Thanks for your gracious response. And you are right, being “in Christ” is the most important thing.

The question of “Who am I?” really is the question of “Who is Christ?” I am only found in my identity as God’s adopted child and heir.

Eric

Perhaps I mis-read it.

My bad.

I guess my perspective is that the most important question is not who I am (whether in Christ or not), but rather who is Christ (both in heaven and in me). Does that make sense?

Instead of gazing inwardly (navel contemplation), to understand anything at all I need to fix my eyes on Jesus. And we may be saying exactly the same thing, but I read yours as looking inwardly (“our identity”) to find the answer instead of upwardly (“Who do you say that I am?”, Jesus asked.) to find the answer

In the future I will attempt to keep my comments shorter, if you prefer.

In Him,

Marc

I’m kind of confused by your long comment. Not by the comment itself, but by the fact that it sounds like you are trying to disagree with me when you are agreeing with everything I said in my post.

I said that our identity is found in being a child of God. Another way of saying that is to be “in Christ.” You can’t be a child of God and not be in Christ.

We are saying the same thing.

Eric

You ask: What is the core of my identity? Who am I?

I disagree with your premise. The most important question is not “who I am?” or “Who am I?” but Whose I am.

I have been bought with a price, I am not my own, but Christ’s. (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

I am crucified with Him, it is no longer I that live, but He in me. (Gal 2:20)

I have been created for His pleasure and His glory and I am not to please myself, nor man, but rather live to please God. (Rev 4:11)

How I spend my time is probalby the greatest reflection of who I am and if I am walking in THE work He has for me, for I am His workmanship created IN Christ Jesus (Ps 27:4, Eph 2:10)

The follow quote from the book In Christ speaks to this:

In one consummate declaration we are told that God has purposed to sum up all things in Christ (Eph. 1:10) and that outside of Him there is nothing which has any place in the eternal purpose and intention of God. The plan, the method, the resources, the times, the eternities, are Christospheric.

The Creation is IN Christ.
The Life is IN Christ.
The Acceptance is IN Christ.
The Redemption is IN Christ.
The Righteousness is IN Christ.
The Sanctification is IN Christ.
The Hope is IN Christ.
The Spiritual Blessings are IN Christ.
The Consolation is IN Christ.
The Peace is IN Christ.
The Effectual Prayer is only IN Christ.
The Strength and Riches are IN Christ.
The Eternal Purpose is IN Christ.
The New Creation is IN Christ.
The Promises are IN Christ.
The Escape from Condemnation is IN Christ.
The One Body is IN Christ.
The Perseverance is IN Christ.
The Gathering into One is IN Christ.
The Bonds of Suffering Believers are IN Christ.
The “No Separation” is IN Christ.
The Perfect Man is IN Christ.
The Helpers Together are IN Christ.
There are the Churches IN Christ.
There are the Dead IN Christ.
There is the One New Man and the Perfect Man IN Christ.
We are Complete IN Christ.

http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/000888.html

And so to your original statement:

“This is a big claim, but I’m sticking to it. I strongly believe that understanding our identity is the most important lesson in life.”

I humbly submit to you Philippians 3:7-14

In Him,

Marc

Life gets too busy. It’s easier to shelve that away for another day. Thanks for bringing it up.

I’m not even prepared to respond… I want to go chew on it.