What is a person's identity in Christ's eyes?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the eyes of Jesus Christ and according to the Coptic Orthodox tradition, your identity is not defined by worldly status, but by your ontological relationship with God. This identity is understood through three primary lenses:

1. Created in the Image and Likeness

Your fundamental identity is rooted in being created according to the image of God. As highlighted in the writings of the Church Fathers, specifically St. Athanasius the Apostolic, this means that every human being possesses a spark of the Divine Logos. You are a "rational" being (logikos) intended to reflect the purity and holiness of your Creator.

2. A Child of God by Adoption

Through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, your identity is transformed. You are no longer merely a creature of God, but a child of God by adoption. In Christ's eyes, you are a member of His Body. This identity is personal and absolute; as noted in the Holy Scriptures, even the very hairs of your head are numbered, and you are known by name to the Father (Matt. 10:30). You are the "workmanship" of God, called out of "non-being" into "being" by His specific will.

3. A Partaker of the Divine Nature (Theosis)

In the Coptic Orthodox faith, your identity is a dynamic journey toward deification/theosis. In Christ’s eyes, you are a candidate for eternity. St. Peter teaches that we are to become "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). This means your identity is tied to your potential for holiness:

• A Temple of the Holy Spirit: You are a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.
• A Sharer in His Sufferings and Glory: As outlined in the apostolic writings, your identity involves sharing in Christ’s sufferings so that you may also share in His resurrection glory. In Gethsemane and on the Cross, Christ saw you specifically, and His victory over death becomes your victory.

4. A Member of the Royal Priesthood

You are identified as part of a "chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9). Your identity in Christ's eyes is one of service and worship. You are "immaterial, holy light" in potential, meant to break asunder the bonds of the world to see Him who is revealed unto you.

Ultimately, in Christ’s eyes, you are a beloved soul for whom He shed His blood. Your identity is found in the "I AM," where your existence is sustained every moment by His love. You are not a random occurrence, but a person created for eternal communion with the Holy Trinity: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.