I Am Anointed: A Journey of Human Identity from the Garden to Pentecost
From creation to Pentecost, the story of human identity is one of beauty, brokenness, and restoration. It begins with humanity being lovingly created in the image of God, reflecting God’s glory and enjoying perfect communion with God-self. In the garden, the ancestors were given the dignity of being God’s stewards, living in harmony with God-self and creation. They were free, but this freedom came with boundaries—set not to restrict them but to guide them into fuller dependence on God’s wisdom and love. Yes. In all religions, that’s the nature of the relationship between gods and humans. It mirrors baby’s reliance on parents until baby can feed independently.
Unfortunately, everything changed when pride crept into the human heart. Tempted by God’s adversary, Satan, the ancestors were drawn to the promise of being like God, able to judge good and evil for themselves. This act of rebellion was not merely disobedience; it reflected the same pride that led to Satan’s fall. Satan, too, had sought to elevate himself above God, desiring glory that was not his to claim. His fall was a warning that pride is not just a mistake but a profound distortion of identity, a rejection of dependence on God.
The consequences of the ancestor’s choice were devastating. Sin entered the world, distorting the image of God in humanity and breaking the intimate relationship they once shared with God-self. Though they did not die immediately, as God had warned, they experienced spiritual alienation, toil, pain, and the curse of mortality. Yet even in this moment of judgment, God’s mercy was revealed. In Genesis 3:15, He promised that one day the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head, foreshadowing the coming of Christ who would break the curse, judgment.
Centuries later, Jesus Christ entered the world as the fulfilment of this promise. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus broke the curse of sin, offering human beings the chance to be reconciled with God and restored to their true identity. As the Suffering Servant described in Isaiah 53, Jesus took the weight of human brokenness. He took the punishment that we deserved. By sacrificing Himself, we are redeemed, forgiven, and made new.
However, this redemption does not mean we can afford to become complacent. The pull toward pride is a constant danger for every believer, as it was for Satan. Though we are redeemed, we must remain vigilant, guarding our hearts against the temptation to elevate ourselves above God or others. Pride can manifest in many ways—self-reliance, judgmental attitudes, or even spiritual arrogance. Left unchecked, it can hinder our relationship with God and distort our witness to the world.
This is why Jesus’ instruction to His disciples was so clear: they were to wait for the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, the Spirit was poured out on all believers, empowering them to live as God’s anointed people. This moment marked the beginning of a new way of life, where believers could approach God directly, without intermediaries, and live in the power of the Spirit. The Spirit equips us to resist pride, to walk in humility, and to live as ambassadors of Christ’s kingdom.
Being anointed means being set apart for God’s purposes. It is a privilege, but it is also a calling that requires humility and dependence on the Spirit. As Peter reminds us, we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation, called to declare God’s praises and reflect God’s light in the world 1 Peter 2:9. Yet we can only do this when we remain rooted in Jesus, surrendering our pride and embracing the life of humility and service to which Christ calls us.
The journey of human identity—from creation to redemption—is a testament to God’s love and faithfulness. In Christ, we are not only forgiven but also empowered to live in the fullness of our identity as His sisters and brothers. But this identity must be nurtured through dependence on Him, watchful against pride, and a commitment to walking in humility. By the Spirit’s power, we are transformed, sharing in the glory of Christ as we reflect His image to the world. This is the anointing we carry: not for our own glory, but for God-self’s.
So, you are ‘anointed.’ Can you think of other characteristics you have as a human being that the Bible says you’re? What difference could or should these characteristics make in my everyday life?
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