Is Your Identity in Christ? 11 Ways His Image is Seen in You
Your identity in Christ positions you for victory in your life. How? Because you are not fighting to obtain victory. You must fight from the position of victory Christ has already obtained for you!
If you don’t know who you are in Christ, you’ll become easily deceived when the truth of God about your identity, what you’re entitled to in Christ, the plan of God and the spiritual authority you carry is mixed with lies.
The Bible is filled with promises and plans for you in Christ and you’ll spend the rest of your life learning about who you are through, in and because of Jesus Christ. If you want to know your identity in Christ, the Word of God will show you who you are so you can know.
- If you don’t know that Christ has set you free, or what it means to be set free, you’ll live in the chains Christ broke.
- If you don’t know that you are loved in Christ, you’ll suffer as a perpetual victim to the hateful conditions of this world.
- If you don’t truly know that in Christ you have the victory, you’ll lose your battles before you have a chance to fight!
- If you don’t know you are forgiven, you’ll always struggle with misplaced guilt and shame.
- If you don’t know your position of authority in Christ, the enemy will constantly take territory from you that Christ legally obtained through the cross.
The list goes on…
Your adversary will never stop pursuing you, so you must never stop pursuing Christ. You must never stop learning who you are in Christ. You must never stop advancing against your enemy with the confidence of your identity in Christ that you were given through the work of the cross!
“Your adversary will never stop pursuing you, so you must never stop pursuing Christ.”
~Alicia Purdy
In the book of 1 John, the Lord has given you ways to identify yourself in Christ and it is from that firm and confident assurance that you can engage the enemy and take back the territory he has stolen from you and walk in the power of God with greater measure.
Your Identity in Christ: 11 Ways His Image is Seen in You
The most important key to knowing your identity in Christ is … knowing Christ! Studying and understanding the names of God wilI provide you with a greater knowledge of Christ and through Him, you will start to see who you really are.
In the book of 1 John, Jesus Christ is presented as your Advocate with the Father, as the only Righteous One and the Atoning Sacrifice (“propitiation”) for the sins of the whole world. And because of this and through Him, John writes, you can know with assurance who you are in God.
1) Knowing that You Know Him
Under the Old Covenant, keeping the 633 laws was impossible and the penalty for sin was death! (Rom. 6:23) In Christ, because the debt of sin was paid, you keep His commandments out of love, not fear.
The confidence that comes from knowing who you are in Christ comes when you are committed to His commandments, when your choices reflect His character, when your life reflects His love and when your ways reflect His Word. You can know your identity is in Christ and that you bear His image when you know Him.
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, βI know Him,β and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:3-4 NKJV)
Of course, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, [but Christ] has made Him known.” (John 1:18 ESV) but “when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2 ESV)
God has unsearchable greatness (Job 37:23), but you can know Him through His Word and with that, you can know your identity in Christ. When the Lord is your Shepherd, your life is built upon the Word of God, you will know the Lord more and more. It is that knowing that transforms you into His image.
2) Knowing that You are in Him
You’ll never be “perfect”, but you are “perfected”, or completed, through Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:6) Because of that, you are able to keep His Word hidden in your heart.
“But whoever keeps His Word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:5-6)
You are able to be guided by His precepts. (Psalm 119:15). You are able to use His Word as your sword in a spiritual battle. (Hebrews 4:12). You are able to keep His commandments. (Psalm 119:11)
These are some of the most significant inward and outward signs that you truly in Christ.
in John 15:4 Jesus said, “Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, neither can you, unless you remain in Me.” (MEV)
You can learn more about your true identity in Christ by looking at the spiritual fruit you bear: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22) You bear the image of God within you through the Person of Christ, and outside of you in the character of Christ.
You bear the image of God within you through the Person of Christ, and outside of you in the character of Christ.
