Who Are You Really? Discovering Your Identity in Christ
We live in a world obsessed with identity. Open any social media app, and you'll find people defining themselves by their careers, their relationships, their political views, or their latest accomplishments. We're constantly being told that our identity is found in what we do, who we love, what we buy, or which team we root for on Sunday afternoons.
But what if our truest identity has nothing to do with any of that?
The apostle Paul's letter to the church in Philippi opens with just 29 words in the original Greek—a brief greeting that we might be tempted to skip over as mere formality. Yet packed within those few words is a revolutionary declaration about who we really are and where our identity truly comes from.
But what if our truest identity has nothing to do with any of that?
The apostle Paul's letter to the church in Philippi opens with just 29 words in the original Greek—a brief greeting that we might be tempted to skip over as mere formality. Yet packed within those few words is a revolutionary declaration about who we really are and where our identity truly comes from.
We Are Servants of Christ
Paul introduces himself and Timothy not as apostles, not as religious leaders, not as accomplished missionaries—but as "servants of Christ Jesus." The Greek word he uses is doulos, which literally means slave. This isn't about employment or volunteer work; it's about complete ownership and total devotion.
In a Roman colony like Philippi, where honor, status, and position meant everything, Paul's self-description was countercultural to say the least. The Romans worshiped Caesar as lord and demanded allegiance to the empire. Yet Paul declares that Jesus is Lord, and he gladly offers his complete allegiance to Christ alone.
What makes this even more striking is that Paul wrote these words from prison. His circumstances were dire, his freedom stripped away, yet he didn't see himself as a victim of injustice or a man robbed of his rights. He saw himself as a servant of Christ, and that identity remained unchanged regardless of his situation.
This is where gospel partnership begins—not with demands or entitlement, but with humility. Not through accomplishments that feed our pride, but through bowing our lives before Jesus Christ and seeking His will above our own.
We're tempted to build our identity around what we achieve. Many people struggle profoundly when they retire because their entire sense of self was wrapped up in their career. "I'm a teacher," "I'm a mechanic," "I'm a military man"—when that's gone, who are we? But if our identity flows from being servants of Christ, no change in circumstance can shake who we fundamentally are.
In a Roman colony like Philippi, where honor, status, and position meant everything, Paul's self-description was countercultural to say the least. The Romans worshiped Caesar as lord and demanded allegiance to the empire. Yet Paul declares that Jesus is Lord, and he gladly offers his complete allegiance to Christ alone.
What makes this even more striking is that Paul wrote these words from prison. His circumstances were dire, his freedom stripped away, yet he didn't see himself as a victim of injustice or a man robbed of his rights. He saw himself as a servant of Christ, and that identity remained unchanged regardless of his situation.
This is where gospel partnership begins—not with demands or entitlement, but with humility. Not through accomplishments that feed our pride, but through bowing our lives before Jesus Christ and seeking His will above our own.
We're tempted to build our identity around what we achieve. Many people struggle profoundly when they retire because their entire sense of self was wrapped up in their career. "I'm a teacher," "I'm a mechanic," "I'm a military man"—when that's gone, who are we? But if our identity flows from being servants of Christ, no change in circumstance can shake who we fundamentally are.
We Are Saints in Christ
Paul addresses his letter "to all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi." The word "saints" doesn't refer to a special class of super-spiritual people canonized by religious authorities. It means all of God's holy people—everyone who belongs to Christ.
If you belong to Christ Jesus, you are a saint. Not because of your achievements or your moral perfection, but because of your relationship with Him. You're a saint who sometimes messes up, yes, but a saint nonetheless.
This is crucial: we're called to be saints, not sinners who occasionally get things right. Our identity is rooted in who Christ has made us to be, not in our failures or our ongoing struggles.
The Philippian believers lived in a Roman colony, but they didn't belong to Rome—they belonged to a heavenly kingdom. They were surrounded by imperial religion and pressure to conform to the culture around them, but they worshiped the Lord who rules over all earthly powers.
The same is true for us. Our truest identity isn't found in our nationality, our political affiliation, or our cultural moment. We belong to a heavenly kingdom that transcends all earthly boundaries and allegiances. The gospel creates new people—a people made holy by God's grace, set apart for His mission, living a different story than the story the world tells.
Paul includes the overseers and deacons in his greeting not because they're more special than other believers, but because the whole church is called to unity. Leaders and members stand together as one family, sharing the same identity and standing under the same Lord.
As one theologian beautifully expressed it: "Gospel partnership is more than friendship or common interest. It is a shared life shaped by a shared Lord, a shared salvation, and a shared mission."
If you belong to Christ Jesus, you are a saint. Not because of your achievements or your moral perfection, but because of your relationship with Him. You're a saint who sometimes messes up, yes, but a saint nonetheless.
This is crucial: we're called to be saints, not sinners who occasionally get things right. Our identity is rooted in who Christ has made us to be, not in our failures or our ongoing struggles.
