What does it mean to see who you are in Christ?

Question: I’ve always heard the phrase “You should see yourself for who you are in Christ”. I don’t really have a good grasp on this phrase. I think if I had a better understanding of who I am in Christ and truly believed it, then my life would be different. I usually get plagued with everyday life and hearing lies and being deceived. I want to be humble, but I don’t want to have a low self-worth. I get those two mixed up often.

Answer: One of Paul’s most common phrases is “in Christ.” He talks about us being blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, being chosen in him, redeemed in him (Ephesians 1:3-7). He says we are accepted in him (Romans 14:3), alive to God in him (Romans 6:11) and sanctified in him (1 Corinthians 1:2).

All of this is because we have been joined to Christ when we believed in him (Ephesians 1:13). Now God views us as having had the same experience as Christ, crucified, buried and risen again (Romans 6). What is true of Jesus is true of us, as far as God is concerned. So when he relates to us, he relates to us the same way he relates to his Son, Jesus. Consequently, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). We are deemed as righteous as he is.

When we recognize that we have this position with God because of what Christ has done, we have greater confidence in our relationship to Him and a greater sense of His desire to work through us in the lives of others. It does not mean that we think we have arrived. On the contrary, it gives us a realistic sense of who we are. We are susceptible to great rebellion, but in Christ we have One who can rein in our wayward hearts, and who loves us no matter what. Even if we are in rebellion, he loves us. We are people of great worth because of being in Christ, and God will never give up on making us more like Christ.