Knowing Your Identity in Christ: Who are you really?

Knowing Your Identity in Christ: Who are you really?

What does the Bible say about identity in Christ? Knowing your identity in Christ is one of the most important treasures that you possess, and your identity is something that no one can take from you!

Who are you really?

Everyone knows me by my middle name, Suzanne. In fact, most people do not even know that Suzanne is my middle name because it is the only name that everyone calls me.

In high school, I registered to take some advanced placement classes.  The vice-principal called me to the office by my first name, Elizabeth, to go over my schedule.  He reviewed my schedule, and I informed him that a few of my classes were missing.  He told me that he would investigate the matter and sent me back to class.

A few hours later, the vice-principal called me back to his office by my middle name, Suzanne. He reviewed my schedule, but this schedule was completely different from the first schedule.  All my missing classes were on the schedule, but I was missing the original classes.

When I explained that I had two different schedules, my vice principal exclaimed, “You mean you are not a twin? I have thought that you were a twin for the past three years! Who are you really?”

I answered, “I am Elizabeth, and I am Suzanne.  In fact, I am Elizabeth Suzanne.”

We solved the case of mistaken identity, and I left the vice principal’s office with a correct schedule.

I chuckle when I think of this story, but, in real life, the question is:  who are you really? What does the Bible say about identity in Christ?

I can tell you one thing:  I am really defined by my identity in Christ.

Identity in Christ Bible verses

The label Christian gives meaning to an identity in Christ, but even Christians fail to believe their identity in Christ.

Fortunately, scripture tells Christians exactly who God believes we really are because God gives us identity in Christ. Fully knowing your identity in Christ means understanding the identity in Christ Bible verses.

Ephesians 1: 3-5 NRSV says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will.”

According to Ephesians 1: 3-5, we are blessed, chosen, holy, blameless, and destined for adoption into God’s family.

Now read 1 John 3:1-2 to see that God also calls us both beloved and His children.

1 John 3: 1-2 NRSV says, “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.”

Ephesians 5:1 NRSV sums up our identity in Christ as “…beloved children.”

Many of us understand the love a parent has for a child, but do we know what it means to feel beloved?

Beloved is more than knowing that we are loved; beloved means that we are being loved or to be loved. How often do Christians journey with the knowledge that God loves us, but we do not feel loved?

Beloved is a state of what you are in the present tense.  Let us look at what beloved is not to understand this point.

The opposite of to be loved is to be hated, forsaken, and rejected. Generally, when someone hates, forsakes, or rejects us, it is because of who we are.

Our God is not a God who hates, forsakes, or rejects.  He promises in Deuteronomy 31 to “never leave you nor forsake you.”  In fact, he loved you enough to send His Son Jesus for your sins, and he sent the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you because he loves you.

Trust me; I know that God loves me and has redeemed me from feeling abandoned and forsaken.  I know he will do the same for you!

Dear Beloved Christian, you are not only loved, but you are also being loved by God right now! Knowing your identity in Christ as beloved and a child of God will strengthen you on the faith journey. Spend some time today in scripture to read and study identity in Christ Bible verses so that you may know who you really are.

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