Our Identity in Christ

Our Identity in Christ: Transformed, Secure, and Defined by Love

As believers, we are given a new identity in Christ. Our past mistakes, the labels others have placed on us, and the doubts we carry no longer define us. Instead, we are made new. Through Christ, we are adopted into God’s family and called his own. These truths are more than just theological ideas—they are the foundation of how we see ourselves and how we live in the world.

The task of our life is learning how to live in a way that is true and consistent with our identity in Christ.

In this post, we’ll explore how Christ reshapes our identity, secures our worth, and gives us purpose. The Bible speaks clearly about how, through Christ, we’re no longer defined by anything but His love. 

A New Creation in Christ

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”

In Christ, we are made new. The old ways of thinking, living, and viewing ourselves no longer apply. This transformation isn’t just about improving ourselves; it’s about a complete renewal of who we are. In Jesus, we are given a fresh start.

We are no longer bound by our past mistakes or the expectations placed on us. In Christ, we are free to live according to the new identity he gives us. When we embrace this reality, we begin to see ourselves as God sees us—redeemed, loved, and renewed.

Imagine Genesis 1 and 2 and how God spoke into the chaos and void and created order, boundaries, and life. When the Word of God grows in us, we live ordered lives. We know right from wrong. We walk in the light and not the dark. We enjoy the life Christ gives us. We bear fruit (Galatians 5).

Christ Lives in Us

In Galatians 2:20, Paul says, “And it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Living by faith in the Son of God is central to this new life. Faith is not just a belief but a daily reliance on Christ’s strength and love. It is learning how to not only read or study the teachings of Christ or how to pray, but how to integrate them into our daily behaviors, realizing that even when we fail, Christ is at work in us.

Faith is essentially trust. It is active, not passive. As we actively relate to God both in our trusting, trying, failing, and succeeding, we mature as we go through our lives. God typically changes us over time and not overnight.

In Christ, we are made new. Our old self has been crucified, and the life we now live is shaped by his love and grace. As we embrace this reality, we no longer live for ourselves but for him who gave his life for us. Our purpose, identity, and worth are all found in Christ. It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.

Chosen and Adopted by God

In Ephesians 1:4-5, we read: “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.”

Before we even knew it, God chose us. This is an incredible truth—before the world was made, God knew, chose you, and destined you to be part of the family. Through Jesus, we are adopted into God’s family. That means we are now God's children, and nothing can take that away.

This adoption gives us a sense of security and belonging that nothing else in this world can offer. We are loved and accepted by God, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of His grace.

We are chosen on purpose for a purpose. We don't have to doubt it. Before we could do anything right or wrong, God determined to be gracious, true, and faithful to us forever.

I talk more about this passage and these ideas in a sermon (Have You Looked in the Water) and in a blog post about Meaning, purpose, and Identity in Christ.

A Royal Priesthood with Purpose

1 Peter 2:9 tells us, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

As believers, we are part of something much bigger than ourselves. We’re not just followers of Christ; we’re a royal priesthood, called to proclaim his mighty acts. This is our purpose.

This identity is not about earthly status; it’s about serving God and reflecting His light to the world. We have been chosen by God to share the hope we’ve found in Christ. Our purpose is to live out that calling, in whatever context we find ourselves.

We are called and given a community, a Church with a PhD!

Free from Condemnation

One of the most freeing truths about our identity in Christ is found in Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

In Christ, we are free from condemnation. We no longer carry the weight of guilt and shame. Christ’s death on the cross has paid for our sins, and God no longer holds them against us. This is a profound truth—we are fully accepted by God, not because of our own goodness but because of Christ’s sacrifice.

When we embrace this truth, we can live with confidence, knowing that nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Hidden with Christ in God

Colossians 3:3 says, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Our identity is secure because our lives are hidden with Christ in God. This means that we are safely kept by God, and nothing can shake us from his love. No matter what happens in this world, we are secure in him.

This passage reminds us that our true identity is not found in the temporary things of this world but in our eternal relationship with Christ.

Our salvation is certain. Read more about the faithfulness of God in The Valley of the Six Shadows.

Our Bodies as Temples of the Holy Spirit

Finally, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.”

Our bodies are more than just physical vessels; they are temples of the Holy Spirit. We are called to honor God with our bodies because they belong to him. This truth underscores the sacredness of our lives, both inwardly and outwardly.

The word “holy” means set apart for a specific purpose. Items in temple worship were sanctified or set apart to only be used in worship. They were not to be used outside of the temple for to do so would be to profane them. Likewise, by the Spirit, we are set apart as holy unto the Lord. We are to use our selves for God’s purposes and not to profane ourselves.

When we understand that our bodies are temples, it will change how we live. We will make better decisions and see what is honor and not honoring to God and us.

Conclusion: Embracing Our True Identity

Our identity in Christ changes everything. We are no longer defined by the mistakes of our past, the labels others have placed on us, or the doubts that haunt us. In Christ, we are a new creation, chosen, adopted, and called to a purpose. Our worth is secure, our lives are hidden with Christ, and we are free from condemnation.

As we embrace who we are in Christ, we begin to live with confidence, purpose, and peace. Our identity in him gives us the strength to live each day in His love and truth, reflecting His light to the world around us.

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