Discovering Your True Identity in Christ

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Romans 5:8–9

Let’s delve into this beautiful passage, a powerful reminder of God’s unwavering love and forgiveness. It’s a message that resonates deeply with the core of our faith, a truth that sets us free from the shackles of guilt and shame.

The passage begins by declaring, “God is a God of forgiveness. He knows you perfectly and still loves you perfectly.” Think about that for a moment. God, the creator of the universe, the one who knows every intricate detail of your being, from the number of hairs on your head to the deepest desires of your heart, still loves you. Perfectly. Unconditionally. This isn’t a love based on your performance or your perfection, because let’s face it, none of us are perfect. It’s a love rooted in His very nature, a love that overflows with grace and mercy.

We often struggle with the idea of unconditional love. In our human relationships, love is often conditional. We fear that if people truly saw our flaws, our mistakes, our vulnerabilities, they would withdraw their love. We build walls around our hearts, afraid to expose our true selves. But God is not like that. His love isn’t contingent on our worthiness. He sees everything, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and He loves us anyway. This is a radical concept, a love that defies our human understanding.

The passage continues, “God sees all our imperfections, failings, and flaws on Jesus at the cross.” This is the heart of the Gospel. God didn’t just turn a blind eye to our sin. He didn’t minimize it or pretend it didn’t exist. Instead, He took it upon Himself. He placed the weight of our imperfections, our failings, our flaws, on Jesus at the cross. Imagine the immense burden Jesus carried, the sheer weight of humanity’s sin. He bore it all, so that we wouldn’t have to.

Our sins, our “ugliness,” as the passage so starkly puts it, don’t repel God. They don’t make Him love us less. Instead, they become the very occasions for Him to demonstrate His grace and forgiveness. Through the blood of His Son, Jesus, God washes away our sins, cleansing us and making us new. This isn’t a temporary fix or a superficial covering. It’s a complete and efficacious removal of our sins, accomplished once and for all at Calvary.

The passage then encourages us, “So don’t be embarrassed about your flaws, mistakes, and imperfections. God knows your weaknesses better than you do, and He loves you just the same.” How freeing is that? We don’t have to pretend to be perfect in God’s presence. We can come to Him as we are, with all our baggage, our struggles, and our brokenness. He already knows it all, and He loves us regardless. There’s no need to put on a facade or try to earn His love. It’s freely given, a gift beyond measure.

The writer then draws our attention to Hebrews 4:15, reminding us that Jesus is not someone “who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.” This is such a comfort. Jesus, who is God incarnate, understands our human experience. He walked this earth, faced temptations, and experienced the full range of human emotions. He knows what it’s like to struggle, to doubt, to feel pain. He is not distant or aloof. He is Emmanuel, God with us. He is intimately acquainted with our struggles and walks alongside us in our trials.

The passage emphasizes that Jesus was “tempted in all points, yet He was without sin.” This is crucial. Jesus wasn’t just sympathetic; He was also victorious. He faced the same temptations we face, yet He resisted them. He lived a perfect life, a life of complete obedience to God. This is the righteousness that He offers to us, a righteousness that we could never achieve on our own.

The passage then quotes Romans 5:8-9: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” This is the core message of Christianity. God’s love isn’t something we earn; it’s something He demonstrates. He loved us while we were still sinners, before we even knew Him or sought Him. This is the scandalous grace of God. He loved us at our worst, not because of our goodness, but because of His.

The writer then asks, “Did you get that? When did God love you?” The answer is resounding: when you were still a sinner. This truth is so profound that it bears repeating. God’s love isn’t a reward for good behavior; it’s the foundation upon which our lives are built. It’s the starting point, not the destination. And how much more does He love us now, when we have been cleansed by Jesus’ blood and made righteous! Our status before God has changed. We are no longer defined by our sin, but by the righteousness of Christ.

The passage uses a powerful analogy: “In the same way that a beautiful butterfly cannot morph back into a caterpillar, once you have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus, you cannot morph back into a sinner.” This is a beautiful image of transformation. Just as a caterpillar undergoes a complete metamorphosis to become a butterfly, so too do we experience a radical transformation when we come to Christ. We are made new creations, our old selves passing away and a new life beginning. This new life is not based on our own efforts, but on the finished work of Christ.

This understanding of our righteous identity in Christ is not a license to sin. On the contrary, it’s the very power that enables us to overcome sin. Knowing that we are loved, forgiven, and righteous in Christ empowers us to resist temptation and live a life that is pleasing to Him. It’s not about striving to earn God’s love; it’s about responding to the love that He has already freely given us. It’s out of this overflowing love that we find the strength to break free from every sin, every addiction, and every bad habit. It’s not about our performance; it’s about His grace.

My friends, this is the good news of the Gospel. It’s a message of hope, healing, and transformation. It’s a message that sets us free from the burden of guilt and shame and empowers us to live a life of joy and purpose.

Explore Moralisee.com for daily devotions that will further enrich your understanding of God’s love and grace. Dive deeper into His Word and discover the transformative power of His presence in your life.