A Change of Identity…
What is your real identity? What is an identity? Is your identity something you are born with? Is it changeable or never able to change? Ever since Adam made his choice to disobey God in the Garden of Eden, he and all his descendants have been identified with sin. His declaration of independence explains the rebellious nature we each inherited. Because we were born into the family of Adam, we all possess the natural bent to live self-centered lives. Yet with a heart of love, the heavenly Father has persistently sought to draw each person with His offer of adoption. He desires to adopt us into His family and to give us a new nature . . . the same moral nature of His Son. When you become a true Christian by receiving Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you also receive a new identity. As a child of God, your old sin nature has been exchanged for a glorious new identity in Christ!
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” -2 Corinthians 5:17
Q: “What is your identity?”
- The identity of a person is based on the distinguishing characteristics of that person.
- Your identity involves both your inner character and your outer conduct that distinguish you from everyone else.
- The word “identity” comes from the Latin word idem, which means “same.”
- Your visible conduct should consistently reflect your inner character. This forms your identity.
“As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.” -Proverbs 27:19
Q: “What causes the struggle with identity?”
Most people experience confusion about who they really are because they lack a biblical understanding of what determines their identity. Your behavior is an outgrowth of your identity. Our personal identity is determined by what “family” we are born into. Spiritually, everyone is a descendant of Adam—we were born into “Adam’s family.” No one in Adam’s family has the capacity to live as God designed us to live.
A new spiritual life is made possible in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. To embrace Him as your personal Lord and Savior is to inherit a new family and a new identity “in Christ.” With this new identity you will begin to develop Christlike character by choosing to rely on Him to deal with your daily problems.
“In Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” -1 Corinthians 15:22
Key Verse to Memorize
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” -Galatians 2:20