What Does Identity in Jesus Christ Mean?

Passage: Luke 24:44-49

Date: April 16, 2023

The theme of this sermon series is the purpose, calling, and mission of God's people. But before we explore those ideas, we must first understand what our new identity in Jesus Christ is. We hear people refer to their identity in Christ all the time. But what does it actually mean?

I will clarify what our identity in Christ means through Luke 24. Before Jesus explained the purpose of the scriptures to the two individuals at Emmaus and his disciples, they were experiencing much confusion and disappointment. But after Jesus explained the scriptures to them, they came away with clarity, passion, and a sense of purpose. The key difference is that they were beginning to understand their new identity in Christ.

We place our identity in so many things (e.g., vocational aspirations, financial success, relationships, etc.), but all these things will eventually fade; they cannot serve as a solid foundation. Moreover, in all these things, our identity is dependent on ourselves--our actions, potential, attitude, etc. The gospel of Christ, however, has freed us from all this. Now our identity is defined not by who we are; instead, our identity has been firmly established by who Christ is, which includes what Christ has done, what he is currently doing, and what he has promised to complete. 

As we grow in understanding our new identity, we will experience a clarity, passion, and sense of purpose so that we can fulfill God's calling in our lives!