Day 16

16 - MY IDENTITY IN CHRIST

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Richard Dietrich, a youth pastor friend, was leading a student mission trip to Poland years ago. Knowing that his wife had Polish ancestry, he decided to find the town where her family was purportedly from, go to the city hall, and see if they could provide him with a family tree to take home as a keepsake for his wife. When Richard mentioned his wife’s family name, Promnitz, he was met with a shocking discovery for both himself and the city officials. It turns out, Richard’s wife is a direct descendant of the royal Von Promnitz family, who were thought to have been extinguished centuries before. The city officials began to apologize to Richard profusely, informing him that they had just sold his castle recently since they thought the family had long since disappeared. Now known in Poland as Count Dietrich, Richard has also been knighted. Sir Richard! He and his family can have an audience with the President of Poland any time they wish. He has met with Poland’s Generals and religious leaders. When Richard walked into the Zary City Hall that day, he had no idea who he was and what he owned. Land, castles, treasures. “Richard had no idea the opportunities and privileges his new identity would afford him. He can walk into any school or Catholic Church in the country and freely share his faith in Christ. Each year, his family hosts the Von Promnitz Music Festival that draws hundreds of thousands to hear the uncompromising message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His new identity has turned out to be a big, big deal!

Do we know who we are? Do we know our true identity? The Bible makes it clear. When we put our faith in Christ for forgiveness of our sins and the gift of eternal life, we are given a new identity. It’s a big, big deal! The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.”

Let’s investigate what the Bible says about our new identity “in Christ.”

• Which of these blessings and privileges do you treasure the most right now?

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Read 1 John 3:1.

• What does John tell us about our new identity?

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Read Matthew 5:13-14.

• What does Jesus tell us about our new identity?

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Read John 1:12.

• What does John tell us about our new identity?

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Read John 15:5.

• What does Jesus tell us about our new identity?

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Read John 15:13-15.

• What does Jesus tell us about our new identity?

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Read Romans 8:1.

• What does Paul tell us about our new identity?

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Read Romans 8:37.

• What does Paul tell us about our new identity?

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Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-10.

• What does Paul tell us about our new identity?

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Read 2 Corinthians 5:20.

• What does Paul tell us about our new identity?

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Read Galatians 2:20.

• What does Paul tell us about our new identity?

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Read Ephesians 1:5.

• What does Paul tell us about our new identity?

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Read Ephesians 1:11.

• What does Paul tell us about our new identity?

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Read Ephesians 2:10.

• What does Paul tell us about our new identity?

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Read 1 Peter 2:9.

• What does Peter tell us about our new identity?

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Apart From Him…

• Thank the Father specifically for those aspects of your new identity in Christ that are most significant to you right now.

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Walking As Jesus…

• Think of a friend who needs encouragement in their identity in Christ. Text them one of the above verses that you think will be especially encouraging to them.

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• My Personal Disciple-Making Plan: