If you truly want to love yourself well, you need to know who Christ says you are. This can be found in the Bible. There are many Bible verses about identity in Christ.
You were created by God; he made you in a wonderful way. He wants you to live in the truth of how he made you. These truths lead you to be empowered and equipped to live in the purposes he has for you.
What Does the Bible Say About Identity in Christ?
The Bible says that you are a new creation when you come to know Jesus.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)
You are made new in him and what he says about you is truth. Your sinful nature is dead; you now have the choice and ability to live as he has called you to be. He is molding you into his image each and every day.
This is your identity: a child of God.
As his child, he says who you are. You are adopted into his family and now have certain privileges that you once didn’t have. This is who you are now—you can throw off your old sinful nature and know that Christ died so that you are made new.
My Identity in Christ
Your identity in Christ is unique. Yes, the Bible tells you who you are generally (a child of God)… but you have also been given specific, spiritual gifts to be used to further his kingdom.
You have a specific calling that he has set you up for. You have a story that is particular to you; it should be used to encourage others and bring him glory.
Jesus has made you special, so you should boldly proclaim: “this is my identity in Christ, and I am proud of it!”
Bible Verses About Identity in Christ
To really begin walking in your identity in Christ, it is so important that you start with knowing Bible verses about it. This will help you confidently and boldly live out your individual, unique spiritual gifts and other purposes God has for you.
He could have a variety of purposes for you in different seasons and they are all important work for his kingdom. Don’t discount anything he has for you but focus on the bigger picture, as he always does.
Below you will find 10 Bible verses about your identity in Christ.
1. I Am Chosen
Jesus chose you long before you were born. He knew you. It was intentional—not by accident.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9, NIV)
When you know this truth about who you are, you can praise him uncontrollably. You have great value and are his. He picked you. This can give you a sense of peace and knowing that you are valuable.
2. I Am Set Apart
Jesus set you apart. That means you are not like everyone else. You are special; he sees you as precious. He knows you and always knew you.
We see this in Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (NIV)
God made you for a purpose and has given you the power to impact others for him.
3. I Am a Child of God
You are a child of God because he loves you so much.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 John 3:1, NIV)
You belong to him. This means that he will always take care of you; that he loves you so much and will never leave you or forsake you, no matter what.
He is always watching out for you and there to help you. This will never change. Always remember this powerful truth of who you are.
4. I Am Righteous
You no longer need to identify as a sinner because your sinful nature is dead. You are a new creation. You died with Christ on the cross. Therefore, you can choose to walk in his righteousness.
“You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Romans 6:18, NIV)
You can always choose to walk in this because it is who you are now. The Father does see you as a sinner because he sees the righteousness of Jesus on you.
You have the power of the Holy Spirit to always help you walk in this righteousness—this is who you are now, not a slave to sin if you don’t want to be.
5. I Have a Great Inheritance
As a child of God you need to know that you have a great inheritance through him.
You can see this in Ephesians 1:18: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people…” (NIV)
He has so much for you as his child. You will inherit so much when you know him; the fruits of the Spirit, eternal life, etc.
Knowing this about yourself will help you persist in God. He provides better than anything that the world can offer.
6. I Am God’s Handiwork
God made you for goodness.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)
When you know this about yourself, you can praise God with great admiration. The things he has set you apart to do are good and worthwhile. They are not only good for you, but will benefit his kingdom when you do them for his name to be glorified.
Recognize that this is who you are. This is your identity. You are good and made for great things that he already outlined in advance.
7. I Am Adopted Into a New Family
You never have to feel like you don’t belong or were never wanted. He delights in you and loves you so dearly that he adopted you into his family when you accepted him.
“… he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…” (Ephesians 1:5, NIV)
Never feel alone or like you don’t belong anywhere, because you have a family in him.
8. I Am Wonderfully Made
You can praise God for how he made you because you are wonderfully made.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14, NIV)
How he made you—with each and every characteristic—is good. Every part of your story can be used for his glory and the advancement of his kingdom. Don’t hate something about yourself: everything about you is good and God made you that way for a good reason.
Don’t put yourself down—praise him because he made you wonderful. When you know this, you can see yourself through his eyes.
9. I Am a Saint
You are considered a saint when you are following Jesus.
We see this referenced in Revelation 14:12: “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” (ESV)
And we also see it when the apostles address the followers of Christ in the letters in the Bible.
You are one of his holy people. He has made a way for you and does great things for you as his child.
10. I Am Christ’s Friend
Jesus calls you his friend.
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15, NIV)
This is a great honor to be considered a friend of Jesus. He values you so much. This means you can go to him at any time, with any problem going on in your life.
This is who you are and it will never change. If you feel alone and need someone to confide in, you always have Jesus. Go to him first with it all. You have this ability because you are his friend now.
The Bible provides all the information you’re searching for to know your identity in Christ. These 10 Bible verses about identity in Christ are just the start; keep reading God’s word for more about who you are. And discover more of who God is too. There is so much more.
