And you are complete in Him, who has all authority over all principality and power. Colossians 2:10

It may seem strange, but believers, we need to be taught who we are—that we are the righteousness of God in Jesus (2 Cor 5:21); we are walking miracles. We were dead in trespasses and sins…But God made us alive in Jesus (Eph 2:1,5). You and I may not feel like walking resurrections, but we are (Rom 6:5).

The fact that many believers do not know their identity in Jesus, and do not feel as if it were true, isn’t new and isn’t surprising. Paul prayed for believers that we “may know the immeasurable greatness of (God’s) power toward us who believe” (Eph 1:18,19). Apparently, he thought the Ephesian believers needed God to teach them the wonders of who they were. He was praying for God to show them their identity.

Christian virtues like kindness, joy, peace and power are not just gifts that Jesus bestows upon us. They are the new nature He has recreated us with when we became Christians. They are the very kindness, joy, peace and power of Jesus Himself.

Paul was praying for the Ephesians (and us by extension) because we are apt to get this muddled. We are tempted to find our identity in things that are temporary, external and often of little true value. I knew a man whose identity was in his position as an elder. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that sooner or later he would exit that position and when it happened, it took years for him to recover. His identity had been revoked.

The same can be said when our identity is tied up in a job, relationship, a reputation, or whatever. It’s fine to grieve over the loss of any of these, but when it’s our identity, the loss is earth-shaking.

So when we as believers don’t know who we are (or worse, don’t like who we are) we have an identity problem. Our identity isn’t where it needs to be in Jesus. So when we look back on things we’ve done, missed opportunities to show God’s love, etc., there’s no use in flailing ourselves.

That might make our flesh feel better, but it won’t do any good at dealing with the same thing next time. Real change comes from our identity. And when our identity is in Jesus, then Jesus is our kindness, joy, peace and power (Jn 15:9, 15: 11, 14:27, Eph 6:10). Our identity is in Him, and our identities are essential to making us who we are.