Mensa Otabil - The Right Identity

Watch
Donate

John 1:22: Then they said to him, «Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say of yourself?» How would you respond to that question, «Who are you?» Sometimes we answer the question by stating our name; other times we state our gender, or we will state our ethnic group, or we will state our vocation. Other times we answer by talking about the group we belong to or a relationship with somebody else. All of those answers give an indication of part of who we are, but who really are you?

So, our text is based on a question that was asked of John the Baptist. The Jews sent priests to go and ask him, «Who are you?» because John had been a prophet; people had gathered around him. The people were in anticipation of a Messiah, so they wanted to know whether John was the person they thought he would be. And so they ask him, «Who are you?» It’s a very important question because if you don’t know who you are, people will make you into whom they want you to be.

So, who are you before God? How do you place yourself in light of God’s will? For us as Christians, there has to be a way for us to answer this question. If somebody should ask me, «Who are you?» or ask you, «Who are you?» there has to be a way to answer those questions. I’m going to give you three suggestions as to how to answer those questions.

So, who are you? First: I am made in the image of God. I am made in God’s image. That is our first identity. Our first identity is related to God, who made us. We didn’t make ourselves; we were made by God. He didn’t make us to be like our friend, or to be like our teacher, or to be like our tribe, or to be like something else. He made us to look like Himself. So, God wants our identity not to be related to the things that we know in life, but to be related to Him. He made us in His image; that’s our first identity. We are who we are because God made us.

Secondly, my second identity: I’m redeemed by faith in Christ. The image of God is general to all; all human beings are uniquely created in the image of God, but not all human beings are redeemed through Christ. Because in the Garden of Eden, mankind fell from the image of God, and Christ came to redeem us to Himself. So, yes, God made me in His image, but in Christ, I discover my true identity because He reconnects me to God. What was lost is reclaimed in Christ Jesus. I am made in God’s image; I am redeemed by faith in Christ.

And third, I am an ambassador for the Lord Jesus Christ. That talks about my mission and your mission too, if you’re a Christian. God doesn’t just redeem you; He recruits you to work with Him. Isn’t it an awesome idea to be an ambassador of God-not of your government, not of your company, not of your family? God is the one who has sent you. You are on God’s mission; you’re redeemed by Christ, and you’re made in God’s image. I think that’s a pretty good identity and a pretty good way to answer, «Who are you?»

And tomorrow, we’ll ask another question and we will answer it. Let’s share a word of prayer together. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, You are the source of my being. I belong to You fully; use me for Your glory. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»