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Who Am I? — Identity in Christ, by Jerry Bridges
Endorsed by J.I. Packer, R.C. Sproul, and Richard Phillips.
The profound, glorious, liberating realities of our union with Christ.
Best-selling author Jerry Bridges (The Pursuit of Holiness, The Discipline of Grace, The Bookends of the Christian Life, and many other titles) asks perhaps the most fundamental question of human existence: “Who am I?” He then turns to Scripture to unpack for the Christian eight clear, interlocking, illuminating answers. Together, they explain the profound, glorious, liberating realities of our union with Christ.
- I Am a Creature
- I Am in Christ
- I Am Justified
- I Am an Adopted Son of God
- I Am a New Creation
- I Am a Saint
- I Am a Servant of Jesus Christ
- I Am Not Yet Perfect
A direct, honest presentation of biblical truth, and all-new material from Jerry Bridges, Who Am I? demonstrates for believers that they can and should rightfully claim for themselves an unshakeable, lifelong, personal foundation of confidence in one thing and one thing alone: their union with Christ through the gospel of a victorious, resurrected Savior.
Author
Jerry Bridges (1929–2016) was a longtime staff member of the Navigators and served for years with their collegiate ministry. In addition to his international speaking ministry, he wrote numerous books and devotionals including The Pursuit of Holiness, which has sold well over a million copies, and the award-winning The Discipline of Grace and I Will Follow You, O God.
Endorsements
Endorsed by J. I. Packer, R.C. Sproul, and Richard D. Phillips
Click for all endorsements
“Jerry Bridges’ gift for simple but deep spiritual communication is fully displayed in this warm-hearted, Biblical spelling out of the Christian’s true identity in Christ.”
—J. I. Packer
“I know of no one better prepared than Jerry Bridges to write Who Am I? He is a man who knows who he is in Christ and he helps us to see succinctly and clearly who we are to be. Thank you for another gift to the Church of your wisdom and insight in this book.”
—R. C. Sproul
“Who Am I? answers one of the most pressing questions of our time in clear gospel categories straight from the Bible. This little book is a great resource to ground new believers and remind all of us of what God has made us through faith in Jesus. Thank the Lord for Jerry Bridges, who continues to provide the warm, clear, and biblically balanced teaching that has made him so beloved to this generation of Christians.”
—Richard D. Phillips, Senior Minister, Second Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC
Blog Review –
“This book will provide immeasurable benefit in understanding our identity in Christ.”
Whenever you read a Christian book in which the life of the author and the content of the book match you may be on to something special. Combine those elements with well-written material, and you have the work we are considering.
Jerry Bridges has long been known for writing that is rich in biblical truth and that edifies those who follow Christ. This book is no exception.
I expected it to be a good read, but found myself chewing on how these truths could impact my life. We live in a society in which folks lack a clear understanding of themselves. Sadly this is true even amongst those who identify as Christians.
A careful reading of this book will provide immeasurable benefit in understanding our identity in Christ. It is well written and easily grasped. End-of-chapter thesis statements help readers not to miss the point.
Each chapter adds another layer in answering the question, “Who Am I?” Here are Bridges’ thesis statements for each chapter.
I am a creature, created in the image of God, fully dependent on him and fully accountable to him.
By the work of God, I am no longer in Adam: I am in Christ, through a union that is both living and representative.
I am justified, I am righteous before God, because God has charged my sin to Christ and credited to me his perfect righteousness.
I am an adopted son of God. I’m a child of the King. I have the privilege in this life of an intimate father-child relationship with him, and I look forward with expectant hope to an eternal inheritance that is far more glorious than anything I can imagine.
I am a new creation, with a new heart, a new spirit, and a new identity before God. Having been delivered from the dominion of sin and united to Christ, I am always able to resist temptation. When I do sin, I am always welcome at the cross, for all my sins have been forgiven in Jesus.
I am a saint: I do not belong to myself, but to God. I have been purchased and declared holy by God, and set apart for God. Thus, God is ever at work to cause me to grow in spiritual maturity, a process in which he calls me to cooperate, in every way, out of gratitude for his mercy.
I am a servant of Jesus Christ. By God’s grace, I serve him by serving others in the particular role or roles to which, in his providential wisdom, he has called me.
In this life I am and always will be imperfect, a saved sinner, seeking to grow in holiness and relating to God on the basis of grace that is mine because I am…in Christ!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Cruciform Press blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Frank Gantz
Blog Review –
“Should be a book that pastors look at giving all new Christians”
I received a paperback of Who Am I? while attending Together for the Gospel and have been sitting on it since. I’m going to start with my only complaint. The mannequin on the cover freaks me out. It reminds of one of those faceless robots from that cheesy Will Smith movie iRobot. Otherwise, I have no substantial critiques.
He starts by discussing our common identity with humanity in creation. Foundationally we are creatures but then he zeros in on the Christian’s unique identity in Christ as justified, adopted sons of God, new creations, saints, servants of Christ, and not yet perfect.
He also handles deftly the differences between initial sanctification and justification versus progressive sanctification and our effort.
Each of these topics could take over the party but they are clearly and accurately explained. His writing is approachable yet profound (the topics demand it).
Who Am I? should be a book that pastors look at giving all new Christians they minister to. The topics addressed are so foundational to Christian living and our understanding of salvation. The format lends itself to discussion and discipleship. Each chapter handles one of these topics carefully and accurately. They each build on each other and the entire book exudes a sense of hope and longing for the finality of our salvation.
Mathew Sims, Grace for Sinners