Identity in Christ
Our identities are something that we struggle with all the time, whether we realize it or not. My entire testimony is reliant upon the moment when I realized that what I thought was my identity wasn’t enough, and it would ultimately fail me. Trying to find our identity in anything other than Christ, no matter how we justify it, can’t uphold us and will leave us lost.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. when Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. - Colossians 3:1-4
We are who Jesus says we are. From the moment of our salvation, we get a new identity and a new title – “Child of God.” Nothing that we fabricate about ourselves or try to mold ourselves into will ever fulfill us.
Jesus has already defeated Satan, so he wants to corrupt what God has established and claimed as His own. Satan wants any kind of edge he can get, so he sows doubt into our hearts.
What Jesus Did.
“If then you have been raised with Christ”
Satan wants us to doubt the work of God. When we see this “IF,” he wants us to look back at our past and doubt that God could ever save us or change us from who we were before Him. We have been made into a new creation, but it can be hard to remember that and live in that reality when we still live in a world full of sin.
Satan wants us to look back at our past and ask these questions and think on these things…
If you’re so bad, then Jesus probably didn’t die for you.
You’re so bad that Jesus’ death can’t count for you.
You’re a believer, but are you really heaven bound?
You’re a believer, but have you done enough to earn or deserve that?
His blood surely couldn’t cover my sin. His goodness can’t apply to me.
He can’t really love me.
God calls us to think on things much higher than these. The truth is the work of God radically changed your identity.
2. Who Jesus Is.
“Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
We were created to be in relationship with God. Our goal is to become more like Jesus every day. But Satan wants to use our temptations to make us believe Jesus isn’t worth changing for.
Paul is telling us that we must constantly set our minds on things that are above. This isn’t something we can just do once at the moment of salvation and then be perfect at it. Again, we live in a sinful world that is trying to pull our eyes down and get us to focus on things below. It feels easier to do this, too.
Satan has more things he wants us to consider when it comes to who God is.
Is Jesus really worth giving up the things of the world to follow?
Is God worth saying no to worldly things?
Is He really worth my worship and giving up my life to follow Him?
There is something that we all want to put on the throne of our hearts. Our heart craves to worship something. But we have to decide if it is worth it to take those things off the throne and let Jesus alone reside there. We have to turn to the Word of God to realize that He is worthy of so much more than the throne of our hearts, but our unending worship of Him as well.
3. What Jesus Has Said.
“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
If the Word of God is the ultimate truth and points to Christ as the true King, wouldn’t it make sense that Satan would want us to doubt it? If the Word of God speaks directly to our identity in Christ, and the truth about it, wouldn’t he want us to see it as false?
This verse tells us 3 things about our identity in Christ.
We have died
We were dead in our sins.
Our lives are hidden with Christ in God
Our sins are not what we are recognized or defined by, but the work that Jesus did on the cross in our place.
When Christ appears, we will appear with Him in glory.
We will be raised with Christ when He returns.
Satan wants us to doubt these things about God and ourselves. When we do not believe in these things, we have no hope or future with Christ.
One of my favorite moments in scripture is Jesus being tempted in the desert. Satan is trying hard to twist the Word against Jesus so that He might sin. But Jesus knows who He is and what the Word says. It does not cause Him to stumble, because He has truth written on His heart.
Satan wants us to turn from truth so that our identity gets twisted. If he can get you to question the Bible, you’ll have to search for truth elsewhere, but you’ll only find lies that leave you empty.
Your identity is laid out clearly in the Word of God.
God created you intentionally.
You are a new creation.
You are a child of God.
You are seen as holy, blameless, and sanctified.
You are a citizen of Heaven.
You are His precious creation.
Your identity is not based on anything you formulate, but your identity is found in Christ, and in Him alone.
Written by: Macye Armstrong
Macye Armstrong has been part of The Mount since 2021, and is now the Student Ministry Intern in the same Student Ministry she grew up in. She is currently a sophomore at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary studying in the Humanities program. She has been on staff since May of 2024 and feels so blessed to be in the position that she is in.
Guilt and Grace
Grief, anxiety, love, celebration, pain, and struggles were common stories we heard as week after week our college and career CG would meet and share.
As Leslie and I got to know our group better and listened to their stories more deeply, a common thread emerged. A sense of guilt. I do not believe it has anything to do with the uniqueness of their stage of life; I think it is something we all struggle with.
