After Jesus emerged from the waters of baptism, the heavens opened, the Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father spoke: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” This was a moment of Trinitarian glory: Father, Son, and Spirit all present and active together.
But here is what changes everything for those who trust in Christ: the Father’s declaration over Jesus extends to all who are united with Him. The Apostle John declares, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And so we are” (1 John 3:1). Because we are in Christ, we share in His identity. What the Father said of Jesus at His baptism, He now says to us.
Think about what this means. If your identity comes from yourself, from your performance, from your achievements or failures, you will always be unstable. One day you feel good about yourself; the next day you are crushed by failure. If your identity comes from other people, from their opinions and approval, you will be equally unstable. People are fickle. Their affirmation comes and goes.
But if your identity is rooted in Christ, you stand on solid ground. The Father who said “This is my beloved Son” over Jesus now says it over you. You are beloved. You are His child. He is well pleased with you, not because of your performance but because of your position in Christ.