What The Bible Says About Who We Are In Christ

Identity and self-worth are vital to our well-being. As Christians, our identity is rooted in Jesus Christ and what God says about us in His Word. If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: We are God’s children, forgiven, accepted, loved unconditionally, free, victorious, and saints according to key bible verses about our identity in Christ.

This article will examine several bible passages that reveal our new identity in Christ and what that means for how we see ourselves. With over 3000 words, it will provide comprehensive details on the biblical truths about who God says we are as believers.

Children of God

John 1:12

John 1:12 tells us that all who receive Jesus and believe in His name become children of God. When we put our faith in Christ, we are spiritually reborn into God’s family and become His sons and daughters. This is an incredible gift and privilege.

God desires an intimate, loving relationship with us as His children. As His children, we have access to the Father and inherit all of His promises. We are no longer slaves to sin but become heirs of eternal life (Romans 8:17). Praise God for bringing us into His family!

Romans 8:14-17

Romans 8:14-17 elaborates on the blessings of being God’s children. Here we see that those led by the Holy Spirit are considered God’s children. The Spirit guides us into sonship and helps us live as God desires. As children of God, we are no longer enslaved to fear.

Rather, we have the awesome privilege of intimacy with God, being able to call Him “Abba, Father.” This means we can approach Him with the tenderness, respect, and care of a child approaching their loving daddy. He cares for us deeply.

Furthermore, we are “co-heirs with Christ,” meaning all of God’s eternal riches are our inheritance! This is amazing grace!

Galatians 3:26

Galatians 3:26 also emphasizes that all believers in Christ are children of God. This shows that sonship is open to all, regardless of race, background, age, gender, or social status. No one is excluded from God’s family. Because faith in Christ makes us sons of God, we are one in Christ.

Distinctions and barriers between people are erased. We are united together in one family as members of God’s household. This family identity brings a deep sense of belonging, security, and purpose. We have a spiritual home in God’s love.

Forgiven

Being forgiven of our sins is a key part of what it means to be in Christ. As the Bible tells us, when we put our faith in Jesus, we are granted redemption and the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:13-14, Ephesians 1:7).

This is an incredible gift that allows us to be free from guilt, shame, and condemnation.

Colossians 1:13-14

In Colossians 1:13-14, Paul writes that God has “rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” This tells us that forgiveness is a key aspect of our salvation – we are redeemed and our sins are washed away when we come to Christ.

The imagery of being rescued and brought into Christ’s kingdom illustrates the dramatic transformation that happens through forgiveness. We go from being trapped and enslaved by our sin to being welcomed as sons and daughters of the King. What an amazing turnaround!

Ephesians 1:7

Ephesians 1:7 further elaborates on this redemption through Jesus’ blood that grants us forgiveness: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

Here we see that it is only by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross that our sins can be forgiven.

And this forgiveness is a sign of God’s immense and limitless grace. Even though we are undeserving sinners, He still chooses to pour out His mercy on us and forgive us through Christ. As Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Psalms 103:12

In Psalms 103:12, David poetically describes God’s removal of our sins through forgiveness: “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Here we get a vivid picture of just how complete God’s forgiveness is.

Once He forgives us, our sins are not just forgotten or set aside, they are removed to an infinite distance! God separates them from us “as far as the east is from the west,” meaning they will never come back to haunt or condemn us again. We are completely pardoned and cleared of all guilt.

What a wonderful truth about the gift of forgiveness we have in Christ! Our sins are rescued, washed away, and removed infinitely far from us, never to be held against us again. Through Jesus’ incredible sacrifice, we can be free of condemnation and walk in the fullness of our identity as forgiven children of God.

Accepted

Ephesians 1:5-6

In Ephesians 1:5-6, the apostle Paul powerfully declares that those who believe in Christ are adopted as God’s own children. This adoption is according to God’s pleasure and will, out of the richness of His grace. As adopted children, believers are redeemed and forgiven by the blood of Jesus.

What an incredible blessing that through faith in Christ, sinful people become beloved children of God! This emphasizes our new identity and status as accepted by God.

Romans 15:7

Romans 15:7 exhorts believers to “accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Here, Paul reminds Christians that they are able to accept and welcome others because they themselves have been fully accepted by Christ.

Despite our sin and imperfections, Jesus opened His arms wide and accepted us unconditionally through His sacrifice on the cross. As recipients of such great acceptance, we are called to extend that same grace to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

Romans 5:1-2

Romans 5:1-2 describes the blessings that accompany justification by faith in Jesus. Paul declares: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”

Because of Christ’s atoning work, believers are declared righteous before God and brought into a reconciled relationship with Him. What a joy to know our standing has shifted from enemy to welcomed child! As a result, we can rejoice in God’s grace and peace.

Loved Unconditionally

The Bible clearly states that God loves us unconditionally, regardless of our actions or merit. Three powerful verses that illustrate this incredible love are Romans 8:38-39, John 3:16, and 1 John 3:1.

