“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
We spend so much of our lives trying to answer the question, “Who am I?” We search for identity in what we achieve, in what others say about us, in the pain we’ve endured, or in the roles we’ve taken on just to survive. But none of those things can hold the full weight of who you truly are.
Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20 reveal a greater truth—your identity isn’t something you construct; it’s something you receive. When you come to Christ, the old self—shaped by fear, pride, and pain—is crucified with Him. It’s no longer the center of your life. And in its place, His very life takes root in you.
This means you’re not defined by:
Instead, you are defined by union with Him. His love becomes your foundation. His Spirit becomes your source. His life becomes your life.
But here’s the most important part: you cannot know who you truly are until you know who He truly is.
Your identity isn’t something you strive to discover through self-improvement or performance. It’s revealed in intimacy with Him. The more you know Him, the more you’ll understand who you really are.
So the question isn’t just, “Who am I?” The deeper question is, “Who is He?” Because when you know Him, you’ll finally see yourself clearly.
When Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ,” the Greek verb συνεσταύρωμαι (synestaurōmai) is in the perfect tense—meaning a past action with ongoing, lasting results.
This is not a poetic flourish. It means something decisive happened at the cross: the old I—the self that lived apart from God—was not just wounded or rehabilitated. It was executed. And the result of that crucifixion continues into the present.
So what is this old self?
But then Paul says, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
The word lives here is ζῇ (zē)—present tense, active voice, continuous. Christ’s life in you is not symbolic, not occasional, but ongoing and sustaining.
Your life isn’t just inspired by Him. It’s infused with His Spirit. You aren’t trying to hold yourself together; His very life is now the source and center of yours.
Knowing Him Reveals Who You Are
But here’s the deeper truth: You cannot know who you truly are until you know who He truly is.
Identity doesn’t come from staring harder at yourself. It’s revealed as you draw near to Him.
The False Self vs. the True Self
From a psychological lens, many of the traits we call “personality” are actually protective adaptations.
Over time, these survival strategies become so ingrained that you say, “This is just who I am.”
But in reality, they are a mask of fear.
Scripture names this clearly. Ephesians 4:22 speaks of the “old self” (παλαιὸν ἄνθρωπον – palaios anthrōpos), the self corrupted by deceitful desires. It aligns exactly with what modern psychology calls the false self.
The Old Self is Crucified, Not Managed
Here’s the hope—biblically and clinically: you don’t have to spend your life endlessly managing or polishing the false self. In Christ, the old self is crucified, not improved. Healing is the process of learning to recognize those old patterns and letting them die, day by day, as you step into the new life you already have in Him.
But don’t miss this—healing isn’t found in self-effort. It’s found in intimacy. The more you know His heart, His presence, His truth, the less you cling to those survival masks. Knowing Him is what frees you to finally know who you really are.
When the Labels Fall Away
Take a quiet moment and ask yourself:
Think of the labels you’ve carried: successful, failure, strong, broken, too much, not enough. None of these tell the whole truth. In Christ, they all lose their power.
The Most Important Step: Know Him
If you truly want to know who you are, start by knowing Him. Not through performance or religious striving, but through intimacy.
Spend time in His Word to see His heart. Sit with Him in prayer—not with a list of tasks, but with a posture of openness. The more clearly you see His goodness and love, the more the false layers fall away.
My old self is crucified. My true life is hidden in Christ—secure, whole, and free. To know who I am, I must know who He is.
Find a quiet place where you can sit comfortably—feet planted, shoulders relaxed. Take a moment to notice how you’re holding yourself. Is there tension in your chest? A heaviness in your thoughts? Just acknowledge it. You don’t have to fix it.
Now let’s begin:
Inhale deeply through your nose for a slow count of 4. As you do, silently whisper,
“It is no longer I who live…”
Hold the breath gently for a moment. Picture yourself laying down every false label, every mask, every survival identity you’ve carried.
Exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of 6. As you release the air, whisper,
“…but Christ lives in me.”
Repeat this rhythm 5–7 times, staying slow and intentional. With every inhale, receive the reality of His life in you. With every exhale, release the need to perform or prove yourself.
If your mind starts to wander, that’s okay—just gently return to the words:
“It is no longer I who live… but Christ lives in me.”
Let this truth move beyond just your thoughts. Feel it soften your body, calm your breathing, and quiet your spirit. Let His presence meet you in this stillness.
When you’re ready, sit in silence for a moment of gratitude. Simply thank Him for being near—and for being enough.
Taking time to reflect is one of the most powerful tools for spiritual growth and self-awareness. These journal prompts are designed to help you pause, process, and partner with God in the places He’s refining you. Don’t rush the answers—let the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts. As you write, ask God to reveal what’s beneath the surface and align your heart more fully with His truth and design.
Jesus,
I’ve spent so much of my life building an identity out of fear—trying to prove myself, protect myself, or earn love I could never keep. But You say my old self is crucified. You say I’m hidden with You. I want to know You more, because I can’t know who I am apart from knowing who You are. Strip away every false label I’ve worn. Anchor me in Your love and let Your life in me be my truest identity.
Amen.
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Disabled combat veteran turned Kingdom builder. I write to equip others with truth, strategy, and the fire to live boldly for Christ. Every battle has a purpose. Every word here is for the ones who refuse to stay shallow.
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This blog and podcast are a reflection of my journey as a follower of Christ, a disabled combat veteran, and a lifelong seeker of personal growth, faith, and resilience. Through radical honesty and authentic conversations, I share my struggles, victories, and lessons learned in overcoming fear, trust issues, and self-doubt. My mission is to inspire, encourage, and empower others to live with faith, purpose, and intention—embracing challenges, breaking strongholds, and pursuing the life God has called us to live.