Who I Am in Christ

by Neil T. Anderson

God never gives up on us. He remains steadfast in His desire to bless us, even when many of us are tempted to doubt His love. The great tragedy is that so many of us spend our lives trying to earn something we already have, the gift of life which God freely gives us when we decide to follow Christ. This amazing devotional from best selling author Neil Anderson will give readers back what the enemy is trying rob from them, an understanding of their special place in God’s family. Here are 36 readings and prayers based on scriptural passages that assure us of God’s love and our security and freedom in His kingdom.

Genres: Christian, Devotional, Faith, Christianity, Nonfiction, Theology, Christian Non Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

NEIL T. ANDERSON is founder and president of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He was formerly the chairman of the Practical Theology Department at Talbot School of Theology. He holds five degrees from Talbot, Pepperdine University and Arizona State University and Arizona State University and has authored several bestselling books on spiritual freedom, including Victory Over the Darkness and The Bondage Breaker.

Reviews

[Ian Rowlands · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains precious truth that every Christian should know and own. They are often well illustrated. In the end, though, the book was fatally flawed to me as there was too much of Dr. Anderson, Dr. Anderson's programs. A firmer statement of reliance on the Holy Spirit and examples from further afield would have added much.

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this book as part of my daily devotional time, using a chapter at a time.

There are several excellent chapters (out of the 36 chapters), and I would've like more of them ;-)

Now the following criticism may be due to cultural-bias or denominational-bias (I am an Australian Lutheran Pastor), but it is how I found the book. The Introductions (and sometimes the Conclusions) of many of the chapters come across as a "sales pitch" for the Author's courses and/or books. The quite long letters of praise to the Author seemed strange and once again seem to praise the Author as much as our Saviour. Similarly the illustrations used seem artificial even though many were presented as true stories.

I also found that the Author often argues that when you are experiencing / feeling A, it is because of Spiritual problem B - whereas I often experience "A" and am reasonably certain spiritual problem "B" is not mine (I do have heaps of genuine sins to deal with, so am not claiming any sort of perfection). This leads to a sort of disappointment with the chapters in question.

I do think the Author has quite a good message, and as noted there are several superb sections that I praise God for, but my overall impression was one of disappointment - of thinking that this book could easily have been much more!

[Patrick Ffrench · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really amazing reminders of what it means to be in Christ, filled with amazing stories. Lots of mentions to his past works that took me out of the meaning he was getting to sometimes.

[Eloise Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good devotional. Completely loved it 🤌

[Trevor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent devotional of 36 short chapters covers many of the basic Christian teachings regarding our wonderful position in Christ. Practical, inspirational and easy to read. Highly recommended.

[Maddie Mattox · Rating 5 out of 5]

"What a privilege we have to tell the world how Christ has come to meet our most critical and foundational needs: identity, acceptance, security and significance."

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful devotional teaching of our identity in Christ. I enjoyed revisiting these truths through Anderson’s application. We can never be reminded of these truths enough.

[mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’ve been going to a christian camp for years and years now. this year i was given the opportunity to help working on staff. during a prayer retreat, i shared with my friends and leaders that i had been really struggling with insecurities due to people making fun of me for how i looked and presented myself. the next day, one of the people there told me about this book. she said that it was really good and when i told her about what i was struggling with she immediately thought of it. i was really skeptical at first because i haven’t had much luck reading books like these in the past, either due to boredom or just an overall inability to understand the material. this book was amazing. it was really well done, written in a way that was easy for me to understand, interesting, and overall really helpful. this book helped me realize my worth and who God says i am. i really liked it, it showed me areas in my life that i needed to improve and it also showed me a lot about who i am and my significance and importance in christ.

[Adam Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This, for the most part, was an amazing book. There are really great truths about identity in Christ that are absolutely necessary for Christians to know. Definitely many 5 star chapters!

However, I am rating this at four stars because there are some other parts of the book I took issue with. At times, the author would share a story or a letter from someone who went through his course or book and found freedom in Christ. Those were great testimonies, but they were held up as the standard: “If you follow these steps, your life will turn out just like this person’s.” To me that seemed to overlook the complexity of different people’s situations.

Also, there was emphasis given to “quick fix” solutions. Examples like: “I had been abused, I was struggling my whole life, and then, one day, I prayed this prayer, and now I’m free!”

