#22 Daily Friendship with God
Identity
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:26-28
Words and there meaning are very important. The meaning of the word “image” is resemblance which is to be similar to. The word “likeness” means similitude or correspondence in kind or quality. The definition of identity is “the distinguishing character or personality of an individual. The original way God made humanity was in the likeness of his individual character and personality. The principal character and personality of God is Love.
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)
The characteristics of God’s love are found in many places in the Bible. The most concise location is the following
Love suffers patiently and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4;8a)
And actions and results of love are found in the following passage
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23A)
This means the original identity of humanity was the characteristics of love just like God who made humanity in His image and likeness, which is love. If this is so, then why is not all humanity loving at all times? To understand the answer to that question we must consider a few principles concerning love. The first being love is a choice. Each individual gets to choose who they love and who they do not love. The first man Adam made a choice to turn away from the image and likeness he was created in (God who is love). He did this by submitting himself to someone who did and does not have the character of love, that is the devil/Satan. The results of Adams choice was that his character became like the one that he submitted himself to (Romans 6:16). The results was self-focus which leads to sin and death, instead of love. The true Identity of humanity is the one that humanity was created in. The choice to submit to a false identity has created the opposite identity of fear and pride which leads to sin sorrow and death.
Thanks be to God He had and has a way to set individuals free from choosing to follow after selfishness sin and death. Just as the choice of the first Adam impacted all humanity (Romans 5:12) also the choice of the Last Adam (Jesus,1 Corinthians 15) also gives each individual the ability to make a choice as to whom they will identify with.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)
And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45)
But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many (Romans 5:14) Reading all of Romans 5:12-21 will give even more detail understanding on this topic.
The bible has much to say about the results of the choices we make. When we choose to enter into relationship with God through believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ we regain our true identity. The bible is clear to declare what the Gospel is
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
The bible also tells us the importance of believing in the gospel and the results of turning away from it.
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)
To further understand the identity of those that are follower of Jesus the same person that wrote the book of Galatians through the Holy Spirits inspiration also wrote many other books of the Bible. When he addressed the follower of Jesus in the introductions he use the word saints to identify who he is writing to…
To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: ( Romans 1:7)
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: ( Ephesians 1:1)
Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: (Philippians 1:1)
To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Colossians 1:2)
These four scriptures are just a few of many that call those that follow Jesus “saints”. The word saint or saints has the following meaning in the original Greek language
Most Holy Thing , a saint. Fundamentally signifies "separated". its moral and spiritual significance, separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God, sacred. In the plural, as used of believers, it designates all such and is not applied merely to persons of exceptional holiness, or to those who, having died, were characterized by exceptional acts of "saintliness."
Jesus being “Holy” (Acts 4:27) came to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). By believing in the Gospel of Jesus and entering into a personal relationship with Him (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, John 17:3) a person goes from having an identity of a sinner to having the identity of a saint. The apostle makes this clear by addressing the churches in his writing by calling the church members saints rather than sinners. Please understand that the bible does not teach that once Individuals has a new identity as a saint that they may not as some point sin. At the same time it is vital that the followers of Jesus do not identify themselves as a “sinner”. The reason why this is so important is because God has paid the highest price to set them free from sin and the identity of being a sinner. This is noted in Romans chapter six as well as in many other passages. Paul sates the following using the past tense “were”
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we “were” still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
Paul also sated
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)
In this passage Paul states at the present time (present tense) he is the chief one who has been saved from being a sinner. He is declaring that Christ Jesus came into the world at a point of time (Aorist tense) to save all who call upon the name of Jesus in order to be saved from being identified as a sinner. Please again do not take the statement just made as to mean that those that call upon Jesus as lord and savior will never sin after they have accepted that God has changed their Identity from sinner to saint.
The important thing to remember is our words are powerful. Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21) and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). When a saint speaks with their mouth that they are a sinner then they identify themselves as a sinner. As a result what a person speaks, tells their brain what they are to do, which in this case is sin. On the other hand if a follower of Jesus states that they are a saint who is set apart from sin and that sin no longer has power over their life (Romans 6). Then when the temptation to sin comes they will listen to what they have said and choose not to sin. If a saint believes they have been set free from sin and identifies themselves as a saint then they will not go on sinning that grace should abound as noted in Romans 6:1.
Adam chose to take actions that would lead him into the identity of a sinner, Jesus also chose always to take the action of being obedient and remaining righteous even unto death (Luke 22:24, Phil 2:8). He did this in order to set us free from the identity of a sinner and give us the identity of being holy like Him.
When we come into this world most people identify themselves with their family. The two most significant individuals they identify with is their father and mother. Jesus made the following statement
“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” Matthew 23:9
Jesus also said
“Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 12:48-50
The first step in doing the will of our heavenly Father is to believe in the gospel in order to be saved.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires/wills all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3)
The word desire in the Greek is thelō and the definition for the original Greek word is “to will or intend”). The work that God calls individual’s to, is that of believing in Jesus.
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:29). In fact just in the Gospel of John the word believe is used 60 times.
To believe in the Gospel a person must change their mind(repent) about who God is and how they can live in relationship with God.
Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15b
Once a person has repented and believed in the Gospel they enter into relationship with God as His child.
For as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13
This is why Jesus said
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ John 3:6-7
The Apostle John states the following concerning the blessing of being a child of God.
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1
The Apostle Paul states
And because you are sons (and daughters), God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Galatians 4:6
Just as being born into an earthy family creates identity so to being born again into the God’s family creates a whole new identity. The new identity come with rights and privileges, power and authority, acceptance and purpose as well as so much, much more.
Another thing to consider when it comes to identity in God is the concept of a nation. If you live in a county called the United States of America you identify yourself as an American citizen. Philippians 3:20 tells all those that follow Jesus have citizenship in heaven. Heavenly citizenship comes with Heavenly eternal identification.
…we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
As a follower of Jesus reads in the bible more about their heavenly citizenship they will grow in their eternal identity. A persons true eternal identity starts the moment an individual comes into personal relationship with Jesus (John 17:3). This happens through the miracle of God allowing those who confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God has raised him from the dead to be crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20) be buried with Christ (Romans 6:4) and to be raised with Christ (Colossians 3:1). The three aspects of the Gospel: death, burial and resurrection are the true foundation to true identification with God through Jesus Christ.