Grounded in Christ: Knowing Who You Are and Whose You Are

In a world where identity is often shaped by social media, status, or achievements, believers are called to find their identity not in temporary things, but in Christ. To be grounded in Christ means to be firmly rooted in the truth of who Jesus is, what He has done, and what that means for who we are in Him. As Paul writes in Ephesians, this identity is not vague or symbolic, it is concrete, transformative, and eternal.

The Foundation: Who's You Are

Before we explore who we are in Christ, we must understand whose we are. This is critical.

“You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)

The Greek word for “bought” here is ἠγοράσθητε (ēgorásthēte) a verb from the root agorazō, meaning to purchase in the marketplace. It implies full ownership has transferred.

This means our lives are no longer ours to define or direct independently; we are now belonging to Christ - body, soul, and spirit.

Jesus affirms this in John 10:27–28:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

The phrase “I know them” in Greek is γινώσκω (ginōskō) a term of deep relational knowledge, not just mental awareness. We are fully known and held by Him.

The Gospel Core: Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ

Our identity is rooted in the Gospel - the good news - which is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Death – Jesus took on the penalty for our sin.
Greek: ἀπέθανεν (apethanen) – “He died,” aorist active indicative, signaling a completed, historical act.

Burial – He was laid in the tomb, confirming His physical death.
Greek: ἐτάφη (etaphē) – “He was buried.”

Resurrection – He rose in power, affirming His divinity and victory.
Greek: ἐγήγερται (egēgertai) – “He has been raised,” perfect tense, indicating a completed action with ongoing results.

Romans 6:4 declares:

“We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead... we too might walk in newness of life.”

Thus, our new identity is tied to His resurrected life.

The Book of Ephesians: Who We Are in Christ

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is perhaps the most profound declaration of identity in Christ in all of Scripture. Let’s go verse-by-verse through key sections.

Ephesians 1:1-6 - Chosen and Adopted

1:4 – “Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…”
Greek: ἐξελέξατο (exelexato) – "He chose," indicating divine initiative and purpose.

1:5 – “He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ…”
Greek: υἱοθεσίαν (huiothesian) – “adoption,” a legal term meaning full rights as heirs.

Truth: You are not an accident. You were chosen, loved, and adopted into God’s family before time began.

Ephesians 1:7-10 - Redeemed and Forgiven

1:7 – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses…”
Greek:

• ἀπολύτρωσιν (apolytrōsin) – “redemption,” meaning to pay a ransom.

• ἄφεσιν (aphesin) – “forgiveness,” meaning release or cancellation of debt.

Truth: You are no longer under condemnation. You are forgiven and set free.

Ephesians 2:1-10 - Made Alive in Christ

2:1 – “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins…”
Greek: νεκροὺς (nekrous) – “dead,” not sick or struggling spiritually dead.

2:4–5 – “But God, being rich in mercy... made us alive together with Christ…”
Greek: συνεζωοποίησεν (synezōopoiēsen) – “made alive together,” a compound verb denoting shared resurrection life.

2:10 – “For we are His workmanship...”
Greek: ποίημα (poiēma) – "poem," "masterpiece," or "work of art."

Truth: You are not your past. You are God’s masterpiece, alive and purposed in Christ.

Ephesians 3:16-19 - Rooted in Love

3:17 – “…that you, being rooted and grounded in love…”
Greek:

• ἐρριζωμένοι (errizōmenoi) – “rooted,” like a tree whose roots go deep.

• τεθεμελιωμένοι (tethemeliōmenoi) – “grounded,” like a building on a strong foundation.

Truth: Your security comes from Christ’s love not your performance or popularity.

Ephesians 4:22-24 - A New Self

4:22 – “Put off your old self…”
Greek: ἀποθέσθαι (apothesthai) – “to cast off,” like removing dirty clothes.

4:24 – “Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God…”
Greek: ἐνδύσασθαι (endysasthai) – “to clothe oneself.”

Truth: You are no longer who you once were. In Christ, you are clothed with righteousness.

Ephesians 6:10-18 - Stand Firm

6:11 – “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand…”
Greek: στήναι (stēnai) – “to stand,” a military term meaning to hold your ground.

This entire section is a call to remain grounded, armed with truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God.

Being Grounded in Christ: Hebrew and Aramaic Echoes

In the Old Testament, being grounded in God is described with images of steadfastness, covenant, and rootedness.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 – “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord... He is like a tree planted by water…”
Hebrew:

• שָׁתוּל (shatul) – “planted,” implies permanence and nourishment.

• בָּטַח (batach) – “trust,” conveys confidence and security.

In Aramaic (spoken by Jesus), the idea of foundation appears in Matthew 7:24:

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Aramaic for "rock" is כֵּיף (kepha) a firm foundation, unshakable.

In Conclusion:

Know Who You Are—And Whose You Are

When you know whose you are, everything changes. Your purpose, identity, and value are no longer defined by this world but by the One who died, rose, and lives for you. The book of Ephesians shows in beautiful detail how God sees us: chosen, redeemed, forgiven, adopted, alive, loved, and purposed.

You are not just known; you are loved eternally. You are not just saved, you are sealed and sent. You are not just a Christian; you are a child of the King.

So be grounded. Be rooted. Not in yourself, not in the culture, but in Christ the cornerstone.

At Goldbar Defense, we believe that knowing who you are and more importantly, whose you are changes everything. When you understand that your body is not your own but on loan from God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), you begin to see training not just as preparation for defense, but as a form of stewardship.

This mindset leads our students to take their training more seriously, focusing not only on self-defense but also on maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual health. Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. It's a journey that is often slow, sometimes difficult but always worth it.

That’s why at Goldbar Defense, we don’t just train people to be stronger or more skilled; we encourage them to grow day by day, step by step into the people God created them to be. After all, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - Lao Tzu

Remember when seconds count and help is minutes away you are your own first responder.

Stay safe my friends.

Pastor Bart Goldbar

Goldbar Defense LLC