Your New Identity

Several times over the past few years I've encountered an awkward question, "Now, who are you?"  How do you answer that question?  Anything you say seems meaningless.  I can give  my name, but unless they have previously heard of me, that's meaningless.  I can begin recounting my resume: my occupation, where I work, how long I've been there, my accomplishments.  I can tell about my wife, children, and grandchildren.  Maybe I should tell who invited to me to this event, who they may know, or my relationship to others they may know.

Can see why this question is so frustrating. All these answers are still insufficient.  The best thing I can think to say is, "So who are you?"

My passport captures as much about me as any document I have: name, date of birth, place of birth, and sex.  But there are other facts that can establish a person's identity:  height, weight, eye color can help, but some of these may change over time. It seems the best I.D. is established by solid, objective, facts that do not change.

So what is the difference between our identity and our self-image?  Our identity is who we really are, our self-image is WHO WE THINK WE ARE. Growth toward maturity involves bringing our self-image in line with our true identity. Allow me to illustrate.  I once knew a young lady who claimed she had never failed at anything in her entire life.  We were part of a small group discussion where this amazing revelation came out.  The group gently quizzed her on why she said this.  She went on to say, "This is what my mom always told me- that I had never failed at anything."  This warped perspective created an distortion in her self- image.  Even when things went terribly wrong she had learned to interpret the situation as some sort of success.  Her mother had done her a disservice. in my opinion. What she actually needed was to see herself for who she really was, not through rose colored glasses. 

Many factors contribute to our identity: the culture in which we were raised, our family of origin, our particular gifts and abilities, the extent to which we have applied ourselves or not, honorable things we have done, or dishonorable, our meritorious actions and our sins. These things make up our individual identity.  But, is it possible to get beyond this identity?  Are we limited by this earthly reality? 

Is it possible to have a new identity?  

The bible teaches that indeed it is possible.  Actually it is assured for the person who turns to Jesus Christ as Savior.  Not only are we forgiven of our sins and given assurance of heaven, but our very identity undergoes a dramatic change. 

2 Corinthians 5:17~ “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Does this mean we somehow lose our personality or uniqueness, absolutely not.  The new life that Christ imparts enables us to become a better version of ourselves. Our personality finds new freedom and a stronger sense of purpose. But there are aspects of our old life that pass away.  Our motivations change from selfish ones to other-centered.  We begin to love God more than we love self. We become a child of God.

John 1:12 ~”Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

The story of the prince and the pauper tells of two twin boys separated at birth- both children of the king.  One grew up in the royal palace, the other in as a pauper, an urchin of the streets.  One day they accidentally bumped into one other as the prince passed his twin during a trip to the county.  Long story short, they decided to change places for a time to experience the life of the other.  The pauper was allowed to wear royal clothing and eat food fit for a king.  For the first time he was able to experience his true identity.  The Christian life is something like this.  God declares us, as His children, to live as royalty.

1 Peter 2:9 ~ “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.“

It's so easy to live like a pauper when we have royal blood coursing through our veins.  Growth as a Christian involves accepting and believing this new identity in Christ.  It also involves laying aside all that was true of our old sinful selves.  We must bring our self-image in line with our true identity.

Even though we may not feel like it at times, we are indeed new people in Christ.  The new life that He infuses into us by His Spirit makes us fundamentally new and different.  It is literally the life of Christ living in us.  If you know Christ as Savior, you are so much more that just your old BC (before Christ) person.

Galatians 2:20~ “ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

What God says about you is what is most true of you.