The Philippian believers lived in a Roman colony, but they didn't belong to Rome—they belonged to a heavenly kingdom. They were surrounded by imperial religion and pressure to conform to the culture around them, but they worshiped the Lord who rules over all earthly powers.
The same is true for us. Our truest identity isn't found in our nationality, our political affiliation, or our cultural moment. We belong to a heavenly kingdom that transcends all earthly boundaries and allegiances. The gospel creates new people—a people made holy by God's grace, set apart for His mission, living a different story than the story the world tells.
Paul includes the overseers and deacons in his greeting not because they're more special than other believers, but because the whole church is called to unity. Leaders and members stand together as one family, sharing the same identity and standing under the same Lord.
As one theologian beautifully expressed it: "Gospel partnership is more than friendship or common interest. It is a shared life shaped by a shared Lord, a shared salvation, and a shared mission."
We Are a Family Grounded in Grace and Peace
Paul's greeting concludes with a blessing: "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." These weren't just polite words or cultural formalities—they're a theological doorway into everything that follows in the letter.
Grace is undeserved kindness. It's the foundation of our identity. We're forgiven, saved, strengthened, and carried entirely because of God's grace. We didn't earn it, we can't lose it, and we don't deserve it.
Peace is the wholeness and rest that flows from knowing God through Christ. It's not the absence of trouble but the presence of stability in the midst of trouble. Peace is what allows us to live without anxiety, even when circumstances are difficult.
Grace gives us a new status before God. Peace gives us new stability in our daily lives. Grace shapes us into servants. Peace allows us to serve without fear or anxiety. Grace reminds us that God has made us saints. Peace reminds us that God holds us secure.
Grace gives us a new family—the church. Peace helps that family live in unity, even when we disagree about secondary matters.
Grace is undeserved kindness. It's the foundation of our identity. We're forgiven, saved, strengthened, and carried entirely because of God's grace. We didn't earn it, we can't lose it, and we don't deserve it.
Peace is the wholeness and rest that flows from knowing God through Christ. It's not the absence of trouble but the presence of stability in the midst of trouble. Peace is what allows us to live without anxiety, even when circumstances are difficult.
Grace gives us a new status before God. Peace gives us new stability in our daily lives. Grace shapes us into servants. Peace allows us to serve without fear or anxiety. Grace reminds us that God has made us saints. Peace reminds us that God holds us secure.
Grace gives us a new family—the church. Peace helps that family live in unity, even when we disagree about secondary matters.
Living Out Our Identity
So how do we actually live this out? How do we move from understanding our identity to embodying it?
Living as servants means laying down our pride. It means embracing humility and giving our lives to the mission of Jesus Christ. It's easy to say "I'm doing this for Jesus," but much harder to actually surrender our need for recognition, control, or having things our way.
Too many churches have split because both sides claimed to be serving Jesus—as long as they got their way. That's not grace and peace. That's not the life of a servant.
Living as saints means remembering who we belong to. We don't belong to the world, to social media, or to the prevailing culture. Our identity in Jesus Christ should shape our actions, our priorities, and our values. We take our place in the family of God, which means showing grace to one another rather than harboring bitterness, anger, or division.
Living in grace and peace means receiving what God has already given us. His grace makes us patient with one another. His peace allows us to be united even when we disagree. And we will disagree—that's inevitable when imperfect people come together. But we can be at peace even in our disagreements because our unity is rooted in Christ, not in uniformity of opinion.
This is what the people of the gospel look like: not perfect people, but transformed people. People shaped by Christ and His Word. People whose identity flows not from the world's constantly shifting standards, but from the unchanging love of God.
In a world that will always try to tell you who you are, remember the truth: You are a servant of Christ. You are a saint in Christ. You are part of a family grounded in grace and peace. That's who you really are.
Living as servants means laying down our pride. It means embracing humility and giving our lives to the mission of Jesus Christ. It's easy to say "I'm doing this for Jesus," but much harder to actually surrender our need for recognition, control, or having things our way.
Too many churches have split because both sides claimed to be serving Jesus—as long as they got their way. That's not grace and peace. That's not the life of a servant.
Living as saints means remembering who we belong to. We don't belong to the world, to social media, or to the prevailing culture. Our identity in Jesus Christ should shape our actions, our priorities, and our values. We take our place in the family of God, which means showing grace to one another rather than harboring bitterness, anger, or division.
Living in grace and peace means receiving what God has already given us. His grace makes us patient with one another. His peace allows us to be united even when we disagree. And we will disagree—that's inevitable when imperfect people come together. But we can be at peace even in our disagreements because our unity is rooted in Christ, not in uniformity of opinion.
This is what the people of the gospel look like: not perfect people, but transformed people. People shaped by Christ and His Word. People whose identity flows not from the world's constantly shifting standards, but from the unchanging love of God.
In a world that will always try to tell you who you are, remember the truth: You are a servant of Christ. You are a saint in Christ. You are part of a family grounded in grace and peace. That's who you really are.
Posted in Philippians: The Pursuit of Joy