YOU’RE NOT WHO THE WORLD SAYS YOU ARE. YOU’RE WHO JESUS SAYS YOU ARE.

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.” – 1 John 3:1. 

When people are saved, our first instinct is to teach them to do. To read the Bible, attend church, become part of a small group, serve, give, and so on. And of course, all these things are essential. But there is a prior step. If we are to navigate living for Christ in today’s complex culture, our first step is to ensure that we know who we are. So who are we? 1 John 3:1 gives us the answer:

No matter what shakes, moves, or changes around us, we know who we are because we know whose we are. Our Creator, Redeemer, and Guide has given us purpose, stability, and identity. The ways we serve Him, the places we shine His love, and the people to whom we live the message may change–but that doesn’t shake who we are in Christ. We are the loved and forgiven children of God. The Bible declares in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are no longer defined by our past mistakes, failures, or societal labels. Instead, we are defined by God’s love and grace.

We are cherished, valued, and accepted by God, not because of what we do, but because of who we are in Him. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”  

Living out our true identity also means embracing our God-given worth. Christ calls us to see ourselves through His eyes—loved and redeemed. We are heirs to His kingdom, and as Romans 8:17 says, “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”  

Furthermore, knowing our identity in Christ encourages us to reflect His character and love for others. Our lives become a testimony of His grace, showcasing His light through acts of kindness, forgiveness, and humility. As we grow in our understanding of who we are in Him, we naturally extend His love to those around us, becoming living proof of His transformative power.

 “God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation. So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters” (Hebrews 2:10-11). 

In conclusion, it’s not who the world says you are; you’re who Jesus says you are.  

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the traditional voices (family, society, profession, etc.) that often define our identity, and how are these identities fleeting compared to the permanence of identity in Christ?
2. How does the concept of being a “masterpiece” created by God (Ephesians 2:10) challenge or affirm your view of yourself?