Who am I? My deep identity in God

The two most powerful words in any language are ‘I am’. This is because what comes after ‘I am’ will shape your life. What you say after “I am”, what you believe after ‘I am’, will control the decisions that shape your life.

The importance of knowing one’s identity

Identity relates to the person’s role, mission and/or sense of self. It involves the who of a particular skill or ability. Identity level processes and evaluations are as­sociated with language like: ‘I am a …,’ ‘He is a …,’ or ‘You are a …,’ etc..  Both the verbal descriptions and cognitive representations used to express identity are frequently metaphorical (e.g., I am like a fire).  The physiology associated with identity level pro­cessing is very deep and pervasive. When a person is in touch with and expressing his or her identity, that person will typically use symmetrical ges­tures that involve the whole body in some way. 

Questions that can help to elicit the identity are: “What is your perception of identity or role with respect to your thoughts and actions and the beliefs and values associated with them?”  (It is often useful to use a metaphor here as well as a literal description.) “Who are you if you engage those particular beliefs; values, capabilities and behaviours?”  “What is your mission?”  “Who else are you serving with this activity?”

Questions that can help to elicit the identity are: “What is your perception of identity or role with respect to your thoughts and actions and the beliefs and values associated with them?”  (It is often useful to use a metaphor here as well as a literal description.) “Who are you if you engage those particular beliefs; values, capabilities and behaviours?”  “What is your mission?”  “Who else are you serving with this activity?”

Fundamental revealed data

According to the bible, the human personis a ‘being’, ‘image and child of God’.

The bible uses the word being instead of a person. Every human being in scripture is unique, conscious, responsible, free and with an ability to love.

• Unique because God has an original way of life for every person.
• Because one is conscious, one is responsible in front of God for oneself, others, the world and the cosmos.
• Because one is free, one can love.

According to scripture, man is also an image of God. Based on Genesis 1:26-27, one can say that the human being is the coronation and peak of all creation. With the aid of Grace, human beings can:

• communicate with God (hear and respond);
• be His friend; conform to the image of His Son;
• be transformed into a child of God;
• and experience full perfection in glory.

While this image of God was wounded by sin, its substance was never changed.  Therefore, one needs to resist temptation so Christ, who is impressed in us (ontological holiness – created in God’s image), can be expressed by us (moral holiness – with our actions).

But our peak identity is being children of God in Christ, because to “all who received him (Christ), who believed in his name, he gave the power to become a child” (John 1:12). Therefore, our moral sanctity depends on our imitation and following of Christ.