While I had some issue with the author’s methods and somewhat “one size fits all” overly simplified application approach, I loved the content the author drew from Scripture and how he related that to the reader…

[Laura Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent biblical reference on our identities in Christ.

[Aleshia Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

PHENOM BOOK! BREAKS DOWN WHO WE REALLY ARE IN CHRIST IN DAILY DEVOTIONALS. MY LIFE REALLY CHANGED AFTER THIS READ.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and thought provoking

[E.G. Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC. Full of great and encouraging reminders.

[Mindy Triplehorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn't read any of Neil Anderson's books before even though I was well aware of his works. I've been on a journey this past year coming to understand who I am in Christ. I've discovered that it is only in discovering who God is and who I am in His Christ that transformation of your mind can begin to take shape (Rom 12:2)

Anderson's concise and Scripturally sound work is a powerful addition to the "Who I am" volumes of work that are found in both Christian and secular bookstores. It comprises 36 3-4 page readings based on a Scriptural truth of God's love and our position in relation to Him. Each reading typically references a situation he has come across through his counselling and responses to his many books. These add context and practicality to his thoughts on the verse. Each reading ends with a prayer.

It is organised into 3 parts: Our Acceptance in Christ, Our Security in Christ and Our Significance in Christ.

It's an excellent and well written book and on finishing it I have started on it once again. I take one of the 36 chapters per day and allow myself to mediate on its contents during the day.

Highly recommended especially if you're grappling with understanding your position in Christ.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neil Anderson is best known for his book The Bondage Breaker and subsequent books along the same theme. The focus of his ministry is to help free people from the things in their life that hold them in bondage by walking them through prayers of renouncing, and by helping people see and understand who they are as Christians, who they are in Christ. To that end, Anderson's ministry has published a list of 36 Who I am in Christ statements with relevant scriptures to help people grow in their faith. This book takes those 36 statements and expands each one into a devotional reading. Each reading includes an explanation of the statement, biblical foundation for it, and usually a couple of real-life experiences from Anderson's ministry. While each devotional reading is fairly short - 4 or 5 pages - they each take some time to digest and apply. A good devotional if you devote 15 or 20 minutes to it each day. Very good also as a springboard for additional study on each statement. Anderson provides in compact form some important truths that believers need to dwell on.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to bring to light 30 some truths we are as Christ followers. I would recommend a read through at least once of this. My biggest dislike of this book is that the author continually used examples of people having been set free but from reading his other books. It gave me a feeling that I might be reading the wrong book or that he was promoting his other books or that I needed to attend one of his conferences. If the author writes an update, I would love for him to remove those examples or references to his other books and use ones from people reading this one. Or just from understanding the truths the Bible gives us.

[Deanna Peshl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The message behind this book is a wonderful reminder of what we are entitled to when we call on God as our Savior. I found encouragement in the biblical context, however I was a bit annoyed at the personal context of the book. This is the first book I've ever read by this author and basically in each chapter a reference is made to another one of his books. I just found that really distracting-especially when the reader has no idea what he is referencing. I found it odd the way he talked so much about himself and his programs, conferences, books etc...

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up being taught things from this book. I have read parts of this book before and I have read the list of Who I am in Christ. This book is so so good! It is an easy read but filled with so much truth! If you have not read this book or any of Neil's books I highly recommend them.

[Barbara Tomlinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed in how often the author’s course and counselling practice were mentioned. It often felt like an advertisement or praise for him rather than teaching how God sees us. Many of the examples seemed to not fully connect and thus were lacking in helpfulness and resulted in chapters that had very little to do with the identity in Christ being explored. I also found that the authors view on mental health and some statements he made were rather hurtful and not fully Biblical.
I was hoping for something a deeper especially since it is titled as a devotional. It is a good starting place for learning how God sees you. Including questions to ponder and discuss or ways to apply the chapter would be very beneficial and would have made it a deeper devotional. Did I connect with God while reading this book and exploring what the Bible says about my identity? Yes. Was most of it from meditating of the title and main scripture of the chapter? Most definitely. I believe the narrative and explanations rounded out the understanding but for me did not really add much value for the time and space they took up.
I am glad I read this book but would be wary of recommending it to a new believer. I would however, recommend the list of Who I Am in Christ with the accompanying scriptures to a new believer to explore.

