Identity Relating to Christ

God uses scripture to teach his people how they must identify in the faith. This list of virtues directs the believer's heart and mind toward adopting the identities relevant to their relationship with Christ. 

Sheep

Psalm 79:13 KJV - "So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations."

Psalm 95:7 KJV - "For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,"

Psalm 100:3 KJV - "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."

Matthew 10:16 KJV - "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

Additional Scriptures

Anger against the Sheep

Psalm 74:1 KJV - "Maschil of Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?"

Scattered, Astray, & Lost Sheep

Isaiah 53:6 KJV - "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Jeremiah 50:17 KJV - "Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones."

Ezekiel 34:6 KJV - "My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them."

Ezekiel 34:12 KJV - "As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day."

Zechariah 13:7 KJV - "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."

Matthew 26:31 KJV - "Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad."

Mark 14:27 KJV - "And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered."

Matthew 9:36 KJV - "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."

Psalm 119:176 KJV - "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments."

Ezekiel 34:11 KJV - "For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out."

Jeremiah 50:6 KJV - "My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace."

Matthew 10:6 KJV - "But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Matthew 12:11-12 KJV - "And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days."

Matthew 15:24 KJV - "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Matthew 18:12-13 KJV - "12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray."

Luke 15:4-6 KJV - "4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."

1 Peter 2:25 KJV - "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."

Caring for the Sheep

Psalm 78:52 KJV - "But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock."

Mark 6:34 KJV - "And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."

John 21:14-17 KJV - "14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."

The Shepherd of the Sheep

John 10:2-5, 11-16, 27 KJV - "2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. … 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. … 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"

Hebrews 13:20 KJV - "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,"

Matthew 25:32-33 KJV - "32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left."

Christ as a Sheep

Isaiah 53:7 KJV - "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."

Acts 8:32 KJV - " The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:"

Sheep to Slaughter

Psalm 44:11 KJV - "Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen."

Psalm 49:14 KJV - "Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling."

Psalm 44:22 KJV - "Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter."

Romans 8:36 KJV - "As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

In Prophecy

Psalm 144:12-13 KJV - "12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: 13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:"

Micah 2:12 KJV - "I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men."

Micah 5:8 KJV - "And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."

Followers

1 Thessalonians 1:6 KJV - "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:"

Additional Scriptures

1 Corinthians 4:16 KJV - "Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me."

1 Corinthians 11:1 KJV - "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."

1 Peter 3:13 KJV - "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?"

Fellowdisciples

John 11:16 KJV - "Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him."

Friends

Luke 12:4 KJV - "And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do."

John 15:13-15 KJV - "13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you."

Prisoner - of Jesus Christ

Ephesians 3:1 KJV - "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,"

Philemon 1:1, 9 KJV - "1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, ... 9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ."

Fellowprisoners - of Jesus Christ

Romans 16:7 KJV - "Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me."

Colossians 4:10 KJV - "Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)"

Philemon 1:23 KJV - "There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;"

Partakers

1 Corinthians 10:21 KJV - "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."

2 Corinthians 1:7 KJV - "And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation."

Hebrews 3:14 KJV - "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;"

1 Peter 4:13 KJV - "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

Martyrs

Acts 22:20 KJV - "And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him."

Revelation 2:13 KJV - "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth."

Revelation 17:6 KJV - "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration."

Christians

Acts 11:26 KJV - "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."

1 Peter 4:16 KJV - "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."

Additional Scriptures

Acts 26:28 KJV - "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."

Virgins

2 Corinthians 11:2 KJV - "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

Disciples

Isaiah 8:16 KJV - "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples."

John 8:31 KJV - "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;"

Additional Scriptures

Disciples Following

Matthew 8:19-23 KJV - "19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him."

Mark 6:1 KJV - "And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him."

Luke 7:11 KJV - "And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people."

John 1:37 KJV - "And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus."

John 2:11 KJV - "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him."

John 6:60-69 KJV - "60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Testifying to increase and growth of disciples

Acts 6:7 KJV - "And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith."

Acts 14:22 KJV - "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

Matthew 27:57 KJV - "When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:"

John 21:24 KJV - "This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true."

Acts 1:15 KJV - "And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)"

Acts 9:10 KJV - "And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord."

Acts 18:23 KJV - "And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples."

Disciple’s likeness of the master

Matthew 10:24-25 KJV - "24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?"

Luke 6:40 KJV - "The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master."

Obedience of Disciples

Matthew 21:6 KJV - "And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,"

Matthew 14:19 KJV - "And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude."

Mark 6:41 KJV - "And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all."

Mark 8:6 KJV - "And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people."

Luke 9:16 KJV - "Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude."

John 6:11 KJV - "And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would."

Matthew 28:16 KJV - "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them."

Mark 14:13-14, 16 KJV - "13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. 14 And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? ... 16 And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover."

Charity of Disciples

Matthew 10:42 KJV - "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."

Acts 11:29 KJV - "Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:"

Disciple Requirements

Matthew 16:24 KJV - "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Mark 8:34 KJV - "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Luke 14:26-27, 33 KJV - "26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. ... 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."

John 8:31 KJV - "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;"

John 13:35 KJV - "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

John 15:8 KJV - "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."

Disciples as Mother and brethren

Matthew 12:49 KJV - "And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!"

Continued Teaching to Disciples

John 11:54 KJV - "Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples."

Mark 4:34 KJV - "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."

Mark 9:31 KJV - "For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day."

Selection of certain disciples to be delegates/ambassadors of the gospel

Luke 6:13 KJV - "And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;"

Bride & Married

Jeremiah 3:14 KJV - "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:"

Romans 7:4 KJV - "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."

Revelation 21:9 KJV - "And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife."