Who Are You?

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Who are You?

Recently my husband and I went to see the new faith-based movie “Overcomer” and as we watched one of the scenes a question was asked that gave me pause. One of the characters asked another character the question “Who are you?” meaning how you define yourself. If someone were to ask you that question, how would you answer? In the movie, the character answered that he was a basketball coach, a teacher, a father, and a husband. At that point the one asking the question posed another question, are you a Christian. Wow, the look on his face told it all, As an afterthought he realized his answer failed to address the real question of who he was. Like most of us, his answer was shaped by the world and culture in which he lives, rather than the God who created him and the Savior who died for him. Only when forced to examine his true nature in Christ did he realize a need to better understand who he really is.

Like the movie character, we too often define ourselves through our jobs, financial status, successes, family roles, etc. Those are earthly external measures, but as Christians we should define ourselves based on our identity in Christ. Our relationship with Him must be at the center of all we are.

What does the Bible say about who we are?

I am born of God, and the evil one does not touch me (1 John 5:18).
I am holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:16).
I am alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:5).

I am renewed in the knowledge of God and no longer want to live in my old ways or nature before I accepted Christ (Colossians 3:9-10).
I am merciful, I do not judge others, and I forgive quickly. As I do this by God’s grace, He blesses my life (Luke 6:36-38).
I am chosen by God who called me out of the darkness of sin and into the light and life of Christ so I can proclaim the excellence and greatness of who He is (1 Peter 2:9).
I am born again—spiritually transformed, renewed and set apart for God’s purpose—through the living and everlasting word of God (1 Peter 1:23).
I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works that He has prepared for me to do (Ephesians 2:10).
I am a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

In Christ, I am dead to sin—my relationship to it is broken—and alive to God—living in unbroken fellowship with Him (Romans 6:11).
I am a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17). I am more than a conqueror through Him who loves me (Romans 8:37).
I am an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). I am part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people (1 Peter 2:9).
I am the righteousness of God—I have right standing with Him—in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).
I am the head and not the tail, and I only go up and not down in life as I trust and obey God (Deuteronomy 28:13).
I am chosen by God, forgiven and justified through Christ. I have a compassionate heart, kindness, humility, meekness and patience (Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12).
I am redeemed—forgiven of all my sins and made clean—through the blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:7).
I am redeemed from the curse of sin, sickness, and poverty (Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Galatians 3:13).
I am called to live a holy life by the grace of God and to declare His praise in the world (Psalm 66:8; 2 Timothy 1:9).
I am healed and whole in Jesus (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24).
I am saved by God’s grace, raised up with Christ and seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:5-6; Colossians 2:12).
I am greatly loved by God (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:4; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4).
I am strengthened with all power according to His glorious might (Colossians 1:11).
I am not ruled by fear because the Holy Spirit lives in me and gives me His power, love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).

I’ve enlarged and printed on colored paper the above verses and I’m taping one verse a week on my mirror. This is to remind me daily, who I am in Christ.

As Christians, the essence of who we are should always be first and foremost based on the “I am” promises that God has given us. All the other things that make us who we are should be based on our relationship with our Lord and Savior. When we seriously think about it, nothing else matters.

When someone asks you who you are, it is good to tell them you are a wife, mother, teacher, professional, etc. but first tell them who you are, in Christ.