~Alicia Purdy
In John 15:7-8 He said, “If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it shall be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
You’ll always be a work in progress, but “by this we know”, John wrote – you are in Christ and don’t let the enemy or other people make you doubt what you know. Instead, devote yourself to knowing Christ more and it is His identity and His image you’ll bear instead of your own.
3) Knowing in the Last Hour You Belong to Christ
Jesus Christ warned that in the final days of earth’s natural existence, the love of many would grow cold, nations would wage wars, families would be torn apart and many false teachers and prophets would claim to be Him. (Matthew 24)
“…even now there are many antichrists…they went out from us, but they were not of us…” (1 John 2:18-19 MEV) The word “Christian” has become twisted and misused and even “Jesus” has been reduced to a “good person” or an ideology. But true believers will always stand out from the liars and decievers who come “in His name.”
“The religious deceivers in the world change nothing about your purpose and commission on earth – to know Him and to make Him known.”
~Alicia Purdy
The religious deceivers in the world change nothing about your purpose and commission on earth – to know Him and to make Him known. Your identity in Christ cannot be tied to the things of this world – your job, your family, deceived “Christians” the culture, the world and its systems – nothing.
It’s all “loss for the sake of Christ” as Paul wrote, “to know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (Philippians 3:7-11)
“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.” (1 John 2:18)
As the world grows darker, you should feel more discomfort, pressure and even pain as the Light in you is more divided from the darkness! Don’t succumb to the world’s systems. You must know the truth and that is only found in the Word of God. Resist the world and their father, the devil. (John 8:44)
You will need the supernatural power of praise, prayer in His presence and the Word of God alive and vibrant within you – so start now! You are in Christ and you are living in the last “hours”.
It won’t get any easier to truly live for Jesus Christ, but the Great Falling Away is here (1 Thessalonians 2:1-4) and firmly knowing your identity in Christ will set you apart from those who speak a false “truth”.
4) Knowing the Love of God
“You have heard this from the beginning,” John wrote. “We should love another… do not marvel if the world hates you… we know we have passed from death into life because we love the brothers…” (1 John 3:11-15)
The primary evidence of your love for the Lord is your expression of love to the world, as well as to other believers. “Freely you have received, freely give,” Jesus said. (Matt. 10:8)
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16)
Worshipping the Lord by remembering what He has done for you and thanking Him for it will keep your heart tender toward the most unlovable people. It is the love of the Lord, seen through you, that will draw people toward the Lord.
Showing love doesn’t mean giving approval. Showing love doesn’t mean condemnation. You know love, as John wrote, because Jesus laid down His life “while we were yet sinners”. (Rom. 5:8) If you need to love someone, remember how bad it once was for you and start there.
To “lay down” your life for another is a sign that you understand the sacrificial love Jesus Christ showed you. You are loved in any condition you are in- and so are ‘they’.
Follow His example and give, serve, reach out, help, listen, and endure from a place of love as He leads your spirit.
5) Knowing that You are of the Truth
Many claim to love God, but you struggle with loving another person, and that makes them a “liar”, John wrote. (1 John 4:20) One of the most powerful things the Word of God will show you is: Yourself.
Your identity in Christ will continue to solidify in your own heart, your mind, your soul and your spirit as you learn what it means to “deny yourself” Your weaknesses. Your strongholds. Your trauma and pain. Your additions and idolatries. Not to condemn, but to transform.
“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.” (1 John 3:18-19)
Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Jesus is the Word of God. (John 1:1)
If your identity is in Christ, it is shown and proven by your deeds and the truths of God you live by, not by what you say or claim. The truth will set you truly free. (John 8:31 ESV) How can you know the truth? Jesus is the Truth. (John 14:6) Jesus will set you free. (Galatians 5:1)
If your identity is in Christ, it is shown and proven by your deeds and the truths of God you live by, not by what you say or claim.
~Alicia Purdy
If you want to know for certain that you are living by God’s truth, seek Him in prayer for help and seek His Word for the issues and burdens you carry in your relationships, and connect with the Holy Spirit in private worship and thanksgiving.