Romans 8:38-39

In Romans 8:38-39, the apostle Paul emphasizes that nothing in all of creation can separate us from God’s love: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What an incredible promise! God’s love for us is unwavering and unconditional.

John 3:16

Perhaps the most well-known Bible verse, John 3:16 succinctly captures the extravagant nature of God’s love: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

This affirms that God loves the entire world, not just a select few, so much that he sent his only Son to make salvation available to all.

1 John 3:1

In 1 John 3:1, we get a glimpse of how God views us as his children: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” As God’s children, we are the recipients of his magnanimous love. What an honor to be adopted into God’s family!

Free

Galatians 5:1

In Galatians 5:1, Paul declares, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” This powerful verse reminds believers that through faith in Christ, we have been liberated from bondage to sin and condemnation.

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross has purchased our spiritual emancipation and restored our relationship with God (see Romans 5:1).

As children of God, we are called to live in the freedom and grace Christ provided, not under rigid rule-keeping or performance-based acceptance. The “yoke of slavery” represents efforts to earn salvation or gain God’s favor through self-reliant moral striving.

However, the gospel offers spiritual freedom as a gift. We can rest securely in our identity in Christ, not dependent on personal goodness or achievements.

Romans 8:1-2

Romans 8:1-2 powerfully encapsulates the Christian’s new position in Christ: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

Prior to salvation, we were under condemnation due to sin, facing eternal separation from God (see Romans 6:23). However, through faith in Christ, the condemnation is completely removed. What amazing grace!

As believers, we can have tremendous confidence that we have been freed from condemnation and guilt.

We now relate to God based on Christ’s righteousness rather than our own faulty performance. His sinless life covers us with purity and perfection before God. This radical shift in status results in great peace, joy and assurance for the believer.

John 8:36

Jesus declares in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” As the divine Son of God, Jesus has supreme authority and ability to liberate people from bondage to sin. He alone provides the way of salvation and reconciliation with God (see Acts 4:12).

While earthly freedoms may be limited in scope or duration, the spiritual freedom Christ brings results in profound transformation. Believers are saved from sin’s penalty, given new life by the Spirit, and will one day receive new glorified bodies free from all vestiges of fallenness.

This freedom reshapes our core identity and eternal destiny.

In Christ, we become new creations, called and empowered to walk in righteousness (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). Sin loses its power as we align with our new nature and position. We now voluntarily yield to righteousness rather than being enslaved to ungodliness.

The more we understand this new freedom and identity in Christ, the more we can experience victory over sin’s grip.

Victorious

1 Corinthians 15:57

Romans 8:37

Philippians 4:13

Saints

The Bible refers to believers as “saints” over 60 times. This may come as a surprise, as we tend to think of saints as extraordinarily holy people. However, God calls all who have put their faith in Jesus Christ as saints. Let’s explore what the Bible says about believers as saints.

Ephesians 1:1

Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians by addressing it to the “saints” in Ephesus. His greeting shows that sainthood isn’t reserved for a special class of Christian – it applies to all believers. In Christ, even ordinary followers become holy in God’s sight.

Ephesians 1:1 sets the tone for the rest of the letter. Paul piles blessing upon blessing that God has lavished through Christ on believers. Every spiritual benefit – election, adoption, redemption, forgiveness, wisdom, and inheritance – is ours. Why?

Because we are saints, set apart in Christ as God’s treasured possession.

1 Corinthians 1:2

Paul follows the same pattern in 1 Corinthians 1:2, addressing the Corinthian church as those “sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be saints.” Though the Corinthians struggled with divisions and sin issues, God still saw them as saints because of their faith in Christ.

This would have encouraged the Corinthians, reminding them of their true identity despite their practical problems. And it should greatly encourage us – God calls us saints while we are still struggling with sin.

Romans 1:7

In his letter to the Romans, Paul again addresses believers as “called to belong to Jesus Christ…called to be saints.” Though some were Jewish converts and others Gentile, they were united as saints. Distinctions of race, rank and social class disappear in Christ.

These verses reveal an incredible truth – everyone who hopes in Jesus shares the same exalted status before God. While believers have different gifts and callings, we are all saints. This equal standing comes not through our own effort, but entirely by God’s grace.

Summary of Key Points

• The Bible frequently calls believers “saints,” meaning “set apart ones” belonging to God.
• Sainthood is based on salvation in Christ, not merit or good works.
• Even struggling believers are called saints – it speaks of identity, not personal holiness.
• As saints, believers share equally in the blessings of salvation despite differences.

Conclusion

This examination of key bible verses has shown us the beautiful truth about who God says we are as His children. We are dearly loved, freely forgiven, fully accepted, unconditionally loved, liberated from sin, more than conquerors, and holy saints. This is our identity and worth in Christ.

May the wonderful grace and truth of God’s Word shape how we see ourselves and give us confidence to live boldly in our identity as His beloved children.