Identification - Who Am I?Sýnishorn

Identity and Character

"Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it!" -2 Corinthians 5:17 (MSG)

Character flows from identity, yet identity extends beyond mere character or behavior. There is way more to who you are than your character, behavior, or habits. Many institutions including religion teach that character reformation and behavior modification can lead to changed lives. That path only leads us onto a hamster wheel of activities, as real and lasting change never comes from the outside. It is an inside job of transformation that causes change. And that is exactly what the Gospel of God’s Grace in Christ teaches.

As a Believer, your Identity changed from the inside at Salvation. By renewing our minds with the Word of God, our inner transformation begins to cause an outward change in character and behavior. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2 (NIV)

The Identity of the Believer is in his Spirit man - this is why no obvious change happened to our physical features when we first believed - our hair, eyes, legs remained the same - because we became born of the Spirit, not of the flesh. This Identity bestowed on the Believer is supernatural. It is nothing compared to his old life. This New Life is the God-kind of life in quality.

Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! -1 Peter 1:23 (MSG)

As a believer, your New Life is forever free from the power of the enemy. Because God resides in you, no demonic possession can take over you, making you do the wrong things. The old mindsets and way of life that were formed before receiving Christ are transformed by committing the Finished Works of Jesus to memory.

Know that when Jesus died, He died for you. In His Redemptive Substitution, He died as you. When He was buried, the old you was buried with Him. When He resurrected, the New You resurrected with Him. Now you are seated with Him in Heavenly Places! Your Identity has been transformed by Christ.

Sharing in his death by our baptism means that we were co-buried with him, so that when the Father’s glory raised Christ from the dead, we were also raised with him. We have been co-resurrected with him so that we could be empowered to walk in the freshness of new life. Romans 6:4 (TPT)

By staying aware of the knowledge of our New Identity in Christ, we break free of self consciousness and sin consciousness as well as limited patterns of thinking and habits. Even under pressure, acknowledge your Identity in Christ, and walk in the fullness of who God has called you to be.