Our identity as children of God is not determined by who we are of ourselves but who we are in Christ Jesus and who He has called us to be. It is not uncommon for new acquaintances to ask the “what do you do” question at first meetings and often times, we start defining ourselves by what we do. There is absolutely nothing wrong in introducing ourselves and talking about what we do for work, family etc. as long as our identity is not deeply rooted in them. Our identity as believers is rooted in christ. We cannot separate any aspect of our lives and being from God. “In Him we live, in Him we move and in Him we have our being”. Acts 17:28. We are not defined by our mistakes, past experiences or successes. We are defined by the word of God. He says we are complete in Him. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Colossians 2:9-10
Our Identity is a gift
At salvation, our sinful nature, inherited from Adam is exchanged with the righteousness of Christ. We become saved and righteous not by ourselves but by the grace of God which is a free gift. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17. We become new persons in our spirit. Our physical bodies doesn’t change at salvation but we are brand new in our spirit. We have to understand these foundational truths in order to walk fully in our identity in Christ. If we are ignorant of the inheritance we have been called into as children of God, we would find it difficult to fulfill our purpose on this side of eternity. A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, is like the beasts that perish. Psalm 49:20
Who we are in Christ
For who He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, ; that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Romans 8:29-30
Called
We are not afterthoughts. God knew us before the foundation of the earth and predestined us to be created in the image of His son, Jesus Christ. Our existence in the world is not by chance as some may believe. He foreknew us, predestined us and then called us. What have we been called from? What have we been called into?
We have been called from a life of rebellion and unbelief and have been called into fellowship with God. 1 Corinthians 1:9 says “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord”. The original plan of God was for us to have continuous fellowship with Him. The Bible records that in the Garden of Eden, before the fall, God would come in the cool of the day to fellowship with Adam and Eve. After the fall, we became alienated from God because of our sins. Colossians 1:21. But Jesus reconciled us to God by His death on the cross. Romans 5:10. We can only enjoy fellowship with God through His son Jesus Christ. Jesus said to him,“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6. To fellowship with God means to trust Him with the whole of our hearts and submit our will to Him. When we fellowship with God, we increase in our knowledge of Him and this is only achieved by spending time in His word and in prayers. We have been called into fellowship not only with with the Father but with His son and the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Justified
In simple terms, justification means “just as if we have not sinned” or “declared righteous”. God has declared us righteous based on Christ’s righteousness and not ours. 1 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. We have been justified not by our performance but through faith in Jesus Christ. We see this in Romans 5:18-19 Therefore, as the trespass of one led to condemnation for all men, the act of righteousness of one leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Our identity in Christ is that we have been justified. We are declared righteous, just as if we have not sinned, at salvation. When God sees us, He sees the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. He sees us as perfect and untarnished. Other scriptures also attests to this. Hebrews 10:17 Then he adds “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more. Isaiah 43:25 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,and I will not remember your sins”.
Glorified
God glorified us by giving us a share of His glory and the glory of His son, Jesus Christ. Romans 8:17 says “And if children, then; heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him”. Ephesians 2:6 “And He raised us up with Him, and He made us to sit with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.” We were crucified with Him, died with Him, were buried with Him, were made alive with Him, conquered Satan with Him, and were raised together with Him. We have been resurrected with Jesus Christ and God has exalted us like He did to Jesus, to be at His right hand above every rule and authority and one with Him in glory. “And as Christ Himself is seen for who He is really is, who you really are will also be revealed, for you are now one with Him in His glory” Colossians 3:4.
There are many more declarations about us in the word. We should get back into the word, see ourselves the way God sees us and begin to declare who God says we are in His word. Understanding our identity in Christ will empower us to take our place in the kingdom and overcome every attack of the enemy.