[Karla Renee Goforth Abreu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author explains in simple language that the Christian is truly IN CHRIST and what that means. Many believers live in defeat, negativity, and enslaved to detrimental behaviors. They never grasp an understanding of their position in Christ. The fact is: "by grace you have been saved— #and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus," Ephesians 2:5-6.
This is not a pep talk book or a formula. It is a clear teaching of who and what a Christian is.
There are 33 chapters that are short enough to not burden the reader with so much information that retaining anything of value is lost. Anderson intersperses real-life examples to drive the point he is making. He ends each chapter with a practical straight forward prayer that the reader should pray from the heart and not just from rote repetition.
Every Christian should read this book.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neil Anderson’s “Who I Am in Christ” was a disappointment to me. The best part about the book was the inclusion of a broad array of identities- more than any other book on identity in Christ I’ve read. But the book reads like it was published in the 1960s not in 2001. One often loses track of what identity Anderson is focusing on. He has a very particular style that might appeal to some but didn’t appeal to me. Nearly every chapter includes a feel-good moralistic poem. Similarly, Anderson’s trite story-telling never connected with me. I would recommend Eric Geiger’s book on identity instead (although I wish Geiger’s book included more aspects of our identity).

For more reviews see thebeehive.live.

[Sharon Heaverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who I Am In Christ by Neil Anderson was received through the Goodreads Giveaway program in return for an honest review.

There are many truths in this book that I had forgotten and I was so glad that they were brought to mind. The book is written in 36 chapters which can easily be read as a daily devotional. This way you have time to really sink your teeth into the thoughts that Mr Anderson brings to light.

My only negative reaction to this book is the feeling that Anderson was self-promoting his other books and programs, not just once but over and over. I really didn't feel that this was necessary.

[Ysabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been such a transformative read for me. Profound and enlightening read that built upon the foundation of my faith and relationship with Christ. It provided deeper insights and a clearer understanding of my identity in Christ as I continue to walk my life with Him. Each page invited me to reflect and see myself more clearly through God’s eyes, rather than through the lens of the world. It made me take notes and highlight truths that strengthened and further established the foundation of who I am in Him. Very grateful for the ways this book has broadened my perspective and rooted me more firmly in God’s unchanging view of me.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

First step into freedom.

I never realized how many years I was believing and fed lies in my life. No one taught me any differently and explained with such honesty in light of God's Word! I had many of these lies that I now know how and when to renounce. It will take reconditioning of my mind daily but I will believe the truth because I want to be able to tell this eye witness account of how God brought me out of captivity of fear into the courage of His truth and my new identity.

[Kaylee Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously one of the best devotionals out there. There were days I read a chapter and it felt like it was exactly what I needed to hear that day. Funny thing is I’ve attempted to read this book before, but that was years ago when I was just reading for answers that would make me feel better about my current circumstances. But this time when I picked this book up I actually understood what I was reading, and searched for Jesus first within the pages. And it held so much more meaning and impact! It’s an inspiring book to say the least.

[Roxane Lapa · Rating 5 out of 5]

GENRE
Non-fiction religious

BASIC SYNOPSIS
This is a book about understanding your role in your relationship with God.

MY THOUGHTS
I loved this book. I appreciate how humble, sincere and insightful the author is. He doesn't try to be a showman, nor does he try to push inspirational fluff like many in the charismatic church do. He really gets down to the important stuff and presents it in such a thought provoking, honest way. I also enjoyed that this book was arranged into many short chapters which made ideal for reading a chapter while I cook and then being able to meditate on it.

[Lisa Tangen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable and short chapters. Clear, powerful arguments to help believers really know in their hearts who we are in Christ. Several 'aha' passages, but especiallyi am secure, I am free from condemnation, I cannot be separated from God's love, I am significant and I am a minister of reconciliation. I want to read the author's other books.

[Tatania Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

most definitely an incredible devo! The only reason it took me so long was because I would start and stop and start new devos in between, and only focus on reading a chapter of the Bible or something like that in between, but nonetheless, this was an incredible book and I highly recommend anyone at any level of faith to read it honestly!

[DT · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems other reviewers feel the same way about this book as I do.

Yes, it had many biblical truths and beautiful prayers, but nearly every devotional (there are 36) contains a story about how Neil Anderson helped someone through a problem.

I’ve never read a Christian book where the author bragged about themselves as much as Anderson does in this book. Very cringeworthy.