Will God or the World Define You?

What is a Christian? Who and what does God, through the Bible, describe and intend a Christian to be? When someone says they are a Christian, a believer in The Way, a person of faith in Christ, what should they be internalizing, acknowledging, and consistently living out as true of themselves? What should be the guiding lights of their heart, soul, and mind? What can those seeking God understand would be true of themselves if they committed their heart, and entered a lifelong relationship with Jesus? By gaining clarity regarding God’s truths that are meant to be at the core of a Christian’s identity, and letting them form and shape us, each of us can spiritually and personally thrive and persevere in our faith as God intends. We can be comforted and energized by a sense of purpose and hope, a permanent hope that rests on the unchanging reality of who Jesus is, and the good news of what He has done, is doing, and will still do. The true Christian life, one fully lived according to God’s ways, and in His truths, is challenging, exciting, fulfilling, and liberating, just as God designed it to be. Identity is defined by Oxford Languages as “the fact of being who or what a person or thing is.” It is the foundation of an individual’s personhood. Our perception of our identity is what we each believe to be true about ourselves, and it manifests itself in our thoughts and actions. While everyone is unique, a Christian’s core beliefs about who they are—their identity—should reflect God’s intentions and truths God’s love provides Christians with a humbling, unchangeable, and life defining personal value and worth, and if we seek it, He reveals to each of us, through His grace, our true, God given, biblically described identity. To live as a Christian, we are meant to rely on God’s understanding of who He intends us to be as His people, and strive to bring that to life, as we trust in His promises, put our lives in His hands, and joyfully serve Him. Everyone, not just Christians, are ultimately defined by their thoughts about, and the resulting relationship they have, with God. He has provided a clear picture of the identity of a believer, how we should see ourselves, to help us in that regard. Along with a knowledge and trust of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and a constant gazing upon God, our core identity, what God says is meant to be true of us, should form the foundation to our lives, and shape everything about us. Is that true for you? What beliefs about God, your relationship with Him, and what He describes a Christian to be are shaping who you are? While it needs to be refreshed often, has your Christian identity, who and what God says you are meant to be, become second nature to you, and is it therefore engrained in your heart, instinctively impacting every action? Do you start each day with affirmations about who God is, and who you are as a believer? Are you reminding yourself who God intends you to be as you live through your day? The world is constantly trying to define you. Are you letting it? It is rare that anyone ever improves a skill without making it a priority, being intentional and dedicated to accomplishing specific improvements, and then putting forth committed effort and sacrifice to achieve a desired result. Similarly, if we want to be closer to God, to follow His ways, to be a better follower of Jesus, we need that same perspective—not to earn salvation, but to be a more Christlike person. It doesn’t just happen—it needs prayer, focus and persistence, more prayer, intentional and resolute action, and yet more prayer. If we say we are a Christian, a follower of Jesus, and therefore, want to live out the identity God has declared and described a Christian is meant to be, we need to strive to understand it, and put forth effort to live it out. This book is meant to both challenge your understanding and to be encouraging in your walk. You have likely heard many of the descriptive terms before, but have you thought through their implications and looked at them from multiple angles? Do they shape the person you are above all other influences? The following chapters paint a biblically-based view intended to inspire you to be confident in your beliefs; to flourish in life by affirming and consistently reaffirming who God intends you to be—your identity; and, to live with a courageous spirit, regardless of what comes your way. Part I of the two parts of this book serves as a reference guide and summary of what the Bible, God’s Word, describes about a Christian’s core identity. Part II then provides a brief overview of some of the more serious issues currently facing Christians, and how those issues may impact each of our commitments to our faith and identity, now and in the future.