Carolinsblog

My identity in Christ was one of those topics which concerned me, back in October 2022.

Firstly: What exactly does it mean to have an identity, just in general..? An identity itself defines who you are as a human, completely individual, completely personal, completely as a personality. To be aware of one’s own identity and to be sure of it can be the beginning of something very great.

We as humans oftentimes define ourselves through things for which we passionately burn… there would be several examples, but I think you know what I mean.

One unintentionally asks: Determine those things my identity or are they actually rather negligible…?

I, personally, am convinced that we as christians find our completely personal identity in Christ. HE is the one who draws us near to him, who gave new life to us and who gives everyone generously who comes and asks. HE is who gives us rest and peace…

I found my identity in Christ through the prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah 43 verse 1 he says something about the people of Israel what can be figuratively taken as if he is talking to us christians because we belong through the Spirit of sonship to His family. (Romans 8, 14-16)

Isaiah says that we do not have to be anxious because God will protect us. He calls us by our name, we are His. In verse 3 it says further that He is with us when we go through the waters and through raging rivers. We will not be burned when we go through fire and the flames will not harm us because He is Lord, our God, the Holy One of Israel, our deliverer. Further it says that because we are precious and special in His sight and He loves us, He hands over people in place of us and nations in place of our lives. We need not to be afraid because He is with us.

Isaiah continues to talk about the sons and daughters of God whom belongs to God and who are made for His glory, who God created and formed – yes, whom He made. In verse 10 God speaks of His chosen servants, who should give testimony so that people might believe in Him.

Further God says (in verse 13) that nobody can free himself from His power; He will act and who can prevent it?

(verses 19-21) Look, God is about to do something new. Now it begins to happen! Do you not recognize it?  Yes, God will make a road in the wilderness and paths in the wastelands.

…we are His chosen people whom he created for himself so that we might praise Him.

(verse 25) God himself blots out our rebellious deeds for His sake; He does not remember our sins.

How wonderful and deep is that? God himself protects us and that is the reason we do not have to be afraid. He calls us by our name and we are His beloved children. We go through metaphorical storms and fire that will not bring us into danger. We are delivered through Him and called to a life in freedom (Galations 5,1). We are precious and special in His sight, wonderful… We are His elect. He creates something new what we might not even recognize. Er is about to make a metaphorical way where no way is to be found and when He is acting no one is able to prevent Him.

He forgives us when we confess our sins and He is faithful and righteous, cleansing us from all unrighteousness (1.John 1,9). He blots out our rebellious deeds for His sake… He does not remember our sins, but removes it from us as far as the east is from the west (Pslams 103,12) – so endlessly far away.

What then does my identity in Christ look like?

I find nothing in myself what I would define as virtues or lovely… but nonetheless He says about me that I am precious and special in His sight – why? …in regard to all the dung which I fabricated… in regard to all the times where I did not represent Him the way He is worthy to be represented… There is just one single reason: Because He wanted it this way. He decided to give His life. He wanted to fulfill the law because we by ourselves never would be able to do it. He wanted to accomplish that work which we would never be able to accomplish. He wanted to grant me faith (Ephesians 2,8), justify me and grant me life through this faith (Galatians 2,21 / 3,11 & Romans 5,8). He wanted to love me and that is why He loves me. He wanted to draw me near, to cleanse and sanctify me and that is why He did it. Jesus touched my heart, healed it when it was broken and He showed me the meaning and the truth of the gospel.

That is what makes me free, precious and special in His eyes. I am His beloved daughter (Romans 9,25) and we are His beloved children because He decided to love us… He lives in me (Galatians 2,20). That determines me and my thinking and my actions should express exactly this… fixed in that identity.

To accept such an identity in Christ and to live accordingly is one of the best things that should absolutely belong to the spiritual life of every christian.

I wish for you very personal that you can experience that… that you can accept this identity and that you live happy and free in His presents. It is about Him because His mercy is the reason why we neither need to be afraid or shameful (whatever might be holding us back from Him). He loves us.

Be lovely greeted,

Carolin