Identity: JESUS
“As HE IS, so are we in this world.” I John 4.17
Identity. This is a word that frequently appears in our present culture. For most, it is regarded as extremely important. We are repeatedly encouraged to have our own identity, not to loose our identity, and what we should do if we, or someone we know, experiences an identity crisis.
Identity is important. But the thing that is more important than identity itself is what identity we have received. I am sure most of us could agree that to have the identity of a terrorist or some other unacceptable identity is not a good idea.
Our identity in life is very important. To better understand the significance of identity, let’s look at some definitions of this word.
Identity is the condition or fact of being a specific person or thing; individuality; the condition of being the same as a person or thing described or claimed. Identity is the culmination of the characteristics or qualities that set one person or thing apart from others, distinct from others by specific characteristics. Identity is the established mark or distinction of who we are.
With these definitions established, let us now focus on the question – “Who are we?” While identity is the culmination of certain characteristics or qualities that make us distinct from others, we must understand that our present identity is not necessarily our former identity or even our future identity. Identity is not necessarily permanent nor is it something acquired as fate. Our identity is a choice. We may have been born with certain characteristics or acquired other characteristics from our parents and various other relations – yet, where we came from or to whom we were born physically does not define us nor make us who we are, unless we choose to identify with such existences.
A child born into a certain culture or lifestyle will not always emerge with the mindset of that culture or lifestyle. His identity is a choice. He can identify with his surroundings and develop thought-processes, characteristics, and qualities common to ones living in that lifestyle or culture. On the other hand, the same child could also choose not to identify with his surroundings, and instead identify with something he has seen or heard about in another part of the world, or something that God has placed deep in his spirit.
We each have a choice in who we are and what identity we possess. However, the identities we choose may not always be the right choice for our life. While identity is a choice, we must also understand that we did not create ourselves. We have a Creator. Before we were even conceived in the womb, He planned every detail of who we would be – the way we would think, the way we would act, the calling, specific talents, and direction for our life. (Psalm 139/ Jeremiah 1.5)
If we could compare who we are now to who God created us to be, we may see little resemblance. Yet, deep within each one of us, in our spirit, there is a perfect picture of the identity God designed for us.
Romans 8.29 says – “For whom He (God) foreknew, He also predestined to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” We were destined by God to be conformed to the image of Jesus – conformed to His Identity. We are called to bear Jesus’ identity just as He bore the Father’s identity.
Have you ever wondered how the crowds recognized Jesus every where He went? It is amazing how people who had never seen Him before could recognize Him when He came into town. They did not have the media following Him around, flashing His picture on all the major networks. His disciples didn’t distribute advertisements or send mass emails of His itinerary – so how did people know who He was when He showed up? Certainly word of Him would have been passed around, but that was not what got the attention.
Something was noticeably different about Jesus – and it is because He bore the Father’s identity. He did not blend in with everyone else. When He walked into town, people took notice. There was something different about this Man – and it was the image of the Father in Him. People were drawn to Him in masses because they sensed something inside of Him that they needed.
But this is not just about Jesus. According to Romans 8.29, we have been destined by the Father to be conformed to the image of Jesus, so that He may be the Firstborn among many brethren.
Just as there was something noticeably different about Jesus, there is to be something noticeably different about us – that difference is to be His identity.
One definition of “identity” that we discussed earlier is: “the condition of being the same as a person or thing described or claimed.” If you and I have taken on Jesus’ identity, then we are in the condition of being the same as He is – the same characteristics, the same qualities that make Him who He is and set Him apart from everyone else.
In order to take on His identity, we have to put off our old identity. When we made Jesus the Lord of our life, we exchanged our life for His Life. Colossians 3.3 tells us – “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
The word “hidden” in that verse means to be immersed with Christ in God. To be immersed in God, we have to put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the IMAGE OF HIM who created him (Colossians 3.9-10).
The new man is according to the image, or the identity, of Jesus. Did you notice that to put on the new man, requires that we first put off the old man? The old man is the identity of the world. You and I cannot bear the identity of the world and the identity of Jesus at the same time – we have to choose one or the other.
If we have not made the choice between those two opposing identities, if we are trying to live for Jesus and yet still hanging on to the way the world thinks, acts, and lives – then we will experience an identity crisis. For however long the decision is put off, there will be turmoil and chaos. The two opposing forces demand separation, and the sooner the choice is made between them, the better it will be.
We know from Ephesians 2.10 that we are God’s masterpiece – He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned and purposed for us long ago. We also know that God has instructed us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God (Romans 12.2).
It is only as we are immersed in the identity of Jesus that we will experience real and abundant life, and be able to make a difference in the culture and world around us.
The world is looking for something different – they are looking for something or someone to change what is around them, change what they are going through. They will not find it by looking at more people just like them. What they need is for Jesus to walk into their town, to step into their life.
The question remains: Will you and I be the Jesus that they need? Will we take on His identity so that everything He is will be the established distinction of who we are?
As the Body of Christ, it is time for us to walk in the fullness of the identity of Jesus. “As He is so are we in this world.”(I John 4.17)
Let us no longer be conformed to the pattern of this world. Let us make being conformed to the image of the Son of God our greatest desire and most fervent pursuit:
“Jesus, I want my identity to be completely immersed in Your identity. Help me to be so completely conformed to Your image so that when people look at me, they will see only You… Your heart, Your life, Your love… and nothing apart from You. Help me to perfectly represent who You are in all I do.”
You were predestined to be conformed to His image. You have been born of His Spirit and made alive by His power. You are the light in a world of darkness – because you have received the IDENTITY of JESUS!
