Recognizing Our True Identity

The pursuit of a fulfilling spiritual life often leads to exhaustion, as believers mistakenly strive to earn or achieve what has already been given. The core message of the Gospel is that abounding victory and profound transformation are found not in performance, but in recognizing and resting in your true identity in Christ [v, w]. This guide, optimized for search engines and clarity, outlines the biblical truths necessary to shift from a life defined by behavior to one defined by being in Him.

Part 1: The Divine Blueprint – Recognizing Your Authentic Identity

Your true identity is not based on your actions or failures; it is a fixed, eternal reality established by God before time began.

Chosen Before the Foundation of the World

God’s commitment to your identity preceded human failure. He made up His mind to see humanity as holy and blameless before Adam’s sin even occurred.

• Pre-Fall Identity: God chose us in Christ “before the foundation of the world”. Paul uses the word catabalo (falling away) instead of the traditional themeloios (foundation), emphasizing that God associated us with Christ before man fell away in his thinking concerning his true identity.
• Original Design: Your true identity is your “true design in Christ”. Humanity was made from the original blueprint of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—the Godhead—made in “our image” and “our likeness”. This blueprint was never lost; Jesus came to restore and unveil it.
• The Mirror of Jesus: Jesus is “God’s mind made up about us”. He is the mirror in which we see ourselves. When we gaze at Christ, we realize that His image, articulated in the Lord, is reflected within us.

Identity vs. Behavior

Your identity is defined by being in Him, not by your behavior.

• Not Defined by Actions: Bad behavior can move you away from your true design, but it does not change your design. Just as you remain a human being regardless of your actions, in God’s eyes, you are still His image, His son, and His child, and “none of your behavior has ever tweaked how God sees you in his heart”.
• Present Identity: The scripture affirms: “as he is, so are we in this world”. This is a present-tense reality; our identity in Christ is righteous, innocent, loved, empowered, complete, and in union with Him.
• Condemnation vs. Love: Adam and Eve changed how they looked at themselves when they sinned; God never changed how He looked at humanity. Your guilt and shame are based on how you look at yourself, not how God sees you.

Part 2: Practical Operation – Responding from Your True Self

Operating from your true identity means responding to all of life’s situations based on who you are in Christ, not on how things look or how you feel in the moment.

Aligning Experience with Identity

When you accept your true identity, every experience in life must be aligned with it.

• Conquering Fear: When fear tries to creep in, you pause and say, “Wait, that’s not who I am”. You declare, “I have not been given a spirit of fear; I’ve been given a spirit of love and power and of a sound mind”. You align your experience with the spirit of power, not the spirit of fear [z, 17].
• Overcoming Unforgiveness: If the “old self” wants revenge or to shut someone down, you pause and state, “That’s not me… I’m not going to hold on to unforgiveness”. The Christ in you remembers that you have been forgiven. This practice transforms reactions rooted in the flesh into responses rooted in grace.

The End of Striving

This revelation is the life-changing message of grace that is freeing hearts and renewing minds all over the world.

• No Striving Required: Sin is defined not just as bad behavior, but as living out of sync with who God created you to be. Jesus’s finished work makes you righteous, holy, and complete, so no striving is required.
• Believing You Already Are: You are no longer striving to become; you now start believing you already are.
• Authority and Confidence: Living from your Jesus identity, speaking from your Jesus identity, and releasing your authority from your Jesus identity gives you boldness, liberty, confidence, and assurance. As He is, so are we in this world.

Part 3: The Call to Connection and Transformation

The message of grace is a deep teaching that brings intimacy and approachability to God, described as a “breath of fresh air”. This transformation leads to an “unforgettable night of revelation and empowerment”.

Sustaining Your New Identity

To maintain this identity, continuous connection and alignment are vital:

• Podcast and Word: Keep the word of God at the forefront of your mind by utilizing resources that offer life-changing wisdom and powerful, uplifting messages. This helps you gain revelation of the fullness of God’s grace.
• Financial Support: Supporting ministries that spread the Gospel of grace helps equip them to reach people who are hurting and in need of revelation.
• The Ultimate Step (Born Again): The beginning of this intimate relationship requires receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. This simple prayer changes your entire eternal destination and welcomes you into the family of God.