The good news of Jesus informs us that we are not defined by what we do or don’t do. Our identity is not found in our successes or failures. God is the one who gives us our true identity through the work of His son, Jesus Christ. As we follow Jesus, we are motivated to do good works–not so that God will love us but because we understand we are already loved by God. When we are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we see a clear picture of our new identity (Matthew 28:19-20). Our new identities include being a family, servant and missionary.

Family

We are children of God who care for each other as a family.As we are baptized in the name of the Father, we are reminded that we have been adopted into the family of God through the death and resurrection of his Son Jesus. God is not an impersonal God but an incredibly loving Father who enjoys his children.As God is our Father, we are children of God, which makes us brothers and sisters. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we share our lives together as we celebrate with each other, care for one another, and learn and grow together (Genesis 12:1-3; John 1:12-13; Romans 12:10-16, John 1:12-13).

Servant

We are servants of Jesus who serve Him by serving others.As we are baptized in the name of Jesus, we are reminded that Jesus came to not to be served but to serve by giving his life (Matthew 20:28). Jesus, who is fully God and fully human, chose to take the posture of a servant. He served in countless ways as a human by living a humble life, healing the sick, washing feet, and ultimately suffering death on a cross in order to save the very ones who hated him. Jesus is a king who builds his kingdom through serving.Our identity is one of a servant in full submission to King Jesus. It is through his serving that we receive salvation and are given a perfect model to follow. We joyfully serve those God has placed in front of us throughout our lives. (Matthew 20:25-28; 25:31-46; John 13:1-17; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Peter 2:16.)

Missionary

We are sent by the Spirit to restore all things to God through Jesus Christ.As we are baptized in the name of the Holy Spirit, we are reminded that God the Spirit mercifully pursued us in order to save us. It is through the work of the spirit that the good news of Jesus is revealed to us and we are able to receive salvation and be made whole.The Spirit of Christ has actively sought us and we actively seek reconciliation and restoration in our broken world. As missionaries we are a sent people who proclaim the good news of Jesus in word and deed, desiring to see all people have a real and loving relationship with God. (John 14:26, Romans 5:5, John 16:13.)