Our group was made up of good kids. Most, but not all, were raised in church. Many had walked with Christ for years, and some were getting their first introduction. Yet one thing that struck me is how much grace they had for each other, and at the same time so little grace for themselves.
“But there was that one night when <insert struggle here>.”
“I just can’t seem to break the power that <insert sin here> continues to have over me.”
Guilt-ridden is how many came on any Sunday night; unable to forgive themselves for sins of the past (or present). Determined to help them understand their identity in Christ, we started a chapter-by-chapter study through The Grace Awakening by Charles Swindoll.
Week after week we discussed the beauty and depth of grace. Our group never cheapened grace with a get-out-of-jail free card which might encourage reckless living; they were very restrained, offering grace to others, but not seeing that the same grace applied to each of them. They were a new creation in Christ, unworthy of His grace, but willingly holding it as a valuable gift. We never saw in them the danger of standing in judgment over others, but they struggled with being judge and jury over their own actions and decisions. Each of us cries for the mercy of God but also holds the attitude that if God truly knew me, He might not be as full of grace and love. If He knew what a wreck I had made of my life or had seen that secret sin I hope no one will catch me in (you know the one, it’s the one you can’t let go of), then certainly He couldn’t love me so easily.
At times, we tend to take the seat of judgment from God. We see Him as the Holy, loving judge for others, yet when it comes to THAT sin in our lives, we become judge and jury of ourselves, and we find ourselves guilty. We serve a God, who by His mercy, has declared us NOT GUILTY. Not because He is impressed by us or because we deserve it, but because He sees us through His Son with whom He is well pleased.
We cannot fathom the depth of grace God has for His children, the ones who are hidden in the righteousness of His Son. We are not guilty because He declared us not guilty. That is our identity. God is on His throne!
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. Psalms 32:1-2 (ESV)
Written by: Tim Gardner
Tim and Leslie Gardner have been at The Mount for seven years. They have two daughters, 26 and 18 who both attend The Mount. The Gardners have served in children’s ministry, students, as CG leaders, and both are Certified Biblical Counselors.
Identity in Christ
Rhythm: Be with Jesus
Maybe you’ve had the unfortunate dream where you are being pursued by someone or something. In the broken physics of the dreamworld, no matter how hard you try, your pursuer is gaining ground. A few years ago, it seemed everywhere I looked I found Isaiah 43:18-21. It was in devotionals, emails, and even on the lips of my friends. God was pursuing me with the loving truth that my identity was found in Him and not my circumstances.
"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 20 The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my ch”osen people, 21 the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.”
As Christians, our identity is found in Jesus, who saves us, forms us for Himself, and calls us to live our lives for Him.
The past doesn’t define our identity. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." We tend to hold on to our past whether it is our past sins, who we used to be, or what others think of us, but the Lord wants us to look forward to what He is doing in our lives. When we hold on to the things of old, we are not putting our trust in Him. He has chosen us, has made us a new creation, and is sanctifying us. He is active in our lives and doing new things, now we get to live in that freedom and declare His praise.
Our present identity is defined, not in isolation, but with our ever-faithful friend, Jesus. We find this in Colossian 1:9-14. This scripture shows who we are in Christ, we get to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people who live in the light, and we are no longer slaves to sin, because Jesus has purchased our freedom and forgiven us.
To continually find our identity in Christ, we have to acknowledge the battle for what it is. There are competing allegiances, distractions, and desires of the flesh. These enemies can be external but often are the internal lies that we tell ourselves. I want to encourage you to not get caught up in negative self-talk because of circumstances, what others have said, or how they made you feel. Instead focus on the truths that we can easily find in God's Word. As we follow Jesus together, walk in the strength of who you are in Him, in endurance in the path before you, and in patience with each other.
To close, pray Colossians 1:9-14 over yourself, your family, and our church.
“I ask you God to give us complete knowledge of Your will and to give us spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way we live will always honor and please You Lord, and our lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, we will grow as we learn to know You, God better and better. I pray that we will be strengthened with Your glorious power, and you will provide us the endurance and patience we need each day. May we be filled with joy, always thanking You, Father. For You have enabled us to share in the inheritance that belongs to Your people, who live in the light. For You have rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of Your dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Amen."
Written by Kim Wreay
Kim has been a member at The Mount since 2006 and on staff as a ministry admin since 2014. She has two great boys, Tommy and Sammy. Kim leads a women's community group and is part of our biblical counseling team.