How Can I Find Identity and Purpose?
The Oxford Dictionary defines identity as “The act of being what a person or thing is.” This is simple definition for a concept that has become incredibly complicated and confusing, especially for females. When I talk with my friends or other women, I’m surprised by how many struggle with the concept of identity.
If identity has to do with how we define and present ourselves, it also has to do with meaning. In You Who? Why You Matter and How to Deal With It, Rachel Jancovik writes, “In some ways I think ‘identity’ is the world’s shorthand for ‘meaning’. And if the meaning has gone out of a person, there is no reason to bother with them anymore.’” (p. 22) We know that identity is so closely related to our quest for meaning that we discard things, or even people, that will no longer fulfill that purpose. Purpose is how we motivate ourselves, or relates to a goal that we seek. Identity and purpose are related because they both have to do with the idea of “meaning”, and they’re both crucial to a proper understanding of Biblical womanhood.
Take a few minutes to think about a few places that you might be tempted to find your identity and purpose in. What are they?
Finding Our Identity in Christ
Before continuing, read Ephesians 1:1-14. Make a list of all the things said about a Christian in this text. When you are finished, make a list of all the things said about God in this text.
Ephesians 1:1-14 is the beginning of a long prayer that Paul is writing. Through this prayer, we can see Paul’s heart for the believers who would read this letter. This section contains several crucial truths that he creatively presents. Let’s look at these verses to see WHO we are in CHRIST:
Verse 3: The verses summarizes the entire section. Christians have every spiritual blessing and the verses that follow expound on those blessings. All of the blessings are found “In Him”—a small, but important phrase. We receive these blessings because we have a union with Christ. A union with Christ happens when we respond to the Gospel message: Jesus Christ took our place by dying on the cross for our sins and rising again.
Verse 4: We were sovereignty chosen for salvation before the world was even created. Wow! This is the doctrine of election. God has chosen you, not because of your worth or righteousness, but because of Who He is. We weren’t just chosen, but we were chosen for holiness and blamelessness. Holy means set apart. Blameless means without blemish. This shows us how our identity should cause us to live a certain way. Is the show you watch ‘holy’? Is how you talk to your kids ‘blameless’?
Verse 5: In addition to being elected, we were also predestined for salvation. God pre-determined that we would be saved and he pre-determined our destiny. More specifically, our destiny was for adoption and being made sons and daughters. Adoption is an emotional acceptance of bringing someone into your family as one of your own, and it is also a legal act of securing their identity with yours. Both of these were accomplished and it happens through Jesus Christ. What did he do to accomplish our salvation? He died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Giving us this amazing gift of salvation was God’s PLEASURE and WILL. God was delighted to accomplish this for you!
Verse 6: Our adoption and new status brings us to praise God because of His grace!Grace is undeserved favor. We did nothing to accomplish our salvation. This was given to us through the Gospel, where God sacrificed his son out of love for us, asking nothing in return. It was free.
Verses 7-8: In Christ we are also redeemed. Our salvation is free, but it cost a price. The redemption was paid through Christ’s blood. His blood represents His life. His life paid the price and this act on the cross accomplished the forgiveness our sins. The free gift, that was costly, is paid for by the “riches of God’s grace” that were lavished on us. What a beautiful reality.
Verses 9-10: According to these verses, we have been made known the mystery. What is the mystery? This refers to something that was previously hidden but is now made known by divine revelation. The mystery is revealed in verse ten: That God is bringing all things together in Christ. God’s amazing plan of the church age includes that Gentiles are able to attain salvation, even though they (we) are not jews. This was God’s will, and it was his pleasure and purpose to bring about this opportunity for salvation.
Verse 11: Another gracious blessing is that we have an inheritance based on our status as chosen and predestined. God is described as working out His plan with sovereignty; He works out everything in conformity to the purpose of His will. Constable writes, “the idea contained in this verse is that God chose a plan after deliberating on the wisest course of action that would accomplish his purpose.” Believers can rest knowing that God’s sovereignty in salvation is the same sovereignty that guides our life.
Verse 12: Who were the ‘first to hope in Christ’? This was the Jews. This text specifies that the Jews, who first were God’s chosen people, were still able to be saved although they had ultimately rejected Christ. God still has a plan for His people and it is still being accomplished in the church age. This should bring the Jew to ultimately praise and glorify God. While this passage speaks more to the Jews, what is the purpose of our (Gentile) salvation according to God’s plan? It is that when our hope is in Christ, we will glorify Him! This is because our salvation is accomplished through our mighty God. What an amazing purpose!
