Today I Identify as a Follower of Jesus

Being Identified with Christ: Embracing a New Life in Him

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to something far beyond just believing in Him — we are called to be identified with Christ. But what does that mean? To be identified with Christ is to recognize and experience the truth that our lives are united with His. This identification changes everything about who we are, how we live, and how we relate to the world around us.

1. United with His Death: Freedom from the Power of Sin

When we talk about being identified with Christ, we first consider His death. In Romans 6:6, the Apostle Paul writes: “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” Through our union with Christ, the power of sin is broken. Our “old self,” which was bound to sin and death, has been crucified with Jesus. This doesn’t mean we are sinless, but it means that the control sin once had over us is gone.

By being united with Jesus in His death, we are set free from the tyranny of sin. The weight of our old nature, with all its guilt and shame, has been dealt with at the cross. The moment we accept Jesus, we spiritually participate in His death, and our past is forgiven. We no longer live under sin’s dominion, but we are free to live for Christ.

2. United with His Resurrection: A New Life in Christ

The good news doesn’t end with death; it continues with the resurrection. Romans 6:5 says, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Just as Christ rose from the dead, we too are raised to new life. This isn’t merely a future hope — it’s a present reality.

When we are identified with Christ, we are given the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live in victory over sin. Our old self has been crucified, and we now have a new identity in Christ. The resurrection life is one of transformation. It’s the reality of living with the power and presence of Christ in our hearts, enabling us to reflect His nature and live in victory over the struggles that once defined us.

3. A New Identity in Christ: Living for Him

To be identified with Christ is to have our identity redefined. The apostle Paul writes in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” When we are identified with Jesus, we are no longer defined by our past, our mistakes, or our circumstances. Our identity is now found in Him.

This truth shapes how we see ourselves and how we live. As we identify with Christ, we stop living for ourselves and begin living for Him. This means surrendering our ambitions, desires, and goals to His will. It’s about allowing Christ to be the center of everything we do, whether it’s our work, relationships, or personal growth. We are now called to live out Christ’s love, grace, and truth to the world around us.

4. United with His Sufferings: Sharing in Christ’s Pain

Being identified with Christ also means sharing in His sufferings. In Philippians 3:10, Paul expresses, “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” As followers of Christ, we are not exempt from suffering. In fact, Jesus warned that we would face trials and persecution in this world (John 15:20). However, our sufferings are not meaningless.

In identifying with Christ’s suffering, we experience a deeper fellowship with Him. We are not alone in our pain. Jesus walks with us in our struggles, and our suffering has a purpose — it refines us and draws us closer to Him. Just as Christ’s suffering led to His glorification, our suffering leads us into greater intimacy with Him and prepares us for the glory that is to come.

5. Living with Hope: The Promise of Eternal Life

Finally, being identified with Christ gives us the hope of eternal life. Jesus not only died and rose again but promised us that we too would experience resurrection and live forever with Him. This hope is central to our identity in Christ. As believers, we have the confidence that death is not the end. In 1 Peter 1:3, it says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

This hope shapes how we live now. Because we are united with Christ, we know that the best is yet to come. Our struggles are temporary, and the joys we experience here on earth are a foretaste of the eternal joy that awaits us. Our identity in Christ is marked by this hope — the unshakable confidence that, because of His resurrection, we too will rise to live forever with Him.

Conclusion: Walking in the Power of Our Identity in Christ

To be identified with Christ is to experience a radical transformation in every area of life. It means we share in His death, His resurrection, His sufferings, and ultimately, His victory. Our identity is no longer defined by our past or by the world, but by our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Living out this truth requires us to walk in the power of His resurrection, to surrender our lives to Him, and to embrace the hope of eternal life. As we do, we reflect Christ’s love, grace, and truth to the world, drawing others to the Savior who has changed everything for us.

Let us, then, live as those who are truly identified with Christ, for in Him we find our true purpose, our true life, and our true identity.