Your Identity in Christ
Your Identity, Position, and Inheritance in Christ: Complete in Christ From the Moment You Believe
What does it mean to be in Christ?
For the believer, this is far more than a comforting phrase. It describes our new identity, our spiritual position, our relationship with God, and the inheritance that has been freely given to us through Jesus Christ.
The moment we place our faith in the finished work of Christ—His death, burial, and resurrection—we are saved by grace through faith. We do not gradually become more saved, more accepted, or more complete as we mature. We receive our standing in Christ because of what Christ has already accomplished for us.
The grace message revealed through the Apostle Paul gives us a remarkable understanding of who we are as members of the Body of Christ.
Our identity is not based upon our performance.
Our position is not something we must climb toward.
Our inheritance is not a reward we must earn.
We are complete in Christ.
“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”— Colossians 2:10, KJB
Who We Are in Christ
Through Paul's epistles, Romans through Philemon, we discover a remarkable portrait of the believer.
When we trusted Christ, God placed us in Christ.
We are:
- Saved by grace
- Justified by faith
- Forgiven
- Redeemed
- Accepted in the beloved
- Sealed with the Holy Spirit
- A new creature
- A member of the Body of Christ
- Blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places
- Complete in Christ
- A child of God
- An heir of God
- A joint-heir with Christ
- Seated together with Christ in heavenly places
These aren't spiritual goals that we must eventually reach.
They describe who we are because of Christ.
Saved by Grace
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”— Ephesians 2:8, KJB
Salvation is God's gift.
We did not earn it, and we cannot boast about having accomplished it ourselves.
Justified by Faith
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”— Romans 5:1, KJB
God declares the believer righteous on the basis of Christ's finished work.
Our justification does not depend upon how well we perform after salvation.
Forgiven and Redeemed
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”— Ephesians 1:7, KJB
Our forgiveness rests upon Christ's blood and God's abundant grace.
Redemption is not something we slowly accomplish. It is something Christ accomplished for us.
Accepted in the Beloved
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”— Ephesians 1:6, KJB
Our acceptance before God is not based upon whether we had a good day spiritually.
We are accepted because we are accepted in the Beloved.
Sealed With the Holy Spirit
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”— Ephesians 1:13, KJB
The Holy Spirit seals the believer after believing the gospel.
A Member of the Body of Christ
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”— 1 Corinthians 12:27, KJB
Every believer is placed into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit.
We are members because God has placed us there.
A New Creature
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”— 2 Corinthians 5:17, KJB
Our identity has changed.
We are not simply an improved version of our old selves.
We are new creatures in Christ.
Complete in Christ
“And ye are complete in him...”— Colossians 2:10, KJB
Notice the wording.
Paul does not say that we become complete after reaching a certain level of spiritual maturity.
He says:
“Ye are complete in him.”
Our completeness is found in Christ Himself.
Our Position in Christ
Our identity tells us who we are.
Our position tells us where God has placed us.
Paul tells us:
“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”— Ephesians 2:6, KJB
This is an extraordinary truth.
God has already raised us up and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Our spiritual position is therefore not something we achieve through progressive spiritual advancement.
It is something God has already accomplished for us in Christ.
We Are in Christ
This is one of the most important expressions in Paul's epistles.
Our spiritual blessings flow from our union with Christ.
We are not trying to get into Christ.
We are already in Christ.
We Are Blessed in Christ
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”— Ephesians 1:3, KJB
Notice that Paul says all spiritual blessings.
Not some.
Not merely blessings we may eventually receive if we reach a higher level of spiritual maturity.
God has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
We Are Seated With Christ
Our heavenly position is based upon Christ's finished work.
We did not ascend there through religious achievement.
We did not earn a higher position.
God placed us there in Christ.
We Are Members of His Body
We are not independent spiritual beings trying to attain a special status before God.
We are members of the Body of Christ.
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:”— Romans 12:4, KJB
Every member has value and purpose.
We Have Liberty in Christ
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free...”— Galatians 5:1, KJB
Grace does not place us back under a performance system.
We have been made free.
Our liberty is found in Christ.
Our Inheritance in Christ
One of the most beautiful truths about our identity in Christ is that we are not merely forgiven sinners who have been rescued from judgment.
We have been brought into a new relationship with God.
We are children of God, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.
This is not a status we gradually earn through spiritual maturity.
It is part of who we are because we are in Christ.
We Are the Children of God
Paul writes:
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”— Romans 8:16, KJB
Notice that Paul does not describe this as a future possibility for believers who reach a particular level of spiritual maturity.
