Do you have the right identity?

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

I love how particular words catch my attention, and the word ‘identity’ has been on my mind of late given the current global political climate. Why is identity important? Consider two definitions: 

1. The fact of being who or what a person or thing is: your name or how people recognise you.  
2. The characteristics that determine who or what a person or thing is: your character or personality.

The first definition speaks to things you may or may not change on preference; the second deals with innate traits that are much more difficult to change. 

In the book of Acts, the story of Stephen gives us a lens to understand why we desire an identity and how knowing who we are in Christ makes all the difference. 

Christ, not Judaism 

In Acts 6:8, the Bible tells us that Stephen was “full of grace and power,” and he was doing “great wonders and signs among the people”. He outwardly manifested the inward transformation of a gospel-oriented life. His identity was firmly planted in Jesus, the Son of God, through whom all things were possible.

In Stephen’s sermon in Acts 7, he essentially gives the Jews a history lesson. Let’s examine this for a minute. The Jewish people prided themselves on being a part of the Abrahamic lineage and covenant. Being Jewish wasn’t just a “religious thing” — it was a cultural way of life as well. 

Knowing who we are in Christ makes all the difference

Remember our definitions of identity in the beginning? We’re looking at this first definition here — their physical identity. This was their name. This is how they were recognised by others through their clothes, rituals, and traditions. 

Stephen understood this very well as a fellow Jew, but his identity had a different source. By pointing out their staunch determination to identify with their forefathers (primarily the link between their decision to crucify the Messiah and their forefathers’ persecution of the prophets who preached Him), Stephen tried to appeal to their false sense of identity in something that would not ultimately last (Acts 7:51-53). Nor would it fix the longing for the Saviour they had dismissed. 

Stephen’s identity was so tied to Christ that he ultimately gave his life so that others could testify of freedom not rooted in one’s tribal identity or lineage. He knew to whom he belonged. 

Saul and Stephen

We often assume, short-sightedly, that overcoming peril means living through it. But Stephen received the most difficult calling of all: to die for the sake of Christ. We may struggle to remember all the names of Jesus’ 12 disciples, but not Stephen. His calling was indeed worthy, but even more worthy is the Holy One in whom he found his identity. 

All of heaven watched while the furious and crazed crowd dragged Stephen from the city and started to stone him. As the deadly blows bent his body out of shape, he sank to his death by crying out to the Lord for those who stoned Him, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60).

But Saul was there, approving of Stephen’s stoning and death. Saul was so pleased with the crowd, he was cheering throughout the entire exhibit. As heaven watched, the Lord didn’t miss a single nod of Saul’s phylacteried head. 

The Lord was looking at two key men in the kingdom of God that day! One for Him, one against Him. One covered in blood, the other in prayer shawls. One who could not save himself from men, the other who could not save himself from sin. One physically dead but alive in spirit, the other physically alive but dead in sin. One loved by God, the other, loved by God with a new identity he’d soon receive as His child. Grace, Grace, God’s grace! 

Remember that your identity is formed in Jesus Christ — not in religious and cultural groups, nor in practices and traditions

This was a day in the life of a man called Stephen, whose name means “crown”. It was absolutely unforgettable. We know with certainty that Stephen was received into heaven with joy by the Lord who formed his identity. How amazingly sweet to imagine the first heavenly words Stephen heard that day from the Lord Jesus: “Welcome home, Stephen, my joy and my crown!” 

Your identity in Christ

Dear Christian, remember that your identity is formed in Jesus Christ — not in religious and cultural groups, nor in our practices and traditions. It is God’s desire for all people that our longings for identity and belonging are found in Him. We see this in Stephen’s life and later on in Apostle Paul’s life. And this is what we must also come to realise. 

We cannot attribute our identity to our jobs, our homes, our families, our lineage, our upbringing, or our education. These things are like the clanging of cymbals that does not last. 

Our hope must be “built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” As we release those temporal identities to Him, we can replace the lies that we’ve held tightly to with the truth of who God says we are. 

We are His, and we are loved. Our identity is that of Jesus Christ’s sons and daughters. And that is our first and most important name and description. If we can just remember that, everything else will fall into place. Like Stephen and Saul, we can know who we are and whose we are. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we praise You for You are God Most High. That you would choose sinners like us and make us kings and priests is both amazing and humbling. We are eternally grateful. May we learn, remember and cherish our identity formed in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. May we know that we are Yours. Forgive us when we take pride in other temporal identities that are not built on Your Son. May we faithfully show forth the praises of our God who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light. In our Lord Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.