Verses 13-14: The ‘you also’ in this passage switches the emphasis from Jews in v. 12 to Gentiles. When we believed the “message of truth” and the “gospel of our salvation”, we are given a seal. What is the purpose of a seal? It protects, keeps, and distinguishes something. The Holy Spirit is our seal, acting as a distinguishing factor for those who have believed. The Holy Spirit is a “deposit” to guarantee our inheritance, which we receive because of our status as adopted sons. The Holy Spirit is the reminder and a guarantee of our salvation and future home with Christ, until God has completed his work saving those here on earth. The Holy Spirit is the “First Installment” of our inheritance. We have the Holy Spirit now, but in eternity, we will have the rest of the deposit—being with all members of the Trinity. Just as the Jews as God’s people had opportunity for salvation, this verse shows in the church age, Gentiles can also have an equal position due to the Gospel. The New Testament church has not replaced God’s people of Israel, but this is another beautiful part of the ‘mystery’, of God’s will, that God has allowed all to have access to salvation. All this is for praise and Glory of God!
Rich Blessings are a Rich Identity
How is our identity tied to God’s character? Look at the words like “pleasure” that are used to describe God’s emotion toward saving us. God takes delight not only in us, but in His own plan to save us. God planned on saving you before the creation of the earth. His sovereignty and intricate design includes you. The theological truths in this text point us back to the grand character of God and His central place in our life. When we focus on Who God is, we have a rightful understanding of ourselves and our identity.
Who are we according to this passage and according to our salvation? We chosen, predestined, adoption, redeemed, forgiven, recipients of grace, made known to the ‘mystery’, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and all this for God’s glory! The goal of salvation, and the goal of our place within it, is to glorify God. This is our purpose as Christians, to be holy and to glorify God.
What Does This Look Like Everyday?
You might read these verses and agree with these theological truths, but may be confused about what this looks like in real life. Can these truth change our day to day life? Can it change our struggle to find identity, and how?
One of my summer jobs in college was on a team with other Christians. With this particular group, I struggled with feeling left out and rejected. Sometimes I felt frustrated at those who seemed to be worldly Christians or those who made unkind comments to me. Each morning became a struggle to go to work.
In God’s sovereignty, we were studying the book of Ephesians at that time. The truths of Ephesians 1 became dear to my heart. I wrote them on a notecard that I reviewed each morning. I needed this daily reminded of my position in Christ and my identity because of the Gospel.
While I still struggled with frustration and rejection, my overall attitude was able to be joyful, kind, and loving because my identity wasn’t coming from the people I was around—it was coming from y position in Christ. This truth transformed my attitude and even my actions in this situation.
Whatever identity struggles you might be facing, the Gospel is what you need! Let’s look at a few common identities that are based on lies, and see what the Gospel says:
I’m not good enough: This statement is partly true, because the Bible does say that we are not good enough for salvation (Romans 3:23). However, this is a terrible identity for a Christian to cling to. In Christ, we have been chosen and predestined, not because of worth, but because of a father who loves us and takes pleasure in us.
I’m living to constantly ‘search for the next best thing’: The lie here is that there is always something better than what God has given you now. As a Christian, you have the best thing (Salvation! Unity with Christ!) and you have a purpose now to glorify God. You don’t need to seek the next thing, but you need to glorify God right where you are at—even if it appears mundane.
My identity is in motherhood: Motherhood is a good thing, but a Christian woman has identity and value as an image bearer, not because she bears children. Whether you are overburdened by motherhood or idolizing it, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross ultimately is where you find your worth.
My identity is in boyfriends/husband: The lie at the heart of this is that relationship will fulfill you. However, you are loved by God and he accomplished salvation out of his love for you. You don’t need to seek love from someone else because you already have it.
My identity is in physical fitness and beauty: Taking care of our physical bodies is a good thing, but fitness and beauty are fleeting. The lie here is that our energy is being poured into a temporary body instead of focusing on our inner self, which has eternal value. Jesus Christ sacrificed His own body for us in the Gospel. Our redemption lets us live free of insecurities or idolizing our body, but to focus on Christ.
Sisters, do all to the glory of God. If we struggle with our identity as Christians, could it be that we are discontent with it? Could it be that we have forgotten the gospel?
The truth of the Gospel and the desire to bring God glory gives joy and purpose to the most mundane day. The Westminster Catechism famously states, Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. This phrase puts everything into perspective, doesn’t it? Even the most mundane tasks now have purpose.
Do all to the glory of God:
Change diapers to the glory of God
Do the dishes for the glory of God
Answer the phone for the glory of God
Have a conversation with someone you don’t like for the glory of God
Serve your church for the glory of God
The list goes on and on. Make it personal to your life. How can you glorify God in your everyday life, in the ministries God has given to you, with the people God has placed in your life?
Christian, this is your identity. Rejoice in it!