He says:
We are the children of God.
The moment we trust Christ, we become members of the Body of Christ and receive the Holy Spirit.
Our relationship with God has changed.
We belong to Him.
We are His children.
We Are Heirs of God
Paul continues:
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God...”— Romans 8:17, KJB
This follows a simple progression:
If we are children, then we are heirs.
Our inheritance is connected to our identity.
We do not first become spiritually mature and then qualify to become heirs.
We are heirs because we are children of God.
Galatians says the same thing:
“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”— Galatians 4:7, KJB
Our inheritance is therefore not something we earn by accumulating spiritual accomplishments.
It belongs to us through Christ.
We Are Joint-Heirs With Christ
Romans 8:17 takes this truth even further:
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ...”— Romans 8:17, KJB
The phrase “joint-heirs with Christ” is breathtaking.
We are not merely heirs of God in isolation.
We are joint-heirs with Christ.
Our inheritance is connected to our union with Him.
Christ is the Head, the Lord, and the exalted Saviour. We do not become equal with Him in His deity.
Rather, God has graciously made us fellow heirs with Christ according to His purpose and grace.
What we have received is not because we deserved it.
It is because of who we are in Christ.
Note: Joint-Heirship Is Not a "Spiritual Checkpoint"
This truth is especially important when considering teachings that make distinctions between ordinary believers and believers who supposedly attain a higher level of sonship, heavenly position, or inheritance.
Paul's language does not present joint-heirship as something we must eventually qualify for.
He says:
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ...”— Romans 8:17, KJB
The order is important:
Children → heirs → joint-heirs with Christ.
Our inheritance flows from our identity.
We don't become children because we mature.
We don't become heirs because we mature.
We don't become joint-heirs because we mature.
Rather, we grow in our understanding and appreciation of what God has already made us in Christ.
Spiritual maturity is valuable and necessary.
But spiritual maturity does not transform us into a higher class of believer.
There are no spiritual checkpoints that we must pass before God considers us His children, heirs, or joint-heirs with Christ.
Our Inheritance Is Guaranteed
God has not merely promised us an inheritance and then left us wondering whether we will ultimately receive it.
Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit is:
“...the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”— Ephesians 1:14, KJB
The word “earnest” carries the idea of a pledge or guarantee.
The Holy Spirit is God's earnest of our inheritance.
Paul had already explained:
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”— Ephesians 1:13, KJB
Notice the sequence:
You believed.
You were sealed.
The Holy Spirit became the earnest of your inheritance.
Our inheritance is therefore connected to God's work, not our ability to achieve a certain spiritual level.
What Is Our Inheritance?
Our inheritance encompasses the riches and blessings that God has given us in Christ.
Paul describes believers as having:
- Redemption through Christ's blood
- Forgiveness of sins
- Acceptance in the beloved
- The Holy Spirit
- All spiritual blessings in heavenly places
- A heavenly position in Christ
- Membership in the Body of Christ
- The hope of our future resurrection and glorification
- An eternal inheritance connected with God's purpose in Christ
Ephesians 1:3 summarizes the richness of what we already possess:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”— Ephesians 1:3, KJB
Again, notice the wording:
“hath blessed us.”
This is not merely describing something we might eventually receive after reaching a higher spiritual status.
God has already blessed us in Christ.
Our Future Glory
Romans 8 also points us toward something that is still future.
Paul says:
“...if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”— Romans 8:17, KJB
Our present identity and position are secure, while the full manifestation of our future glory is still ahead.
There is an important distinction here:
Our position in Christ is present.
Our inheritance is secured.
Our glorification is future.
We do not have to become more complete in order to be glorified.
Rather, because we belong to Christ, we have a glorious future ahead.
Paul later says:
“Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”— Romans 8:30, KJB
God's purpose for us reaches all the way to glorification.
We Don't Have to Earn Our Father's Approval
Understanding our inheritance changes the way we approach God.
A child who knows he belongs in the family does not spend every day trying to prove that he deserves to be part of the family.
Likewise, we don't serve God in order to convince Him that we deserve our inheritance.
We serve because we have already received such abundant grace.
We don't obey to become His children.
We obey as His children.
We don't serve to become heirs.
We serve as heirs.
We don't strive to become joint-heirs with Christ.
We live with gratitude because God has already made us joint-heirs with Christ.
Our good works should flow from grace—not from fear that God will remove our identity or withhold our place in Christ.
Living From Who You Already Are
The Christian life is not about trying to become someone God will finally accept.
