Who am I?

Jesus asked Peter, in Matthew 16:15,

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter had a quick and simple response.  Jesus was the Messiah, and although he didn't fully understand what that involved, he knew that much was true.

This morning in church, the pastor asked us a question that has caused me to think, and I wanted to share it because I think it goes to the root of who we are as Christians.  The question, which follows from that original question Jesus asked Peter, is, "Who do we say we are?"

What does it mean for me, and for others, when I say I am a follower of Jesus?  What am I saying about myself when I say I believe in God?  What am I saying about God when I fall short of his expectations for my life?  I will repeat it; who do I say I am?

That question has an answer in 1 Corinthians 12:27, where we read:

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

But what, exactly, does that does that mean?  Is it physical?  Is it emotional?   Is it spiritual?

The term body is used throughout the New Testament in a variety of ways.  Jesus came to earth in a physical body, designed to share in our earthly experience.  During the Last Supper, Jesus used bread to symbolize his body, which he broke as a symbol of the death which was to come.  Members of a body share beliefs or traits in common, thus we have the church body, which is the representative of Christ on earth.  We are a body of believers, loosely unified in our common belief in the death and resurrection.  Body is a general term, and means many things, depending on the context.

Jesus was always clear on his role, and his goal.  He understood his mission, he faithfully carried it through, and he remains with us here on earth in the form of the Holy Spirit to assist and encourage us to follow his example.  If only we had that same clarity for our own lives.

We are less dedicated.  We stray.  We falter.  We are imperfect, and in our imperfections, we lead others astray, as well.  We lose sight of our goal in the moment, and cast aside the perfect example in the pursuit of our own objectives.  When we fail ourselves, we fail God, as well.

But Jesus has already provided the grace to wash away the failures.  We have already been forgiven, even before we know we have gone wrong, through his sacrifice on the cross.

This, therefore, is my answer.

Who do I say I am?  I am a Christian, part of the Body of Christ, Child of God, forgiven and redeemed.