Copyright © First Love Ministries International aka FERVOUR
All Rights Reserved
“As HE IS, so are we in this world.” I John 4.17
Identity. This is a word that frequently appears in our present culture. For most, it is regarded as extremely important. We are repeatedly encouraged to have our own identity, not to loose our identity, and what we should do if we, or someone we know, experiences an identity crisis.
Identity is important. But the thing that is more important than identity itself is what identity we have received. I am sure most of us could agree that to have the identity of a terrorist or some other unacceptable identity is not a good idea.
Our identity in life is very important. To better understand the significance of identity, let’s look at some definitions of this word.
Identity is the condition or fact of being a specific person or thing; individuality; the condition of being the same as a person or thing described or claimed. Identity is the culmination of the characteristics or qualities that set one person or thing apart from others, distinct from others by specific characteristics. Identity is the established mark or distinction of who we are.
With these definitions established, let us now focus on the question – “Who are we?” While identity is the culmination of certain characteristics or qualities that make us distinct from others, we must understand that our present identity is not necessarily our former identity or even our future identity. Identity is not necessarily permanent nor is it something acquired as fate. Our identity is a choice. We may have been born with certain characteristics or acquired other characteristics from our parents and various other relations – yet, where we came from or to whom we were born physically does not define us nor make us who we are, unless we choose to identify with such existences.
A child born into a certain culture or lifestyle will not always emerge with the mindset of that culture or lifestyle. His identity is a choice. He can identify with his surroundings and develop thought-processes, characteristics, and qualities common to ones living in that lifestyle or culture. On the other hand, the same child could also choose not to identify with his surroundings, and instead identify with something he has seen or heard about in another part of the world, or something that God has placed deep in his spirit.
We each have a choice in who we are and what identity we possess. However, the identities we choose may not always be the right choice for our life. While identity is a choice, we must also understand that we did not create ourselves. We have a Creator. Before we were even conceived in the womb, He planned every detail of who we would be – the way we would think, the way we would act, the calling, specific talents, and direction for our life. (Psalm 139/ Jeremiah 1.5)
If we could compare who we are now to who God created us to be, we may see little resemblance. Yet, deep within each one of us, in our spirit, there is a perfect picture of the identity God designed for us.
Romans 8.29 says – “For whom He (God) foreknew, He also predestined to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” We were destined by God to be conformed to the image of Jesus – conformed to His Identity. We are called to bear Jesus’ identity just as He bore the Father’s identity.
Have you ever wondered how the crowds recognized Jesus every where He went? It is amazing how people who had never seen Him before could recognize Him when He came into town. They did not have the media following Him around, flashing His picture on all the major networks. His disciples didn’t distribute advertisements or send mass emails of His itinerary – so how did people know who He was when He showed up? Certainly word of Him would have been passed around, but that was not what got the attention.
Something was noticeably different about Jesus – and it is because He bore the Father’s identity. He did not blend in with everyone else. When He walked into town, people took notice. There was something different about this Man – and it was the image of the Father in Him. People were drawn to Him in masses because they sensed something inside of Him that they needed.
But this is not just about Jesus. According to Romans 8.29, we have been destined by the Father to be conformed to the image of Jesus, so that He may be the Firstborn among many brethren.
Just as there was something noticeably different about Jesus, there is to be something noticeably different about us – that difference is to be His identity.
One definition of “identity” that we discussed earlier is: “the condition of being the same as a person or thing described or claimed.” If you and I have taken on Jesus’ identity, then we are in the condition of being the same as He is – the same characteristics, the same qualities that make Him who He is and set Him apart from everyone else.
In order to take on His identity, we have to put off our old identity. When we made Jesus the Lord of our life, we exchanged our life for His Life. Colossians 3.3 tells us – “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
The word “hidden” in that verse means to be immersed with Christ in God. To be immersed in God, we have to put off the old man with his deeds, and put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the IMAGE OF HIM who created him (Colossians 3.9-10).
The new man is according to the image, or the identity, of Jesus. Did you notice that to put on the new man, requires that we first put off the old man? The old man is the identity of the world. You and I cannot bear the identity of the world and the identity of Jesus at the same time – we have to choose one or the other.
If we have not made the choice between those two opposing identities, if we are trying to live for Jesus and yet still hanging on to the way the world thinks, acts, and lives – then we will experience an identity crisis. For however long the decision is put off, there will be turmoil and chaos. The two opposing forces demand separation, and the sooner the choice is made between them, the better it will be.
We know from Ephesians 2.10 that we are God’s masterpiece – He created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned and purposed for us long ago. We also know that God has instructed us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God (Romans 12.2).
It is only as we are immersed in the identity of Jesus that we will experience real and abundant life, and be able to make a difference in the culture and world around us.
The world is looking for something different – they are looking for something or someone to change what is around them, change what they are going through. They will not find it by looking at more people just like them. What they need is for Jesus to walk into their town, to step into their life.
The question remains: Will you and I be the Jesus that they need? Will we take on His identity so that everything He is will be the established distinction of who we are?
As the Body of Christ, it is time for us to walk in the fullness of the identity of Jesus. “As He is so are we in this world.”(I John 4.17)
Let us no longer be conformed to the pattern of this world. Let us make being conformed to the image of the Son of God our greatest desire and most fervent pursuit:
“Jesus, I want my identity to be completely immersed in Your identity. Help me to be so completely conformed to Your image so that when people look at me, they will see only You… Your heart, Your life, Your love… and nothing apart from You. Help me to perfectly represent who You are in all I do.”
You were predestined to be conformed to His image. You have been born of His Spirit and made alive by His power. You are the light in a world of darkness – because you have received the IDENTITY of JESUS!
Copyright © First Love Ministries International aka FERVOUR
All Rights Reserved
