Who am I?
This is one of the biggest questions for people all over the world. We struggle with finding, knowing, and living in our own identities. So many things in the world try and define us and give us an identity that is artificial to us – or that produces an artificial nature in us.
So, what gives us our identities? Our jobs? Our families? Our successes? Our failures? Who or what can define us?
Genesis 1:26-27 says:
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Creation gives us at least a peak at our original identity as God intended it, but a lot has happened since “the beginning”. I know, for me, I try to allow my failures to define me to the point that I do not even notice my strengths. I have struggled with letting work and other people define me. And, somewhere along the way, I lost myself for a number of years. I forgot that I am made in the image of God – that I am His.
This is where the gospel – the good news – comes into play. All of Creation is messed up because of sin, but there is redemption to be found in Christ Jesus. He took our sin to the cross and makes us new again – not “good as new” but genuinely new creations in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).
Who He says we are matters. It matters more than any voice around, because He created us. Jesus in John 8:34-36 says,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
And that’s what we’re singing about this week. We are singing about being washed clean from our sins and resting in the identity that we are given in Christ. We are reminding ourselves that we have reason to praise King Jesus because He has saved us and given us everlasting life. And we can join in with the angels in heaven and sing to him, telling Him that He is holy and worthy and mighty and adore Him together!
These verses were on my heart as the worship set came together this week:
- Psalm 51:2 — Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
- Psalm 51:7 — Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
- Jeremiah 33:8 — [God says] I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive the guild of their sin and rebellion against me.
- 1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- Titus 3:4-5 — But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit….
Here are our songs:
- “Washed Clean” — This is a fairly new song for us that was introduced last Fall. Mitch brought it to my attention, and I think it is a good, Biblical prayer for us: that we would be washed clean from our sins. We bring so much baggage with us in our sin that we need Christ to take. And it is with this prayer that we will begin singing Sunday.
- Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 1:17-18, Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 8:2, John 8:34-36, Psalm 51:2, Psalm 51:7, Jeremiah 33:8, 1 John 1:9, Titus 3:4-5, Proverbs 16:18, Proverbs 3:34, Ephesians 2:1-2, Acts 26:18-19
- “Who You Say I Am” — Just like we carry baggage with us that weighs us down, we can also be weighed down by the identity that the world places on us. However, if the Son has set us free from the world, what else is there to worry about? What else should define us to that level? It matters more who Jesus says we are than everyone on planet Earth. We need to be reminded of this often lest we forget.
- Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: Psalm 8:4, Luke 15:3-7, John 8:36, John 1:12-13, Romans 8:23, Colossians 2:14, John 8:34-35, John 14:1-3, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:4, Hebrews 13:5, Romans 8:31-32
- “Praise the King” — This song is fairly new to us. We introduced this before Easter and have sung it a couple of times since. This song reminds us that Jesus is alive. Our resurrected King is the reason that we have hope. He is the reason we are free to worship Him without fear. He is risen. He is alive. And the world has not been the same since He rose from the grave. This gives His bride a reminder that He’s the reason we sing.
- Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: Galatians 3:13, Isaiah 9:2, John 1:4-5, Romans 5:9-11, Matthew 28:6, Romans 8:37, 1 Peter 1:3, Mark 16:6, Psalm 47:6, 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, 1 Corinthians 15:50-57, Revelation 5:9-10, Romans 6:5-10, 1 Corinthians 15:12-14, Romans 8:11, 2 Corinthians 5:17
- “Revelation Song” — This song is one of the most Bible-packed songs we sing. You’ll notice that there are multiple passages from the book of Revelation (hence the name) that are basically sung straight out of Scripture. If we are going to seek to be washed clean and find our identity and praise in Christ, we need to pour out our hearts to Him exactly as the Bible teaches us: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come; with all creation I sing, “Praise to the King of kings; You are my everything, and I will adore you.” Amen.
- Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: Revelation 5:6-12, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 4:8, Romans 3:25, Hebrews 9:5, Revelation 5:13, Revelation 17:14, John 15:5, Psalm 33:8-9, Revelation 4:2-3, Revelation 4:5, Luke 5:17-26
- “Just As I Am (I Come Broken)” — This is a newer take on the classic hymn. This hymn has been used in churches for many years; in fact, it was written in 1834. The inspiration for the original poem is John 6:37 where Jesus says, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” This song serves as a reminder that “all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). Some time back, this chorus was added. It encompasses the testimony of all believers, and is a good reminder of why we need a Savior.
- Scripture References / Inspiration for the Song: John 6:37, Romans 10:13, Romans 3:23, Luke 22:20, Matthew 11:28, John 1:29, Psalm 51:2, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 51:17, 1 Peter 2:24, Psalm 22:8, 2 Timothy 4:18, Romans 15:13, Galatians 4:4-5, Ephesians 2:13, Jeremiah 33:8, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Luke 15:20, Luke 19:10, Ephesians 2:4-5, Galatians 6:14
Just Keith Harris 