We are constantly being sold an identity. We need a Gospel identity.
Think about a typical smartphone commercial. It doesn’t just talk about camera specs or battery life; it sells you a lifestyle. It suggests that if you own this device, you will be the centre of attention, the creative genius, or the person who is always connected and loved.
These ads tap into a deep truth: identity shapes how we live. Who we believe ourselves to be determines how we prioritise our time, how we treat our families, and how we relate to God.
The problem is that we often lean into false identities. We define ourselves by our failures (“I’m not smart enough”), our careers (“I am what I produce”), or even our past mistakes. But in Christ, those labels lose their controlling power.
The Four Questions
At Soma, we use four simple questions to help us consider the relationship between “what we do” and “who we are.” Most people think the Bible is just a book of rules — the “How do we live?” column. But the Bible never tells us how to live without first telling us who God is and what He has done.
| Who is God? | What has He done? | Who are we? | How do we live? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father | He adopted us | Family | We love one another |
| Spirit | He empowered us | Missionaries | We share the Good News |
| King | He rules over us | Servants | We serve the least of these |
| Teacher | He teaches us | Learners | We obey His word |
Our Gospel Identity
1. We are Family (God is Father)
God isn’t just a distant creator; He is a Father who has lavished love on us. Like the story of the Prodigal Son, God doesn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up. While we were still “a long way off,” He ran to us, hugged us, and welcomed us home — not as slaves, but as children.
The Shift: We aren’t random people sitting in a pew. We are brothers and sisters with the same Father. This changes how we forgive and how we care for one another.
2. We are Missionaries (God is Spirit)
Being a “missionary” isn’t just for people who jump on planes to go overseas. Because the Holy Spirit lives in every believer, we are empowered to be witnesses exactly where we are.
The Shift: Mission is an overflow of who we are in our everyday lives — at the gym, the office, or the playground.
3. We are Servants (God is King)
We all serve something. If we don’t serve God, we usually end up serving our own ego, our bank accounts, or our fear of what others think. But we serve a King who did not come to be served, but to serve us by giving His life as a ransom.
The Shift: Serving isn’t a chore; it’s a joyful response to a King who is gentle, just, and perfect.
4. We are Learners (God is Teacher)
In the ancient world, disciples had to prove they were “worthy” to follow a Rabbi. Jesus flipped the script. He went to the “nobodies” — the fishermen and tax collectors — and said, “Follow me.”
The Shift: We are all “disciples” (which literally means learners). We spend our lives watching Jesus, listening to Him, and pointing each other back to the Great Teacher.
Moving Beyond False Labels
Think back to the labels you’ve carried. Perhaps you’ve felt like a “failure,” “unrelatable,” or “not enough.”
In the Gospel, those identities no longer define you. You don’t need to have everything sorted out to be accepted. You are already accepted because of what Jesus has done. You are a child of God, a missionary of the Spirit, a servant of the King, and a learner of the Teacher.
This week, don’t worry so much about doing more. Instead, simply delight in who God has made you to be.
Key Takeaways: Living Your True Gospel Identity
- Identity precedes activity: We don’t live a certain way to become someone; we live a certain way because of who we already are in Christ. If you are struggling with “doing” the Christian life, go back to “being” a child of God.
- The Gospel is the “first three columns”: Whenever you feel overwhelmed by the “rules” of Christianity, check if you’ve skipped straight to the fourth column (how we live). Remind yourself of who God is and what He has done first.
- Mission is an overflow, not a task: You don’t “do” mission; you are a missionary. This takes the pressure off. Whether you are at the grocery store or a backyard BBQ, the Spirit is already in you, empowering you to reflect God’s image.
- Community is family: We aren’t a club or a weekly meeting. We are siblings. This means we don’t just “attend” church; we “belong” to a family that celebrates, weeps, and forgives together.
- We never stop learning: Being a disciple means being a lifelong learner. It’s okay not to have all the answers. Our job is simply to keep our eyes on the Rabbi, Jesus, and help others do the same.
Discussion Questions
- Identify the false label: What is one “identity” you’ve believed about yourself — from your past or from others — that has negatively impacted how you live?
- Apply the truth: Which of the four identities (Family, Missionary, Servant, Learner) do you find hardest to believe right now? Why?
- Delight in grace: How does knowing God is a “Father who runs to you” change the way you want to pray this week?