As you walk in these things, the truth will grow within you and you will walk in it. Too many people claim to know the “truth” – but they can’t prove it!
6) Knowing that He Remains in You
The Person of the Holy Spirit dwells within you at the moment of your salvation, but there are times when you may wonder if you’re saved, or if you’re a good Christian or if God is disappointed with you.
The Holy Spirit is alive within you and He speaks, quickens the Word to you, dwells within your praise (Psalm 22:3), guides, reveals truth (John 16:13), comforts and so much more – but how can you hear His voice if you’re surrounded by noise?
“And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” (1 John 3:24)
How can you sense the Holy Spirit speaking if your mind is filled with wrong thinking, vain imaginations and evil forebodings, social media nonsense, ungodly relationship drama, other people’s opinions and the world’s trashy language and ideas?
Your enemy, the devil, will attack your identity in Christ by reminding you of who you once were, by accusing you and by tempting you to act apart from what you know in the Lord. If you are going to have any victories over the world and the enemy, you must remain in Christ – that is how you can know He remains in you.
If you are going to have any victories over the world and the enemy, you must remain in Christ – that is how you can know He remains in you.
~Alicia Purdy
You have very real questions and problems you need answers for and plans to address, so you’ll need to clear things out and close in on your heart, mind, soul and spirit through consistent time spent in worship, prayer and the Word.
The Lord has given you His Holy Spirit who is with you always – are you always with Him?
7) Knowing the Spirit of God
Plenty of people claim to have extra special prophetic insights, or have thriving ministries or a wide sphere of influence yet not everyone who names the name of Jesus Christ is truly of God’s own Spirit. How can you know the difference?
The Bible is clear: God came in the flesh and dwelt among us through Jesus Christ His Son (John 1:14). The demons know it and might even acknowledge it, but won’t confess it.
Fakers and phonies might use the name of Jesus as their product, but will focus on anything and everything else (money and influence, angels, miracles, feelings, prophecies, experiences, blessings etc.) besides His true character and nature, His power and authority, and His great, enduring love.
“By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.” (1 John 4:2)
Fixing your eyes on Jesus Christ is the primary way you’ll discern who is truly of the Spirit of God. There are other ways too like loving others, obeying His commands etc., but demons gnash their teeth and fear and tremble at the name of Jesus Christ.
Likewise, anyone who denies the Son of God came, and had to come, in the flesh and had to suffer and die on the cross for sin, is a liar and is demonically inspired.
Cast that demon out in Jesus’ name or shake off the dust from your feet and leave!
8) Knowing the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error
Your inward witness empowered by the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit is the primary way you’ll discern between spirits of truth and error – and there is plenty to discern in this twisty, fallen world! Don’t be overwhelmed by the darkness, walk in the light as He is in the light! (1 John 1:7)
When you dapple in darkness, the enemy has legal access to oppress you – starting with lies.
“We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:6 NKJV)
Satan is the father of lies. (John 8:44) Knowing your identity in Christ and knowing who Christ is will provide mental and spiritual protection over you so you can walk in power and victory of the lies of your Adversary.
You don’t have to fear making a mistake when your life is build upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ, the Rock of your Salvation, when your weapons of faith are sharpened through the Word and worship and the presence of God through prayer goes with you on every side.
Your spiritual discernment will increase as your proximity to the presence of God increases.
~Alicia Purdy
Your spiritual discernment will increase as your proximity to the presence of God increases. Don’t “follow your heart” because it is “exceedingly wicked”. (Jeremiah 17:9-10) Don’t go with your “gut” – discern from the Spirit inside you. He’s never wrong.
9) Knowing that You Dwell in Him – and He in You
Only the enemy wants you to question your salvation. If you’ve confessed with your mouth that, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9)
Now you know that if you remain in Him, He remains in you. (see #6 above) It is that simple.
