Identity in Christ

How do we define identity- is it a culmination of our likes and dislikes, our experiences, our personalities?  Is identity preordained and deterministic- our God-given set of unique personal features?  Or is identity self-formed from societal pressures- defined through our jobs, successes or failures, how well we did in school, appearance, the car we drive, or even what other people say about us?  

Basing identity on exterior and superficial concepts leads to instability because we are defining ourselves through something outside of our control.  Instead we should base our identity on the way God sees us.  Our first core-belief about ourselves should be the concept that we are someone who is deeply loved by God first and foremost.  

Identifying ourselves based on how God sees us, we are free from reaffirming our worth through external influences.  We are good enough, worthy enough simply because God created us in His image.  We can live with confidence and stability because our definition of self is no longer constantly in flux or subject to how other's determine our significance.  We live in a world where society is desperately trying to tell us who we are or who we should be, but the world around us changes- our identity in Christ is our only permanence.  

In Paul's letter to the Ephesians he addresses the church in Ephesus teaching us about our identity in Christ.  In Ephesians 1, we are told that we have been chosen, redeemed and forgiven, blessed, and unconditionally loved.  

Ephesians offers us a great set of mantras to repeat to ourselves when we may feel lost or unworthy:

Ephesians 1:1-  I am a saint.

Ephesians 1:3-  I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Ephesians 1:4-5-  I am chosen and predestined for adoption to sonship by the Heavenly Father

Ephesians 1:6-  I am accepted by God and a recipient of his grace.

Ephesians 1:7-  I am redeemed and forgiven in Christ.

Ephesians 1:11-  I have a wonderful inheritance of spiritual riches in Christ.

Ephesians 1:13-14-  I am indwelled and sealed by the Holy Spirit who guarantees my inclusion into the family of God.

Ephesians 1:15-18-  I have access to spiritual wisdom and insight in Christ by the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:19-21-  I participate in the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ because of the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:22-23-  As a member of the Body of Christ I am united to the Lord and represent him on earth.