knowing your identity in christ
Why Knowing Your Identity In Christ is important Understanding your identity in Christ is essential for living a purposeful Christian life. It influences your character, behavior, and how you relate to the world. Here’s why knowing your identity in Christ is crucial and how it shapes your life as a believer:
Table of Contents
1. Foundation for Godly Character
Because your identity in Christ forms the foundation for a godly character. The Bible teaches that you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and that you are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Recognizing this transforms how you live, encouraging you to embody traits like love, patience, and kindness. Your character should reflect the nature of Christ, demonstrating His love and grace in every aspect of your life.
2. Distinction from Worldly Values
As a Christian, understanding your identity helps you navigate the tension between living in the world and not being of it (John 17:14-16). Your identity in Christ informs your values and actions, guiding you to live by godly principles rather than worldly standards. Your behavior should reflect the fact that your body, mind, and soul are rooted in Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), setting you apart in how you live and interact with others
3. Impact on Relationships
Your identity in Christ significantly influences your relationships. The Bible calls us to love others as Christ has loved us (Mark 12:31) and to practice compassion and forgiveness (Colossians 3:12-13). By understanding who you are in Christ, you are empowered to build positive, Christ-centered relationships that reflect His love and mercy.
4. Alignment with Biblical Principles
Cause Living out your identity in Christ means adhering to biblical principles. The Scriptures offer guidance on living a godly life, including practicing honesty, integrity, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Aligning your behavior with these principles honors God and demonstrates His character to those around you.
5. Growth in Spiritual Maturity
Knowing your identity in Christ is vital for spiritual growth. It encourages you to deepen your relationship with God, engage with His word, and live out His teachings. As you grow in understanding your identity, you also grow in faith and spiritual maturity, becoming more aligned with God’s will and purpose for your life.
Biblical Rules to Follow to Be Identified in Christ
Why Is It Important To Know Your Identity In Christ? Living out your identity in Christ involves adhering to the biblical principles and commands that guide us in embodying a godly character. Psalm 15 provides a concise summary of the attributes and behaviors that mark a righteous person:
“Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved“
Psalm 15:1-5 (KJV)
These verses outline key behaviors and attitudes:
1. Walk Uprightly and Work Righteousness: Live a life of integrity and moral uprightness, consistently doing what is right according to God’s standards.
2. Speak the Truth: Be honest and sincere in all your dealings, ensuring that your words reflect truth and integrity.
3. Avoid Slander and Harm: Do not speak ill of others or cause harm through your actions or words.
4. Honor the Faithful and Despise Evil: Respect those who fear the Lord and reject actions and attitudes that are contrary to God’s will.
5. Keep Promises: Be reliable and faithful in keeping your commitments, even when it is difficult.
6. Reject Financial Exploitation: Do not exploit others for financial gain or take bribes against the innocent.
• The Teachings of Jesus
1. Love God and Love Others: The greatest commandments Jesus gave are to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39).
2. The Beatitudes: Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount outlines attitudes and behaviors that are blessed by God, such as being poor in spirit, merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers (Matthew 5:3-12).
3. Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Jesus taught the importance of forgiving others and seeking reconciliation, emphasizing that forgiveness should be limitless (Matthew 18:21-22).
4. Humility and Service: Jesus modeled humility and service, teaching His disciples to serve others selflessly (John 13:14-15; Mark 10:45).
• Additional Biblical Principles
Throughout the Bible, we find additional rules and guidelines for living a godly life:
1. Obedience to God’s Commandments: Jesus emphasized the importance of keeping God’s commandments as a sign of our love for Him (John 14:15).
2. Bearing the Fruit of the Spirit: Paul’s letters to the Galatians highlight the importance of exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
3. Holiness and Purity: Peter exhorts believers to live holy and pure lives, following the example of Christ (1 Peter 1:15-16).
The Importance of a Right Heart
No one can be better than the state of their heart; it is the heart that truly verifies if we are identified in Christ. Why did Cain kill Abel? Because his heart wasn’t right. Why do couples betray each other? Because their hearts aren’t right. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” A person can say “I love you,” but the heart may say otherwise.
Despite Judas Iscariot being a disciple of Christ, he still betrayed Him because his heart wasn’t right. We all must work on our hearts right and to be identified in Christ, to have a godly personality because those who are rooted in Christ are filled with love and compassion for one another, just as Jesus did.
Jesus said to love your enemies and forgive those who trespass against you so that you may be forgiven and loved by God in return because God is love, and only by His love are we thriving on.
Real-Life Story: The Power of a Right Heart
A young man once plotted to kidnap his father. He set up a plan that, as soon as his father went out, kidnappers would abduct him. His intention was to get ransom money through a particular organization and then share the money with the kidnappers before releasing his father. The plan seemed foolproof, but when the ransom money was not forthcoming, the kidnappers began to torture his father.
Unable to bear the torture, his father died. When the young man came to lay a complaint, there was regret and guilt in his eyes. He felt, “This was not the plan.” The heart of this young man was wrong.The heart is the core of our being, and it is our heart that determines if we are truly identified in Christ. A heart filled with greed, anger, and deceit leads to actions that are contrary to God’s will.
This young man’s heart was not rooted in Christ, and it led to a tragic outcome. Despite knowing Christ’s teachings, his heart was filled with selfishness and desperation. His story illustrates the importance of having a heart aligned with God’s will. When our hearts are right with God, our actions reflect His love and compassion, leading us to make choices that honor Him.
Conclusion
Why Is It Important To Know Your Identity In Christ? Understanding your identity in Christ is not just about knowing who you are but living out that identity through godly character and behavior. It shapes how you interact with the world, influences your relationships, and guides you in aligning with biblical principles.
Embrace your identity as a child of God and let it transform every aspect of your life, reflecting His love and grace in all that you do. Jeremiah 32:27 (KJV) offers a word of hope: “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” Remember, with God, all things are possible, and He is with you every step of the way.
