The foundation of our identity is two-fold: who we are as humans and who we are in Christ. In this episode, we look at what it means to be image bearers of God and dive into some of the scriptures about what it means for us if we are believers.

Show Notes:

What is identity in Christ? Who does God say that I am?

Last week we talked about what identity is and what it means to find your identity in something. We imagined identity as three tiers—things that don't change on the bottom, then things that can but don't often change, then things that routinely change on the top. I said the only things that belong on the bottom tier are what God says about us, and if we find our identity in and base our value on those things, it will have far-reaching impact on our lives. That brings us to an important question: What does God say about us? What are the specific things that should be in that bottom tier?

There are two levels to this: one is things that are true about all human beings, the other is things that are true of believers. All humans have a consistent, unchangeable, intrinsic value, given to us by God. When God created humans in the Garden of Eden, He made us "in the image of God" (Genesis 1:26-27). This gives us a value that is higher than plants and animals, though they are also alive, and endows us with certain characteristics.

Scholars disagree a little on what exactly these characteristics are, but here are a few top picks: an innate sense of morality (our conscience), the capacity for emotions, ability to form and need for meaningful relationships, self-awareness/self-direction, and creativity. When God made us, He took parts of His own nature and character and placed them inside us. Like our Creator, we know right from wrong, though our experience and culture can distort this. This innate sense of morality is why every culture throughout history has considered cold-blooded murder to be wrong. They sense the value of God's image displayed in human beings.

Like our Creator, we experience emotions, we can enjoy deep and personal relationships with others, and we have the capacity to make choices, rather than just following instincts. As our Creator has and continues to do, we also create. We imagine, design, and make things constantly. This is a reflection of our Creator and a big part of what it means to be human. Bearing the image of God is a major contributor to our value, but it is not the end. All humanity has this value, but we as believers have still more reasons to remember that we are valuable.

Here are just a few of the things that God says are true about you and me as believers:

• You are God's child, loved and planned for (1 John 3:1-2, John 1:12).
• You are the workmanship of God in Christ Jesus, made for doing good things that He has planned for you (Eph. 2:10)
• We are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God's] possession," made to tell others about how excellent God is (1 Peter 2:9).
• You are God's temple, dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16).
• You are a new creation, no longer trapped as your old self (2 Cor. 5:17).
• You are more than a conqueror through the power of Christ, who loves you (Rom. 8:37).
• You are so loved that God the Son gave up His glorious place in Heaven to become human and die in your place, reconciling you to Himself through His death (John 3:16, Phil. 2:1-11, 2 Cor. 5:18).
• You are free from condemnation by God (Rom. 8:1).
• You are a citizen of Heaven (Phil. 3:20).
• You have been given the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).
• Your needs are planned for and will be taken care of (Phil. 4:19).
• You have been given a spirit of power, love, and self-control, rather than that of fear (2 Tim. 1:7).
• You are a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27).
• You are not compelled to give into temptation but have a way to escape, through the power of Christ (1 Cor. 10:13).
• You are able to not live in conformation to this world and can be transformed through the renewing of your mind (Rom. 12:2).
• You can know what it is God wants you to do (Rom. 12:2).
• You are called to proclaim the gospel to the world (Mark 16:15).
• Your life has been planned for your good (Jer. 29:11).
• You can endure any circumstance God calls you to through the strength of Christ (Phil. 4:13).

I could go on and on. The Bible is filled with truths about who we are in Christ. You could learn in a day the basic ideas of who God says you are and yet take the rest of your life to delve into the scripture, find all the individual statements and promises, and wrestle with what they mean in your everyday life.

Next week we are going to dive into how to practically put these things in tier one and make sure we are living according to what is true instead of acknowledging truth but still living according to the lies.