As humans, we’re constantly searching for our identity. The big mistake we make is we look to others to define who we are. We compare ourselves, feed off others’ opinions, and use the experiences of other people to define ourselves. Instead, we should look inside and toward God to find our true identity.
It’s important to not confuse “Who does God think I am?” with “Who do I think I am?” When we focus inwardly, we lose sight of what is most important about our identity as followers of Christ – that it’s not our life, but His.
In this article, we’re looking at the scripture to help determine who God thinks we are and how we can use Him to help define ourselves when we feel like we lack direction and understanding of our identity.
Who Does the Bible Say I Am?
The story of the Prodigal Son teaches us about God’s love. He is our Father who welcomes us home even though we will always fall short. He loves us to no end. He loves us so much that He gave His only son Jesus to die for our sins. The scripture says that we are loved, His, worthy, and purposed. But what exactly does all of this mean?
John 3:16 says: 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.
God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only son to offer us eternal life in His kingdom. When we feel like we’re lacking direction or clarity in life, we need to remember this. We need to remember that God loves us, and He will always point us in the right direction if we simply look for the answer through Him.
John 3:1 says: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
This is an incredibly interesting verse because it explains that we are all God’s children, one of thegreatest gifts life can give us. The verse goes on to say if the world doesn’t know us, it’s because they don’t know God. To be His, we need to have a firm and stable relationship with Christ.
Zephaniah 3:17 says: The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love, He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
We are worthy of God’s love and praise. For as long as we believe in Him, trust Him, and praise Him, He will return the favor because we are worthy of His love, and we’ve earned a spot next to Him in the kingdom.
Jeremiah 29:11 says: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God teaches us that we all have an important purpose on this planet. We should never walk around feeling like we lack intent and direction because God has it all planned out for us. He says that His plans will not harm us; they will help us prosper, and provide hope and a future for all who believe.
It’s most important that we understand that we’ve already won. We’re saved and will receive the blessing of eternal life with Jesus Christ upon the death of this life. There is never any reason to feel scared, concerned, or upset because we’ve already won. No matter what happens, God has waged war and won the battle already. All we need to do is wait for Him to return.
How Can God Love Me?
Sometimes this life can leave us feeling beaten down, tired, sore, and exhausted. There are many hardships to face and obstacles to overcome. As we go through life, not only do we question God, but we question His love. It’s so critical to our life with Christ that we see His love in everything we do.
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” – John 17:22-23
God loves us because God is love. John teaches us so much about God’s love in the scriptures. He was Jesus’ closest friend, and he witnessed His life lived out as pure love. He saw firsthand how much God loves us. John didn’t wonder about who God said he was. He simply followed in God’s footsteps.
Who Is God?
In times of sorrow and sadness, we may question God. But what does the Bible actually say about God himself? We look toward the story of the Prodigal Son to understand God’s love and our choice to receive it. God the Father desires a relationship with us. He wants to know us, and we should want to know Him as well.
In Exodus 3:13-15, God says “I Am Who I Am . . . this is my name forever.”
God asks nothing of us in return for His grace and mercy but a relationship with us. By understanding who He is, we understand more about our purpose on this planet.
When we understand our purpose, it makes it easier to find direction and intent in our lives. The simple answer to who God is, is “I AM.” God is and forever will be, and that understanding comes from faith. When we have a strong faith, we no longer question who God is, and we simply accept Him as is.
What Does God Think About Me?
As Christians, it’s easy to wonder what God thinks about us. How does He feel about me? Does He think I’m a good person? Does He think I’m on the right track in this life? These are all reasonable questions.
But, in the end, it’s so important to refer to scripture rather than speculation about what is or what isn’t. Who does God say I am? The answer to that question is in the Bible. What does God think about me? It’s in the Bible too.
Isaiah 43:1 says: “I have called you by name; you are mine.”
God molded us in His image, and He calls us each with our own unique purpose. This is why it’s so important not to compare yourself to others and what they’re doing. Every person has their own unique set of qualities, aspirations, and achievements. There’s no need to compare yourself to another human being.
Instead, we should compare ourselves only to Christ. We should live a life that closely mimics what He would do and not worry about anything else.
Thanks to the popularity of social media we can constantly see what everyone is doing. Families are sharing every little thing they do, and it can be easy to become envious of others who seem to be living a better life than you.
As God’s children, we must take a step back and realize that none of that matters because: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” – Matthew 19:25-26
This should spark our desire to spend time with God in scripture and prayer. There is a clear difference between God and man in that verse. When we lean on ourselves and others for guidance and direction, everything is impossible. When we lean on God, nothing is impossible. Keep that in mind at all times and especially when life seems too difficult to manage.
But, does all of this really tell us what God thinks about us? The answer is, yes, it does. God is love, He represents the strongest form of love there is, and it’s a forgiving love. He asks for nothing more than a relationship with us, and if that doesn’t clearly say what God thinks of us, I don’t know what does.
Biblical Affirmations About Identity
These are affirmations with relevant scripture that you can use whenever you’re questioning your faith, lacking clearness of mind, or wondering what God has in store for you next.
I am a child of God.
But to all who have received him – those who believe in his name – he has given the right to become God’s children (John 1:12).
I am a branch of the true vine, and a conduit of Christ’s life.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me – and I in him – bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing (John 15:1, 5).
I am a friend of Jesus.
I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father (John 15:15).
I have been justified and redeemed.
But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).
My old self was crucified with Christ, and I am no longer a slave to sin.
We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin (Romans 6:6).
I will not be condemned by God.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
I have been set free from the law of sin and death.
For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
As a child of God, I am a fellow heir with Christ.
And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) – if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:17).
I have been accepted by Christ.
Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory (Romans 15:7).
I have been called to be a saint.
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours (1 Corinthians 1:2).
In Christ Jesus, I have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption . . . (1 Corinthians 1:30).
My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in me.
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you (1 Corinthians 6:19)?
Affirmations courtesy of Bible.org and all scripture passages from the NIV Holy Bible
Bible Verses About Who I Am
Here are some portions of scripture that directly tell us who we are. Hopefully, these help you better understand who you are as a Christian.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love and with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).” Ephesians 2:4-5 NAS
“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1a
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 NAS
“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11
“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
“He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will.” Ephesians 1:5
“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:27-28
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3
