Discovering your identity in Christ is life-changing.
Knowing who you are in Christ changes the way you live and helps you have a deeper understanding of God and His Word. So, what does identity in Christ mean? How does it change our lives, and why does it matter? Let’s dig a little deeper…
1. What is Identity in Christ?
Collins Dictionary explains a person's identity as, “the characteristics that distinguish them from others.” When we accept Christ into our hearts, the person we were before dies, and we are reborn as a “new creation.” We lose our old identity and receive our new one. We no longer identify with the world and all its lies. We identify with Christ, and we become set apart. Our faith in Him distinguishes us from others (or at least it should!).
In Christ you are:
- Treasured
- Worth dying for
- Forgiven
- Set free
- Set apart
- Loved beyond belief
- Chosen
Your identity in Christ can never be taken away from you, messed up, or changed. Identity in Him is permanent (unlike this world, which is always changing).
Your identity is in Christ … even when you fall back into sin.
Your identity is in Christ … even when you get a bad grade on a test.
Your identity is in Christ … even when you sit alone in the lunch room.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. This life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” — Galatians 2:20,
2. Why does identity in Christ matter?
As Christians living in the world, Satan is going to try anything to sway us from our faith in God. When under fire we need to have a firm understanding of who we are in Christ, so that we are not persuaded into believing the lies that Satan and the world wants us to believe.
Not knowing who we are in Christ is like running into battle without a weapon, senseless and foolish. We need to better equip ourselves with the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:16-17) so that we are grounded in our faith and know the truth from the lies.
3. How does my identity in Christ change my life?
Your identity in Christ as a saved child of God should dramatically change the way you think about your life.
How often have we stood in front of that mirror (or sat up at night) and called ourselves worthless, stupid, and irredeemable? In my book, too many times to count. But the truth of the Gospel is that you are created us in His image, the image of God. So it’s time that you start living like it!
When was the last time you loved yourself like God loves you? When was the last time you lived like you knew that you were valuable? When was the last time you lived like you’re loved, like you’ve been set free?
When we start seeing ourselves the way Christ sees us, others may begin to see us in that light too. If we are secure in our identity in Christ, then our life will start to reveal that. Our speech and actions will start expressing the love and security that we have found in Him.
I love the motto of the identity theft prevention company, LifeLock — “You only have one identity…” Yes, you do, and it is found only in Christ. Stop looking for your identity in the world and start finding it in Him, because it is only in Him where your true identity resides.
You are a child of the one true King. You are loved, and treasured beyond what words can describe.
You are worth celebrating.
You are special.
You are loved.
You are unique.
This is who you are…
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you with his love, he will exult over you with loud singing.”—Zephaniah 3:17