Your Identity
(9 minute read)
Your character reveals your identity. It identifies the person you really are and is made up of the distinguishing ‘characteristics’ and personality that make you a one-of-a-kind individual.
In essence, your Attitude Modifiers describe the attitudes that shape your character and reveal your identity: honest attitude, humble attitude, grateful, friendly, respectful, and kind, for example.
Your identity is the sum of your—thoughts, attitudes, and actions—that makes you who you truly are. Identity answers the question: ‘Who am I?’ But perhaps an even more important question, as we will soon see, is ‘Whose am I?’
One thing is 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.”
How special is that?
You were wonderfully made, created in the image of God, designed for a purpose and equipped to pursue what is good. And because of God’s grace—His unmerited favor toward you—He provides what you need most: A Savior, Jesus Christ. Through genuine repentance and saving faith in Him, you can receive the gift of eternal life.
The local, national, and even worldwide identity struggle we see all around us reflects the spiritual problem of people trying to define themselves apart from God—“self—minus God.” And that’s where we all begin, by the way—born with a sin nature and separated from God by that sin.
And 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 complete apart from the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
The Bible reminds us how brief this life really is. Consider 71 finite years here on earth compared with an infinite eternity—either eternal life with God or eternal punishment separated from Him. This should awaken us to our need for Jesus, teach us to live wisely, move us to seek Him while there is still time, and remind us of the living hope of eternal life found only in Christ.
Your identity must not ultimately be defined by “who” you are and what you have done, but by “whose” you are in Christ and by what He has done for you.
Here’s a clear presentation of the gospel message, just for you:
God, the Creator of the universe and everything in it—the one true, sovereign, living God is—holy, perfectly righteous, just and pure.
And because of sin, you and I are not.
It is sin that separates us from God.
That’s our big problem!
But because of His love for you, God did what only He could do. He added humanity to His deity and God himself through His Son Jesus Christ, became the sinless human substitute who would satisfy His perfect justice.
Jesus lived the perfect life you could never live, died the death you deserved to pay the penalty for your sin, and on the third day He rose from the dead and walked out of that tomb—conquering sin, death, hell, Satan, and all the powers of darkness. And He gives eternal life to all who put their faith and trust in Him.
The Holy Spirit uses the Word of Christ, the gospel, to perform a supernatural work of grace that convicts you and convinces you that you are a sinner before the holy God—lost, condemned, unable to save yourself, and in need of a Savior.
And when you finally understand the truth, the only thing you can do is to humble yourself and, with godly sorrow, cry out to God with all your heart:
Godly sorrow is genuine grief over sin and having offended the holy God.
“God, be merciful to me, a sinner, and save my soul.”
“For whosoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
(Romans 10:13; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21)
And in God’s greatest miracle, the Holy Spirit leads you to genuine repentance and saving faith in Jesus Christ—believing who He is and trusting what He has done for you.
Through the supernatural work of regeneration, the Holy Spirit gives you new spiritual life as you are “born again” as a new creation in Christ. And God justifies you—declaring you righteous before Him through the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Repentance involves turning from sin toward God. Saving faith is trusting Jesus Christ and His finished work as the only sufficient basis for salvation.
The old you has passed away, and all things have become new in Christ!— A new heart, a renewed mind, new desires, new attitudes, new character, a new identity, and a new way of life.
The Holy Spirit now lives within you, giving you both the desire and the power to live a life that pleases God and become more like Christ every day.
And the evidence of your new spiritual life is the Fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22–23)
These are the qualities of Christlike character that the Holy Spirit produces in you.
That is quite an identity!
The Gospel Worldview
The absolute, unchanging and indisputable truth for every living person is this:
“There is simply no solution for the human problem of sin, guilt, and eternal judgment, apart from the grace of the one true and only living, Creator God and the sinless life, substitutionary death, and victorious 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” of the Good News of Jesus Christ, through everyone’s most personal channel, their mobile phone. Our mission is simple— to share the Good News and trust the Holy Spirit to accomplish the work that only He can do in the hearts of those who hear. Please boldly share the app.
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 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.“
The roles you play in life, refer to the different positions, responsibilities, and relationships you have — such as parent, spouse, son or daughter, friend, employee, employer, coach, leader, student, teacher, neighbor, brothers and sisters in Christ, and many, many more — each involving certain behaviors, duties, and expectations. Your thoughts, attitudes and actions are the most important ingredients in the roles you live out each day.
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” them all.
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.
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 moment of every 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 each day.
Your quality of life is the righteous actions produced by the way you live and is a reflection of your character, indicating how satisfied you are with your physical, mental, social, spiritual and economic conditions, as well as your ability to live a fulfilling, happy, healthy, productive, and meaningful life.
