him, and your love for others because He first loved us. Spouse – Sharing life in a marriage. Parent – Caring for and raising children. Child – Being a son or daughter to parents. Sibling – Supporting and interacting with brothers or sisters. Friend – Building and maintaining close personal connections. Employee/Professional – Contributing to a workplace or career. Employer/Leader – Managing or guiding others in a work setting. Student – Learning and pursuing education. Teacher/Mentor – Sharing knowledge, wisdom and success principles with others. Caregiver – Supporting family members, friends, or others in need. Volunteer – Contributing time to community or charitable causes. Citizen – Participating in civic duties like voting or community involvement. Neighbor – Engaging with those in your local community. Hobbyist/Creator – Pursuing passions like art, music, or sports and more.
You don’t get to choose all the roles you play, some have already been assigned, but you do have complete control over how well you “play” all of them.
Character, like thoughts, attitudes and actions are either good or bad, but can’t be both at the same time and can’t be anything other than good or bad or anything else which represents good and bad.
Apply the same “good” character to all your roles. Try to stay “in-character” at all times. Perform them all to the best of your ability every single day. Put the best interests of others before your own. Let your good character influence all those who come into your presence.
The Quality of Life You Live:
Quality of life is the goodness produced by the way you live your life and is a reflection of your character.
A quality life is characterized by physical and mental well-being, meaningful relationships, personal growth, and a sense of purpose. It includes access to basic needs like food, shelter, clothing and safety, alongside opportunities for learning, creativity, and self-expression. Strong connections with family and friends while pursuing goals aligned with one’s values brings fulfillment. Balance, resilience, and the ability to find joy in both ordinary and extraordinary moments are key hallmarks, tailored to individual aspirations and circumstances.
Priorities and philosophies which produce the quality in your life:
My examples: The ultimate goal; the quality of all qualities: To be saved by God’s grace through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. The every day pursuit and fulfillment of being happy, healthy and productive. Producing good fruit in life such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The things I add to my faith in Christ: Goodness, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, kindness, love. Ongoing repentance. Reading and studying God’s Word every single day without fail. Wonderful family and friends. Blessed with everything I need. To live, laugh, love and be loved in return. A great sense of humor. Live life to it’s fullest. Faith, family, friends, profession. Brothers and sisters in Christ. A Bible teaching, gospel preaching church home. Church fellowship. Moral personal and professional life. Blessings. Live and work and play. Play hard and have fun. Compete. Live a good life, surrounded by family and friends, doing good things. Loving the Lord. Loving others. Essential attitudes: Discipline, confidence, motivation, determination, toughness. One pitch at a time. Safety. Security. Adequate finances. Food, shelter and clothing. Having all of what you need and most of what you want. Love of country. God gets all the glory.
“To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
“You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” – The great Zig Ziglar
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