If you were asked to describe yourself, what would you say? Here are some things I would probably say if you asked me about myself:

• I am Staff Chaplain at Nashville Rescue Mission.
• I am Jim’s wife.
• I am Wes and Andy’s mom.
• I am (pick one) Annie’s, Lincoln’s, Ella’s, Audrey’s, Judah’s, Katie’s, or Gus’ grandmother.
• I am a member of Life Center Church.

I have been known to frequently use any of the above to describe who I am. What would you say?

When Moses asked God who he was, here is how God replied: “Moses said to God, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?” Then what shall I tell them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I am has sent me to you.”’” (Exodus 3:13-14).

Our God is The Great I Am. Simple, but it means that He is everything, always. He is complete and yet never ending.

Jesus claimed his identity in God: ^“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:15-16).

And Jesus made his own “I am” statements:

1. “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35).
2. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
3. “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.” (John 10:7).
4. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11).
5. “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25).
6. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).
7. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” (John 15:1).

The apostle Paul claimed his identity in Christ. While acknowledging that he had the highest Jewish credentials ( circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless), Paul said all that was garbage. He goes on to say in Philippians 3:7-9:

^“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

We know who God says he is, and who Jesus says he is.  We can know then that when we believe Jesus as our Redeemer, our highest identity is to be IN CHRIST.

The Bible tells us that when we are In Christ:

• We are no longer condemned: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are In Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
• We become like new: “Therefore, if anyone is In Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
• We are children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ: “So In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith” (Galatians 3:26).
• We are one In Christ: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one In Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
• We are marked with a seal: “And you also were included In Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13).
• We are his masterpiece: “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).
• We are near to him: “But now In Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).
• We are heirs to the kingdom: “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise In Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6).
• We are forgiven, and forgivers: “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as In Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

What a heritage. Christ’s identity is in God. And our identity is in Christ. When we reflect on the attributes of God and his son, Jesus, and when we reflect on the many promises of God, we can begin to understand the gift that we have been given to have our identity In Christ. You may have noticed that I almost always sign my name using the closing, “In Christ.” That is because identifying with Christ by saying “In Him” or “In Christ” is the best way I know to explain to my readers who I am. “In Christ” is my identity. It is who I am. I pray that you can say the same.

“We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

In Christ,

Judy