Who Am I?

In my day people were always running off "trying to find myself." I suspect they still are today, just not using the same phrase. Psychologists tell us we have a "self-esteem" crisis today. We don't think highly enough of ourselves. Christianity doesn't seem to help with all our "You need Jesus" and "Repent" talk. Oh ... yeah ... that was Jesus's message (Mark 1:15). Anyway, it seems to be an issue, so I wondered ... what does Scripture say about who I am? I mean besides things like "dead in sin" (Eph 2:1) or "blinded by the god of this world" (2 Cor 4:4) kinds of things. If I'm supposed to view things from a positive perspective (Php 4:8), what does Scripture say about who I am?

Paul begins his letter to the church at Ephesus with this wonderful statement, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Eph 1:3). He goes on to list some of the "every spiritual blessing" stuff in the following verses, but I don't want us to miss this central issue. Every spiritual blessing is found ... "in Christ." So ... what does this tell us about our identity ... in Christ? He says we are chosen from before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). We are predestined for adoption as sons (Eph 1:5). We are redeemed by the blood of Christ (Eph 1:7). He has made known to us the mystery of His will ... "the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth" (Eph 1:10). We have an inheritance "according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will" (Eph 1:11). We have been sealed in the Spirit (Eph 1:13-14).

It's not, actually, a long list, but ... it is deep. It isn't minor. It isn't light. Chosen and adopted, forgiven, enlightened, an inheritance and a seal ... these are part of our identity "in Christ." This is who we are. We are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). Monty Python had the line, "Now for something completely different." That's us. Something different. And most of us are still muddling about down here wondering about who we are and how we're doing, primarily by comparing ourselves with the world. We should stop that. We are something spectacularly new, made by God. If that doesn't give your "self-esteem" a boost, you're not paying attention.