YOUR GOD-GIVEN IDENTITY!
Greetings church family!
Lynn Beattie found herself in a difficult situation when she received a package she hadn't ordered. Upon further investigation, she realized an account had been opened in her name, and eight items had been ordered. Identity thieves had gathered her name, address, and date of birth from various online sources, including social media, online databases, and unsecured websites. The identity thieves used this information to open a credit account in her name, create a fake phone number and email address, and order items, causing significant damage and financial hardship for Lynn. Lynn found herself in a difficult situation, unsure how to fix the damage and protect her identity in the future.
Believers can also be victims of spiritual identity theft. This begs the question, “What identity does God intend for believers to have? To go deeper, we would first need to establish who God is at His very essence? This answer will determine the identity of his believers and our relationship to Him. If God is essentially Creator, then believers are essentially creatures. If God is essentially Ruler, then believers are essentially subjects. If God is essentially Redeemer, then believers are essentially rescuees. If God is essentially Judge, then believers are essentially defendants.
Though God is Creator, Ruler, Redeemer, and Judge (and more), do those titles describe who He is at His essence? The answer to this question seems to be no, for the simple fact that those titles are dependent upon creation. But who was/is God before creation?
Before creation, He was (and is, and always will be) Father, Son, and Spirit at His very essence. Consequently, Scripture reveals what our relationship to God is at its very essence.
Galatians 4:4-7 says, "But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father." Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir."
Romans 8:14-17 says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”
Simply put, our essential identity is children of God. This is more foundational than creature, subject, rescuee, or defendant. Without a belief in or understanding of God as Father, Son, and Spirit, we can miss this essential understanding of ourselves, allowing the enemy to steal or distort not only who God is, but who we are foundationally in relationship with God.
Today, may you be reminded that God is more than Creator, Ruler, Redeemer, or Judge. You are a bona fide child of God, having been adopted into the family of God. This means God is your loving Father, and your redeeming brother, Jesus Christ, and this is all assured by the presence of the Holy Spirit in your heart. Wow! There is no doubt that God is for you, God is with you, and God loves you!
Pastor Chris
