Know yourself, what the Bible says

It's important for Christians to get to know themselves. But what is the Bible's opinion on this question?
The Bible emphasizes self-knowledge, but not for the same reasons as today's culture tells us. In this article, we'll look at what the Bible says about self-knowledge and how it can help us grow as Christians.

1. The Bible tells us that we are created in God's image
The Bible tells us clearly that man was created in the image of God: (God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them, Genesis 1:27). This statement means that we, as human beings, have a purpose and meaning given to us by God.
Self-knowledge begins with understanding our relationship with our Creator. We are created to glorify God and to do His will. This implies that we must seek to understand who we are in relation to Him.

2. The Bible exhorts us to examine ourselves
The Bible encourages us to examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). This means being honest with ourselves about our thoughts, attitudes and actions. We need to revive our conscience and regularly evaluate our relationship with God and others. In the Scriptures, we are called to an examination of ourselves to avoid errors and false teachings.

3. The Bible warns against excessive self-esteem
The Bible warns against excessive self-esteem (Proverbs 16:18). Pride is a sin that can prevent us from being fully present for others and serving God. We must learn to be proud of our identity in Christ, not our own accomplishments or social position. Self-knowledge must be done with humility, knowing that our worth derives from our relationship with God and not from ourselves.

4. The Bible calls us to redemption and the renewal of our thinking
The Bible calls us to redemption and the renewal of our thinking (Romans 12:2). Our understanding of who we are must be rooted in biblical truth rather than worldly ideas. We need to focus on Christ and what he has done for us rather than on our failures and inconsistencies. Self-knowledge can only come fully through an understanding of our nature and sins, and of God's love for us.

5. The Bible gives us hope of perfection
The Bible gives us the hope of perfection in Jesus Christ. We will never be perfect in this earthly life, but God has promised to perfect us through sanctification and transformation in Christ. Self-knowledge does not have to be done in order to be accepted by God, for we are already accepted in Christ. However, self-knowledge will help us grow in grace and become more like Him.
Ultimately, self-knowledge is important for Christians, but it must be based on biblical truth, be done with humility and revolve around our relationship with God.

The Bible exhorts us to examine ourselves, but it also warns against excessive self-esteem. Self-knowledge is not for the sake of being accepted by God, but to grow in grace and become more like Him.

When we get to know our true identity in Christ, it can be a powerful tool for growing spiritually and living a life to the glory of God.

Amen!