Shame and Identity, Part 3: The Macro Identity
As we learned yesterday, God, our Creator and Master, has given us our identity. To make this truth more digestible, we can break our identity into two parts: our Macro and Micro identities. Today, we will discuss the Macro identity. Tomorrow, we will discuss the Micro identity.
The Macro identity is the identity we share with anyone who has ever believed the Gospel, no matter where in the world they live, the language they speak, or the cultural customs they follow. In fact, because the Gospel gives us a shared Macro identity, you have more in common with fellow Believers who are your complete demographic opposite than with members of your own family who don’t believe the Gospel.
From the second you believed the Gospel, you and all Believers:
Were fully forgiven (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:14, Colossians 1:14, 1 John 2:12)
Have already been forgiven for the sins you have not even thought to commit yet (Romans 4:8)
Have been adopted in God’s family according to His will from the beginning of time (Ephesians 1:5)
Are a firstborn heir (Romans 8:17)
Have Christ’s sinless record despite the fact you continue to sin (Ephesians 1:4)
Have been given a regenerated heart that delights in God (Romans 7:22)
Have the Holy Spirit, a member of the almighty Trinity, living in you (1 Corinthians 6:19)
Have a unique purpose with good works that God guarantees you will fulfill, and He will work through you to fulfill (Ephesians 2:10; Jonah 1:17, 3:1-3)
Are loved by God as much as God loves Jesus (John 17:23)
There are tons more truths throughout Scripture about who you are in Christ. You can download this document if you want to see some of them.
Notice that the above statements are true of you whether you believe, feel, think, or experience it. Remember: no one has the right to say who you are except for the One who created you and bought you with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Notice something else. What did you do to deserve such an identity? You did absolutely nothing (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus did it all.
Since Jesus did it all, there is no way you can lose your identity in Christ (John 10:28, Ephesians 1:13, Romans 8:1). What an incredible truth!
To read more on what Scripture says about this, see Romans 4:8, Ephesians 1:3-7, and John 17:23.
Prayer: Father, my life would be so different if I believed the identity You gave me. It is so hard for me to get there. It is easy to see my sins and define myself by my sins instead of by how You defined me. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving me this identity, even though I find it hard to believe. Thank You that I can’t stop it from being true because You have declared it true for all eternity. Thank You that neither my sins nor my stupidity stop You from loving me. Lord, please help my unbelief regarding the identity You gave me. Lead me to make my identity far more about honoring and respecting You than puffing up myself.
Chew On This:
Look at the ten godly identity statements above. Which of them is the toughest for you to believe? How would your life be different if you believed just that one identity statement from your heart?
To continue to part 4 of our Shame and Identity series, click here. To return to part 2, click here.