Who Are You?

Do You Know Who You Really Are?

I. DEFINITIONS

If someone were to ask, “Who are you?” what would you say? Many of us describe ourselves by what we do, But name tags will not be sufficient when a life or death situation forces you to look at the core of your being and find out who you really are in relation to the One who created you!

A. What Is Your Identity?

• The identity of a person is based on the distinguishing characteristics of that person.

• Your identity involves both your inner character and your outer conduct that distinguish you from everyone else.

• Your visible conduct should consistently reflect your inner character. This forms your identity.

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13)

As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man. (Proverbs 27:19)

B. What Is the Difference between Your Inner Identity and Your Outer Identity?

• The Visible You

How you are known by others

a. Your personality

b. Your masks, pretenses, outer appearance

c. Your actions

Even a child is known by his deeds,Whether what he does is pure and right. (Proverbs 20:11)

• The Real You

How you are known by God

a. Your basic nature

b. Your character

c. Your value system

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts. (Proverbs 21:2)

C. What Is an Identity Crisis?

• An identity crisis is a period of difficult transition, such as adolescence or midlife, when the visible you severely conflicts with the real you—causing pain, distress and a desire for change.

— “Who am I?”

— “What do I believe in?”

— “What values should I live by?”

— “What do I want to do with my life?”

Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly. (Proverbs 15:21)

• An identity crisis is a period of severe disillusionment when your identity is based on a role or relationship that has been changed or removed.

— A move from a secure environment Identity was in your friends and family.

— The loss of an intimate friendship Identity was in a cherished companion.

Is my help not within me? And is success driven from me? (Job 6:13)

• This identity crisis can be a severe form of identity confusion that results from childhood trauma or sexual abuse.

— Homosexuality

(rejecting your God-given sexuality)

— Bizarre dressing or cross-dressing

(taking on a different identity, so as to feel significant)

— Victim mentality

(feeling powerless in relationships)

II. CAUSES

A. What Causes the Struggle with Identity?

Most people experience confusion about who they really are because they lack a biblical understanding of what determines their identity. Your behavior is an outgrowth of your identity. Our personal identity is determined by what “family” we are born into. Spiritually, everyone is a descendant of Adam—we were born into “Adam’s family.” No one in Adam’s family has the capacity to live as God designed us to live.A new spiritual life is made possible in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. To embrace Him as your personal Lord and Savior is to inherit a new family and a new identity “in Christ.” With this new identity you will begin to develop Christlike character by choosing to rely on Him to deal with your daily problems.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)

• The Family of Adam

Every individual is born into the family of Adam, is identified with Adam and will exhibit the character of Adam. Adam represents the humanistic view of life.

— The one in Adam sees human beings in control of events and circumstances.

— The one in Adam believes there is no absolute truth; everything is relative.

— The one in Adam believes in choosing one’s own moral restraints.

— The one in Adam sees self-fulfillment as life’s highest purpose.

To be in Adam means that you are an heir to everything he was.

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned. (Romans 5:12)

• The Family of Christ

God has made it possible for any individual to have a new identity by moving us out of the family of Adam and adopting us into the family of Christ. Everyone who is “in Christ” experiences a new birth—“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3), receives a new heart—“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26), and becomes conformed to the character of Christ—“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29).

— The one in Christ sees God in control of events and circumstances.

“The LORD works out everything for his own ends—even the wicked for a day of disaster.” (Proverbs 16:4)

— The one in Christ is set free by the truth.

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ ” (John 8:31–32)

— The one in Christ knows moral absolutes that establish godly behavior.

“You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.” (Psalm 119:4)

— The one in Christ sees fulfilling the will of God as life’s highest purpose.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

To be in Christ means that you are an heir to everything He is.

“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”(Galatians 3:29)

B. The Root Cause of Identity Struggles

Nonbelievers experience lack of fulfillment because of their choice to remain in Adam’s family … seeking to meet their own needs and living out of their own resources. Believers may be unfulfilled because they lack understanding that their identity is now in the person of Christ. They still seek to serve God and meet their own needs out of their own resources.

WRONG BELIEF:

“My identity is found in the significant roles and relationships in my life. I will be fulfilled when I am seen as having an image of success.”

RIGHT BELIEF:

I am fulfilled as my life reflects the image of God by allowing Christ to live in me and through me. My identity is found not in earthly roles or relationships, but is found in Christ.

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:9–10)