Identity

Gal 2:19-20

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

In this age so dominated by social media, the notion of identity has become paramount in the human psyche. People are questioning who they are, what they stand for, even their gender. It is a common belief that an individual is not complete unless he or she takes on a persona, or assumes a label. Without a definable, illustratable identity then something fundamental is missing. It has become an obsession, this search for the “authentic me.” The sad and sometimes tragic result of this obsessive seeking for identity can lead to psychological disorder, heartbreak, the crumbling of the family unit, and a sense of emptiness. The reason being that the “I” is a moving target; the ego is capricious, and moves the goal posts on a regular basis. The ego, the self is simultaneously insubstantial and tyrannical. It doesn’t care who it hurts.

Paul’s words shine a torch beam on this issue of identity. Following Christ, giving ourselves to Jesus means that the “I” is no longer an issue. They tyrant ego is crushed by Jesus’ saving grace. There is no longer a question of who am I? The confusion of claiming this or that identity vapourises in the power of his love. Paul says, “it is no longer I who lives.” And by “I” he means the ego, the fake identity (because it can only ever be fake). Being Christian is not merely a name we give ourselves, it is a complete replacement of the ego with something greater, something so awesome and all encompassing… Jesus himself. As Christians we have been crucified with Christ, in fact, we have died before our actual death. We have died to self. And the exciting and liberating thing about this is that now we have created a divine space to allow Christ to live in us.

So the answer to “who am I?” is this:

“I no longer exist, but Christ Jesus lives in me.”

And how does this come about? By faith in God’s Son who gave up his life for us.