"Identity" is a picture people have of themselves, based on values, experiences, and interactions with other people. It is how people answer questions like: Who am I? Do I have value? What is my role in the world?
All too often, the answers we give ourselves, to these questions, are lies. We give ourselves the answer that we think is true. However, what we believe is a lie.
The Holy Spirit makes his home with his children. One reason, he does this is: he transforms our spiritual DNA. He works in our lives from the inside out. Because, if he changes the inside, the outside follows along, and behaves in accordance with the inside. And part of that change is our self-picture.
Most of the New Testament letters are addressed to the "saints" or "the holy ones." For a lot of people, a saint, or holy one, is someone, who is especially pious, and does something really awesome. Or we think of someone who is especially moral. Someone, who is holy, and practically perfect in every way. (Mary Poppins?)
In the original language, "holy" means "other" or "different." So, holy does not necessarily mean morally perfect.
God is holy, because he is morally perfect, unlike anyone else. He is also all-wise, all-knowing, all-powerful, totally just, and totally loving. There is no other.
And God has designed a way to live. It is based on his character. It is perfect. And he follows it with perfection. God is the only one to live in perfect integrity, and to have never been a hypocrite.
There is also, in holiness, a sense of being different, because something is set apart for something special. Like the special china, that a family only uses at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
If God's people are also holy, how does that happen?
All people are born into a state of rebellion against the character, and word of God. But people can choose a different way. They can turn back to God, and follow his design of creation.
And, even though we are rebels, he receives us into his family. We are received, because Jesus paid the penalty for sin -- past, present and future -- for every person -- past, present, and future.
So, God's people are holy, because they have returned to God, redeemed by Jesus, and they have agreed with God about how life should be lived. They not only agree, they seek to practice the lifestyle they agree with.
So, what does this say about the self-picture we should have?
All too often, the answers we give ourselves, to these questions, are lies. We give ourselves the answer that we think is true. However, what we believe is a lie.
The Holy Spirit makes his home with his children. One reason, he does this is: he transforms our spiritual DNA. He works in our lives from the inside out. Because, if he changes the inside, the outside follows along, and behaves in accordance with the inside. And part of that change is our self-picture.
Most of the New Testament letters are addressed to the "saints" or "the holy ones." For a lot of people, a saint, or holy one, is someone, who is especially pious, and does something really awesome. Or we think of someone who is especially moral. Someone, who is holy, and practically perfect in every way. (Mary Poppins?)
In the original language, "holy" means "other" or "different." So, holy does not necessarily mean morally perfect.
God is holy, because he is morally perfect, unlike anyone else. He is also all-wise, all-knowing, all-powerful, totally just, and totally loving. There is no other.
And God has designed a way to live. It is based on his character. It is perfect. And he follows it with perfection. God is the only one to live in perfect integrity, and to have never been a hypocrite.
There is also, in holiness, a sense of being different, because something is set apart for something special. Like the special china, that a family only uses at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
If God's people are also holy, how does that happen?
All people are born into a state of rebellion against the character, and word of God. But people can choose a different way. They can turn back to God, and follow his design of creation.
And, even though we are rebels, he receives us into his family. We are received, because Jesus paid the penalty for sin -- past, present and future -- for every person -- past, present, and future.
So, God's people are holy, because they have returned to God, redeemed by Jesus, and they have agreed with God about how life should be lived. They not only agree, they seek to practice the lifestyle they agree with.
So, what does this say about the self-picture we should have?
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