What is to be our true identity?

Answer

In a world where we are constantly bombarded with conflicting messages about our identity, discovering our true self can be a perplexing journey. The Bible teaches that our genuine identity is found in Jesus Christ. Once we grasp this truth, our focus shifts from self-perception to a God-centered view that brings purpose, joy, and peace.

The core of our true identity lies in being created in God’s image. Genesis 1:27 declares, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (ESV). This divine imprint signifies our inherent value and dignity, laying the groundwork for understanding our true essence and purpose.

Our authentic identity is further shaped by the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Through faith in His sacrifice and resurrection, we experience forgiveness and transformation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (ESV). In Christ, we are renewed, leaving behind our former sinful selves and embracing a new life in Him.

Upon believing in Christ for salvation, we are welcomed into God’s family, a pivotal aspect of our true identity: “In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith” «For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. », (Galatians 3:26). Additionally, John 1:12 confirms, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (ESV). Our spiritual rebirth and adoption into God’s family redefine our relationship with Him. We become heirs alongside Christ and are deeply cherished by the Father.

Throughout Scripture, believers are described as being “in Christ,” signifying our intertwined identity with Him. Colossians 3:3 emphasizes this concept, stating:So far as to say, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” In His High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prayed this kind of unity: “I pray . . . that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me— so that they may be brought to complete unity” (John 17:20-23). Believers are “predestined to be conformed to the image of [God’s] Son” «For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. », (Romans 8:29).

Our true identity in Christ also includes the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 states, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you” (ESV). The Holy Spirit guides, comforts, and equips us to live as children of God, bearing the fruit of the Spirit in our daily lives.

Another aspect of our true identity is freedom from condemnation. Romans 8:1 assures us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (ESV). The freedom we have in Christ allows us to live boldly, knowing that past sins do not define us. We are instead defined by God, who “created [us] in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (ESV). As God’s creation, we are called to live out our faith in holiness and righteousness.

Our true identity in Christ connects us with other believers. First Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (ESV). As part of the body of Christ, believers are interdependent, supporting and encouraging one another in love.

As we grow

Within our true identity in Christ, we are called to mirror Him in all we do. Colossians 3:12–14 guides us, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another. . . . And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (ESV).

Our genuine identity is not discovered in worldly accomplishments, human connections, career decisions, or social standing, but in our connection with Jesus Christ. When we embrace the truth of Scripture, we can live purposefully and confidently, knowing that we are in Christ. We are fashioned in God’s image, redeemed by Christ, adopted as God’s children, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.