Missing Out on Your True Identity?

Missing Out on Your True Identity?

Identity in Christ. Much more than an entity.
Blaise Pascal’s famous quote “Not only do we not know God except through Jesus Christ; We do not even know ourselves except through Jesus Christ” gives us a lot to ponder. It states that Christ is the only way to God. But that’s not so surprising. It is one of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity. But the second part -that states that we can’t even know ourselves without Christ- can sound a bit odd for many. How could our identity be hidden in Christ? Are we truly missing out on some part of our identity if we don’t know Jesus Christ?

It is indeed a bold claim. But the Bible backs Blaise Pascal up. Throughout the Bible we can read verses after verses telling about our identity in Christ. Some part of our identity remains hidden until we discover our true identity in Christ Jesus. Being an entity is far less than having an IDentity in Christ.

The only way to have a wholesome identity is to live in Christ and embrace God’s love and destiny for you. The only way to be whole is to live in Christ. But what a blessed existence! Suddenly you have a purpose, a calling, a destiny, and a destination. A wholesome identity in Christ! Don’t you ever forget this part of your IDentity.

Because…

…God has created you to be you.

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
      you formed me in my mother’s womb.
   I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
      Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
      I worship in adoration—what a creation!
   You know me inside and out,
      you know every bone in my body;
   You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
      how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
   Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
      all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
   The days of my life all prepared
      before I’d even lived one day.
(Psalm 139: 13-16)

…God Almighty has chosen you.

But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. (1 Peter 2:9-10, MSG)

…God has you as the focus of his love.

How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. (Eph.1. 3-6, MSG)

…you are not only a child of God but also an heir.

But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance. (Gal. 4:4-7, MSG)

So it’s time to embrace your true identity in Christ!
It is time to live out your God-created identity!

“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”(Matthew 5:48, MSG)

Don’t let anything or anyone steal your identity in Christ.
Instead, live generously, love abundantly, forgive graciously!
Celebrate life and the Giver of Life!

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for blessing us with your gifts:
we are your chosen, loved and cherished children.
Thank you for equipping us to live generously and graciously:
we are your children called to love and serve you and yours.
Thank you for giving us our true identity:
we are your children on our way home to you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Have you been made whole in Christ?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you embrace your true identity in Christ!

Image courtesy of Aaron Journot. Linking up today with What’s on Your Heart Tuesdays &Soli Deo Gloria and One Word at a Time: Missing Blog Carnival.

18 thoughts on “Missing Out on Your True Identity?

  1. Great post, Mari-Anna. The enemy of our souls always try to confuse us into doubting our true identity. We might think of ourselves as failures, but God is telling us that we are his children, his heirs. What an amazing realization, isn’t it?
    Thanks for the reminder…

    1. Thank you, Cris, for commenting! The enemy really is actively trying to steal our true identity. But thankfully we are not left alone to deal with the enemy. We can victoriously claim our true identity in Christ! Blessings to you!

  2. I have been made whole in Christ – My identity and my life established and perfected in Him.

    Only as I came to know Him did I fully understand why I was, why I had been, and all I could be… Through that process is how I have become the person I am today:

    “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. ( 1 Cor. 15:10a, NIV )”

  3. This is so good, so true, Mari-Anna! The post’s title drew me in. Yes, we never really find ourselves until we find ourselves in Christ! 
    Sylvia at sylvrpen.com 

  4. Love Love Love this!!!  I did a study called “Be Transformed,” where I truly grasped this. 

  5. Maria-Anna! Thank you very much for the wonderful reflection; the themes you touched here are quite relevant for my congregation – I wish they could read English so that I could share this with them!

    1. Thank you so much, Bradn, for your kind words. Good to know these themes resonate with your congregation. There is a reason why you are there. Keep up the good work! May God continue to bless and keep you, your family, congregation and ministry!

  6. One of the blessings for me is that the abuse and challenges I experienced has made me to know only HE could have broken into my life and saved, not only my soul, but my whole heart. AND would help me understand quite clearly what so many others walk through and that I can help them grow in Him, too.  And, to be His, coming from my own direction, couldn’t be much more miraculous. 

    1. Thanks so much, Joanne, for sharing. It really is only because of HIM that we are saved, loved, and cherished. And how wonderful that you have a clear identity in Christ and a special calling to share your story with others! Bountiful blessings to you, sis!

  7. I love the topic of identity- it’s been one of my life long passions- to live out my identity in Christ. It’s amazing how it seems to be the root of all my struggles 🙂

    1. Thanks, Charissa, for commenting! Yes, living out our identity in Christ is best for us. But sometimes we don’t want to fully surrender to God in everything….hence our struggles. Blessings to you as you continue on your faith adventure!

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