There seems to be a major identity crisis occurring in our world.
People do not know who they are.
Before coming to Christ there can be much turmoil and searching. We seek external things to satisfy and to gain our worth and meaning from. We live spiritually blind and therefore cannot see things from heaven’s perspective.
Once we accept Christ as our Lord and personal saviour everything changes. Everything should change. Yet for some Christians, myself included, we may spend a long time before truly grasping our identity in Christ. When we gain revelation of exactly who we are in Christ and all we have through him and in him, it truly changes everything. It changes how we view and treat ourselves and it changes how we view and treat others. We are no longer after the pursuit of earthly things to gain our identity or worth from. What a joy it is to be set free!
Who am I in Christ?
1 Peter chapter 2 verse 9 says,
‘But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.’
Royal blood flows through our veins because we are a child of the most high God!
Romans chapter 8 verse 17 says,
‘Now if we are his children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.’
We are chosen and have been raised up with Christ.
(Ephesians chapter 2 verse 6)
We do not have these things because we deserve it, but it is all because of Jesus and what he has done for us.
2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 21 says,
‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’
How truly humbling it is to receive his grace, forgiveness, and love.
How does God see us?
God sees us as holy, restored, without a blemish or spot.
Colossians chapter 1 verse 22 says,
‘But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.’
He sees us as his son or daughter and he is pleased with us!
We may still have some rough areas to smooth out, but we no longer have a sin nature. We are no longer slaves to sin (Romans chapter 6 verse 6). We are free from condemnation and bondage. He came so we can have life, abundant life here and eternal life in heaven.
Do we see ourselves the way our heavenly father does? And more importantly do we believe it? When we truly grasp our identity, we will be secure and confident in Him. We will gain our worth from simply being his child and no longer seek our worth from others or other things such as work, education, status, title, wealth, prestige, fame, or followers! This may be a process; I know for me I am still on this journey of truly walking in my true identity.
What we have in Christ
To write all we have in Christ would lend itself to a larger piece of writing but here are some personal favourites.
Jesus came so we would be set free! He has grafted us to him like a branch to a vine. He has given us his Holy Spirit and when we abide in him, we will produce his fruit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians chapter 5 verses 22-23).
We have been given the privilege of bringing God’s spiritual, heavenly kingdom into this earthly realm. We have been given power and authority over the enemy and he gifts us with spiritual gifts.
My prayer is, Lord help us to gain a greater revelation of how you see us and all we have in you, so we can make an impact for you and your kingdom.