Embracing Our True Identity in Christ: Who God Says You Are

Personal identity is one of the most important things to understand about ourselves. Who we befriend, how we handle conflict, and how we see life are all affected by identity. If someone were to ask you who you are, how would you respond? 

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, you have a special identity that you may not be fully aware of. Your identity in Christ doesn't depend on your hair color, body type, where you live, or where you work. As believers, we don’t belong here. We’re just “passing through,” because everything changed the moment we came to Christ. Philippians 3:20 explains, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior” NLT).

Why do we, who have been called out by our Heavenly Father, try so hard to fit in and get approval from a world we are no longer a part of? The world's approval doesn't matter. You have a Heavenly Father who loves you more than anyone on this earth ever could. And His love for you doesn't change. It never fails, and it will last forever. 

Once you become a new creation in Him, everything changes for the better. You're given a new name. Your whole identity changes because you've been rescued and redeemed from sin and darkness and welcomed into God's Kingdom family. 1 Peter 2:9 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."

Here's some of what the Bible says about YOU once you have a new identity in Christ:

• You are His own special possession. (1 Peter 2:9, Deuteronomy 14:2)
  
• You are chosen, handpicked by the God who created the universe. (1 Peter 2:9, Jeremiah 1:5, Ephesians 1:3-4)
  
• You are treasured. (Deuteronomy 7:6, 14:2, 26:18)
  
• You are loved beyond compare. (1 John 4:19, 4:10, 3:16, Romans 5:8, 8:35-39)
  
• You are worth dying for. (1 John 3:16, Romans 5:7-9)
  
• You are forgiven. (Ephesians 1:7, 1 John 1:9, Romans 8:1, 33-39)
  
• You are His child. (1 John 3:1, Galatians 3:26)
  
• You are secured for all eternity. (2 Corinthians 1:22, John 10:28-29)
  
• You are set free. (Romans 6:18, Galatians 5:1)

YOU are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10), chosen and made by His hands. Hear the Lord singing over you, rejoicing in your new identity in Christ, embracing you as His child, and expressing how He loves you more than you can imagine (Zephaniah 3:17). That's worth celebrating! You're worth celebrating!

Start believing you are enough and can do what God calls you to do. Start growing in courage to step outside your comfort zone. Begin pushing through obstacles that will help you progress in your purpose. Fully knowing your identity in Christ lays the foundation for fully living out who God made you to be and what God made you to do.