“He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” (Ephesians 1:4)

The search for identity and meaning can drive one to great successes or tragic failures. However, for the Christian the question is answered through the Scriptures.

Chosen: You are selected as a favorite out of “many [who] are called” (Matthew 22:14) “out of the world” (John 15:19). What a privilege! You are God’s choice to bear His name, represent His cause, and share His glory throughout eternity. In fact, you are “predestinated [previous boundaries set] . . . unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself” (Ephesians 1:5). And “if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).

Accepted: Furthermore, you are “accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6). That word “accepted” is a specialized form of the word most often translated “grace.” You are “graced” by almighty God, who set absolute boundaries around your life and made you His child. You are purchased “through his blood” (Ephesians 1:7) “that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar [precious] people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).

Forgiven: Moreover, you are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7)! Your sins are covered (Psalm 32:1), cast behind God’s back (Isaiah 38:17), removed “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12), remembered no more (Jeremiah 31:34), as He has “cleanse[d] us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

If you are God’s child, you should have no identity crises. You are a chosen, predestined, accepted, redeemed, and forgiven holy one, predestined “to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). HMM III