It is about learning to live in light of what God has already accomplished for us in Christ.
When you feel inadequate, remember:
You are complete in Christ.
When you feel condemned:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...”— Romans 8:1, KJB
When you feel like you do not belong:
You are accepted in the beloved.
When you feel spiritually insecure:
You are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
When you are tempted to measure yourself by religious performance:
You are saved by grace, not by works.
When you feel spiritually insignificant:
You are a member of the Body of Christ.
When you wonder whether God has a purpose for you:
You are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
When you wonder whether you have reached a sufficient level of spiritual maturity:
Remember that your identity, position, and inheritance are based upon Christ—not your spiritual performance.
You are already:
A child of God.
An heir of God.
A joint-heir with Christ.
A member of the Body of Christ.
Sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
Complete in Christ.
Grace Changes How We Live
Knowing our identity should affect our daily lives.
Because we are accepted, we can stop striving for acceptance.
Because we are forgiven, we can walk in gratitude.
Because we are complete in Christ, we do not need to seek spiritual completeness somewhere else.
Because we are members of His Body, we can serve others with humility.
Because we have liberty, we can walk in grace rather than fear.
Because we are heirs and joint-heirs with Christ, we can live with confidence in God's purpose and the future He has promised.
Because we are God's workmanship, we can allow His Word to work in our lives.
Our behavior does not establish our identity.
Our identity gives direction to our behavior.
We do not live for our position in Christ.
We live from the position God has already given us in Christ.
We do not work to become heirs.
We serve as those who already have an inheritance in Christ.
A Grace-Filled Reminder
You do not have to become worthy enough for God to love you.
You do not have to reach a spiritual checkpoint to become complete.
You do not have to attain a higher sonship status.
You do not have to earn a greater position before God.
You do not have to work your way into an inheritance that God has already promised.
If you have trusted Christ, you are:
A child of God.
An heir of God.
A joint-heir with Christ.
A member of the Body of Christ.
Accepted in the beloved.
Sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
Complete in Christ.
Your inheritance rests upon God's grace and Christ's finished work.
The more you study Paul's epistles, the more you discover what God has already given you.
You aren't trying to climb your way into your inheritance.
You are learning to understand and appreciate the inheritance you already have in Christ.
You don't have to become more of a son or daughter of God.
You don't have to attain a higher position.
You don't have to pass spiritual checkpoints to become a joint-heir with Christ.
In Christ, you already belong.
In Christ, you are already complete.
In Christ, you already have an inheritance.
And that is something worth resting in.
30-Day Identity, Position & Inheritance in Christ Scripture Writing Plan
Use these passages to meditate on what God has already accomplished for you in Christ.
Day 1 — Romans 8:1
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus...”
Day 2 — Galatians 2:20
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me...”
Day 3 — Ephesians 1:3
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”
Day 4 — Colossians 3:3
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
Day 5 — Ephesians 2:6
“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
Day 6 — Romans 5:1
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
Day 7 — 1 Corinthians 6:11
“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified...”
Day 8 — Ephesians 1:7
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”
Day 9 — 2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature...”
Day 10 — Colossians 2:10
“And ye are complete in him...”
Day 11 — Ephesians 2:10
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works...”
Day 12 — Romans 8:16–17
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ...”
Day 13 — Galatians 4:7
“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
Day 14 — 1 Corinthians 12:27
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
Day 15 — Romans 6:14
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
Day 16 — Titus 3:5
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...”
Day 17 — Ephesians 4:24
“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Day 18 — Colossians 3:12
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved...”
Day 19 — Philippians 1:6
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
Day 20 — 2 Timothy 1:9
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace...”
Day 21 — Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Day 22 — Ephesians 1:13–14
“...after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance...”
Day 23 — Galatians 5:1
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free...”
Day 24 — Romans 6:18
“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
Day 25 — Colossians 3:15
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body...”
Day 26 — 2 Corinthians 5:21
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Day 27 — Romans 12:5
“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
Day 28 — 1 Thessalonians 5:5
“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”
Day 29 — Philippians 3:20
“For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”
Day 30 — Ephesians 1:6
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
Remember
Your identity is in Christ.
Your position is in Christ.
Your righteousness is in Christ.
Your completeness is in Christ.
Your inheritance is in Christ.
You are a child of God.
You are an heir of God.
You are a joint-heir with Christ.
You are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
You are a member of the Body of Christ.
You don't have to attain what God has already given you.
You don't have to become complete.
You are complete in Him.
© Adrienne Jason. Feel free to share with others.
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