Clarity about your identity!

By Jana Cox

I recently read an article and one of the statements it made was “Who are you and what identifies you?” Many people struggle with their identity. Their identity comes through performance, their job, their family, and what they have achieved in life. However, as a Christian, our identity is defined by what Jesus has done for us. This concept can be confusing to a religious mind, or for someone who is unclear about their identity.

Identity according to Webster’s Dictionary is The distinguishing character or personality of an individual: The condition of being the same as something described or asserted. The world we live in has many ideas about identity, but this does not change the facts about what God’s word has to say to us about it.

Looking into the Bible can bring clarity to us concerning this.

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just, and He declares sinners to be right in His sight when they believe in Jesus. (Romans 3:23-26 NLT)

We all had our identity in sin, but despite that God has given us a new identity when we give our life to Him. God reconciles us to Himself when we give ourselves to Him. This means we have a new identity. Our identification and character become one with Christ.

The book of 2 Corinthians teaches us about our new identity in Christ as well. It says, “For He made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV) Can you see it? God loves you so much that He gave His only begotten Son to give you a new identity apart from sin and death. This is such an amazing gift God has given to us through His Son.

The Bible also teaches us that when we give our lives to Christ, that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10) This means we are God’s masterpiece, His work of art. Our salvation was only something that God could do.  With that said, since we are God’s masterpiece, we should treat ourselves in such a way that pleases Him.

If you are struggling with your identity, and have become frustrated about the person you are I encourage you to look to Jesus. Get a good Bible and find out what God has to say to you and about you. It will change your life and identity. “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 NKJV).