On Finding Our Identity in Christ

Verses: 

Galatians 3:26: “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”

1 John 3:9-10: “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”

Thoughts:

Growing up, I was raised in a strong Christian home in a Bible preaching church. I’d heard about how I should find my identity in Christ, how I should see who I am as first being a child of God. But, this truth didn’t truly start sinking in until about a year ago and it has been on my heart lately (It is one thing to be taught something and have it as head knowledge, but quite another to learn it for yourself). 

As God’s children, our identity is first and foremost in Christ. Being saved by Christ’s blood makes us new. Being a saved Son or Daughter of God should change the way that we think and act daily. 

Think of it this way: a young man or woman is in a rebel camp, despising the King, and everything this rebel does in some way breaks the King’s law. But, this King comes and by his love brings this rebel into his kingdom, into his very palace. He washes this rebel, making them lovely. He gives them a new, beautiful heart that loves His goodness, truth, and beauty. This once rebel is now a child of the King. Would this child not now act far different than before, with a new heart and status? 

Throughout my youth and even now, I wrongly found my identity, my worth, in what I did. I ran cross country throughout middle and high school. I worked hard to get faster. I’m a planner, and I had every minute of my day thought through. I worked hard in school and got straight As. But, it was never enough. I was never satisfied with my race time or the grades I got. 

I was a Child of the King scrounging after the dirty rags I had once worn while a rebel. I was putting on torn fabric, trying to find worth and confidence in my accomplishments. I felt displeased. And because I was putting my worth in my actions and goals, nothing I did was ever enough. 

But, I was and am a child of God! Because Christ has lived the perfect life and died for my sins, I have peace and confidence in my identity. I can have peace, not because of what I have done, but because of his work. My worthiness, my beauty, my holiness before God is not reliant on my works. My salvation is in Christ. 

I’m not saying that you therefore can just do whatever though. Once again, because we are made new, we do act differently. Because we are children of the King, our lives show forth His love. 

Ask yourself: How do I identify myself and why? What accomplishments do I identify myself by? What can I do to daily shape my mindset to find my identity in Christ? 

Summary: We are to identify ourselves in Christ Jesus first. This gives us confidence and peace, driving the way we think about ourselves and others. 

Note: In my following blogs I’m going to build off of these ideas and touch on topics such as setting expectations, body image, fitness, perfectionism, (active) joyfulness, and providence (nothing is unplanned).