But do you dwell in Him? What is the difference? Psalm 22:3 says, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” God dwells within praise, specifically the “new song” of your praise.
“If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” (1 John 4:12-13)
If you’re a committed worshipper, you’re dwelling with Him. If you’re a discipline of the Word, you’re remaining in Him. If you walk in the fellowship pf prayer with the Lord, you’re walking with Him. You need all three. Your identity in Christ is defined by yielding to Him in all things.
John 10:28 says that no one can ‘snatch’ you out of God’s hand when you’re saved through Jesus Christ. You can always choose to walk away and reject His Holy Spirit, but no one can take you against your will.
His Spirit dwells in you and the evidence of that indwelling is seen in how you interact with the Lord and with the world around you.
10) Knowing that You are Becoming More like Christ
Jesus was clear: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV)
“[Peter said], “You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time [and] he said to Him, βLord, You know all things; You know that I love You.β Jesus said to him, βFeed My sheep.” (John 21:17 NKJV)
1 John 5:2 says, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.”
Jesus said, “…My yoke is easy, and My burden is light,” (Matthew 11:30) and He wanted you to take His burden and promised to take yours in exchange. Jesus’ burden was for people, for the lost to be reconciled to God through Him.
As you become more like Christ, you will experience the challenges of the refiner’s fire where the Lord will reshape you to be more like Him and He will use people to accomplish that.
Jesus said people will know you are a Christian by the fruit of the Spirit that grows from within you. (Matthew 7:15-20) “Those who are Christβs have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires,” Paul wrote. (Galatians 5:24 MEV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23 MEV) These godly characteristics take a lifetime to develop, but they set you apart from the world and identify you as a true believer.
Don’t forget, your enemy uses fire to burn you, God uses it to reshape you. If your true identity is in Christ, you’ll see it in yourself and everyone else will too.
11) Knowing Your Eternal Salvation is Assured Through Christ
Many believers struggle with the assurance of their salvation and many false religions make sure that salvation is always on the chopping block for sin and misdeeds, but that isn’t how God sees salvation at all!
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,” Paul wrote. (Romans 10:13 MEV) You are saved through God’s grace through faith in Him “and this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 MEV)
You cannot work hard enough, tithe enough, donate enough, serve enough in your local church, have good enough “standing” in the eyes of your elders – nothing – to earn your salvation. You are saved through faith in Christ alone, the Bible is clear.
“I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13 MEV)
In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, βLord, Lord,β shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, βLord, Lord, have we not…done many wonderful works in Your name?β But then I will declare to them, βI never knew you…”
Plenty of people “know” Jesus or know of Him, but that’s not enough. God wants to know you. That is a separate matter of invitation day by day. Of course God knows everything, but He wants to be invited into your life, into your problems, into your situations and concerns, into your darkness and shame.
…your identity should be in Christ as well, and if you want to be more like Him, you need to be with Him more.
~Alicia Purdy
If your faith is in Christ, you don’t have to ever worry about your salvation. But your identity should be in Christ as well, and if you want to be more like Him, you need to be with Him more.
God “stands at the door and knocks”. (Revelation 3:20) He doesn’t barge in. You invite the Lord into your dwelling place by making a place for Him to dwell. Praise and worship create a “secret place” in which the Lord is invited to dwell with you.
Thought for Today: Your Identity in Christ Has No Past
Who you are today has nothing to do with you who you were yesterday, even if the past still has some lingering effects in your life. You are a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17) through your faith in Christ and your identity is no longer with that old, broken person.
If your identity is in Christ, “by this you know” with assurance that even when life gets hard, God is good and you are being transformed into His image more and more day by. “Be still and know” (Psalm 46:10) that God will have the victory in you, through you, and around you if you’ll give it to Him.
Build Up Your Faith in the Lord and Know Him Better:
“3 Challenges in How to Move on from the Past with Christ”
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