Bulletin Articles
April 26, 2026
Our Identity
We live in a time of identity crisis. Many individuals in our country today and across the globe are confused about who they truly are. Because of this, many try to find their identity in politics, culture, and ideologies. They will often gravitate toward those things they may have some commonality with or some affection towards. This is how the word “Identity” can be used. According to one dictionary, “identity often refers to a person's sense of self, meaning how they view themselves as compared to other people” (Dictionary.com). But this crisis isn’t new, for in search of identity, many are trying to answer the question “who am I?” and “what is my purpose?”
Apostle Paul, when writing to the brethren in Philippi, unintentionally answers this question for us as Christians. In the opening verse of that epistle, he calls the brethren “Saints” (Phil. 1:1). The Greek word Paul uses is HAGIOS (G40, ἅγιος, hag'-ee-os), and according to William D. Mounce means one who is “separate from common condition and use.” This word speaks of one who has been set apart and dedicated to a special task or job to perform. Thus, according to Paul, the identity of the Christian is one who is set aside and has been given over to something or someone. There are two implications for this identity.
The first implication is that this identity is one of privilege and honor. We are not set aside by our own doing, but as Paul declared, we are called by God to belong to Christ (Rom. 1:6-7; 1 Cor. 1:2). Therefore, the word “saint” indirectly conveys the identity of being God’s people. In fact, some paraphrase Bibles replace the word “saint” in Philippians 1:1 with the phrase “God’s people.” Granted, that isn’t the best translation of the Greek word, but it is suggested by the word that we are called out of this world to be God’s possessions, to be something that belongs to Him (1 Pet. 2:9a).
The second implication of this identity is purpose. As we have been called by God, and as God’s people, a purpose has been laid upon us. As Paul said in Ephesians, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Eph. 2:10), or as Peter said, being God’s possession, we “may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9b). We haven’t been called into this relationship with God just to figure life out or to determine what we are to do with our time here. God has granted us a goal to work toward, which is to bring glory to him by serving him and serving others.
As Christians, we should avoid the trap that the world so often falls into, the epidemic of identity crisis. We must be reminded of who we are and what we are here for. We are God’s people, made to do His will on this earth. That is our identity, and there we can find security and rest in knowing who we are. - Christian