The Scripture reading for this Sunday is Romans 6:1-14.
Who are you?
What is your identity?
There are so many voices today that tell us our work defines us, so if we are not happy we simply need to go after a better job — something that pays better and holds a little more prestige that what we have already. Other voices tell us that money defines us. Others tell us that our identity is determined by our reflection in the mirror, and any minor imperfections on our body reflect imperfections in ourselves. Others tell us that we are defined by the power we hold, by the amount of people that we can give orders to, and by the amount of fear that we can instil in those beneath us. Others say that our identity is found in superficial things like the car we drive and the house we live in and the jewelry we wear.
But, as we read through the book of Romans, and as we read our passage for Sunday we hear Paul say very clearly that our identity, as Christians, isn’t found in any of those things. We aren’t what we wear, or what we do, or the power we hold over others. Our identity isn’t determined by how good we look or how tanned we are or how big our muscles are. (This is all very good news because if those things give us our identity, we will never, ever, be satisfied. We will never have the best job, the nicest clothes, or hold enough power over others; we will never look good enough or be in shape enough to satisfy us. We will always be incomplete.)
None of those things tell us who we are. Paul tells us, that if we want to know who we are — if we want to know our true identity — we need only look at the baptismal font in our church. In baptism God communicates to us that He has given us a new identity, through Christ.
It’s not where we usually think to look for our identity, but through the water of baptism God speaks clearly: we are sinners saved by grace; we are dependent upon God to save us, to redeem us, to empower us to do good works; in fact, in everything we are dependent upon Him.
As we gather on Sunday we have the opportunity to witness the sacrament of baptism and to be reminded of the grace that God has extended to each one of us before we could even try to save ourselves. As you hear those promises, listen to who God says you are. As you see that water, remember that it is not the water that saves or washed our sin away, but Jesus Christ, who died for us. Remember that through faith in Him God’s promises at baptism are sealed in you. Hear that good news and hear also God’s gracious call to live into who you really are.
In Christ, you have been given a new identity. You are not a sinner. You are a sinner saved by grace. That is what God has done for you, through Jesus Christ, and that grace makes all the difference.