Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

As born again believers in Jesus, it is imperative for us to know and understand our identity in Christ, but not only as head knowledge. This knowledge and understanding of who we are in Christ must be deeply rooted in our hearts so that we believe it. When we believe it, we will be able to live it out by faith.

A common strategic attack from the enemy is to make us doubt our identity in Christ, with the aim of trying to convince us that we are still carnal in either our thinking or our actions. The enemy likes to bring up our past to remind us of who we used to be, and also to try to convince us that we haven’t changed. Each time this happens to me, I just have to stand strong and say, “No, I know my identity in Christ, I know who I am in Him. I know that I am a new creation and that old things have passed away, I can stand in the truth.”

It may take time after we are born again to renew our minds and understand who we are in Christ, but the sooner we do it, the better. Once we know our identity, we can stand firm and these attacks will be easier to overcome. I stumbled a lot in the beginning because I struggled to believe my new identity in Christ. God helped me understand that we have to choose to believe who we are in Christ. It’s a decision we have to make regardless of how we feel or what our current situation looks like. We have to choose to come into agreement with what God’s unchanging word says about us.

Let me offer you an example:

There is a misconception that God’s people (born again believers) are always going to be sinners. The truth of God’s Word tells us that we were slaves to sin before we were born again, but our Beloved Jesus gave His life to set us free from the power of sin. Sin no longer has dominion over us. We have received God’s grace, forgiveness and mercy when we repented of our sins. The word of God tells us that we are now called the saints of God, called to live holy lives. If we look at the Apostles letters to the churches in the New Testament, they were commonly addressed to the saints, even though some of the churches were in need of correction. Here are just a few examples:

To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.

Romans 1:7 NKJV

 To the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.

1 Corinthians 1:2 NKJV

To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia.

2 Corinthians 1:1 NKJV

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:1 NKJV

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.

Philippians 1:1 NKJV

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse.

Colossians 1:2 NKJV

It is important for us to understand that the New Testament churches were all believers in Christ, they had already repented of their sins and had been baptized in water and received the Holy Spirit. The point I would like to illustrate here is that our words have power. If we keep professing that we are still sinners, we might believe it to be true and have a continual struggle with sin. However, when we come into agreement with what the Word of God says about us, that we are called to be saints and live holy lives, we will make every effort to live a life which is well pleasing to our Father. We may still make mistakes and if we do sin, then we should quickly repent and ask God to forgive us, and move on. Don’t allow the enemy to bring guilt, shame and condemnation.

I’d like to help those who feel like they are still learning their identity in Christ by giving you some ‘identity statements’ based upon what the Word of God says. May I kindly encourage you to write these down and keep them with your bible, so that every time you read your bible, you can learn about who you are in Christ. May I also suggest that you ask God to plant these truths deep in your heart so that you can walk in your identity in Christ and stand firm against any attacks from the enemy. These are just a few to get you started, but God in His amazing goodness will lead you to even more truths which you can add to your list as time goes by.

• I am adopted as a son (or daughter) of God through Jesus Christ – Eph. 1:5
• I am accepted in the Beloved – Eph. 1:6
• I have been redeemed out of the kingdom of darkness through the precious blood of Jesus – Eph. 1:7
• My sins have been forgiven – Eph. 1:7
• In Christ we have obtained an inheritance – Eph. 1:11
• I have the seal of the Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of our inheritance – Eph. 1:13
• I have received citizenship with the saints – Eph. 2:19
• I am a new creation in Christ, old things have passed away, all things have become new – 2 Cor. 5:17
• Jesus has given me authority to tread upon snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy – Luke 10:19
• I am being transformed into the very image of Christ through His Word and His Holy Spirit – 2 Cor. 3:18
• God has clothed me with the garments of salvation and covered me with the robe of His righteousness – Isaiah 61:10
• I have been justified through faith in Jesus – Rom. 3:28
• I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me – Phil. 4:13
• I have been redeemed out of the hand of the enemy – Psalm 107:2
• Because I have been justified by faith, I have peace with God – Rom. 5:1
• God graciously gives me wisdom – James 1:5
• Sin no longer has dominion over me – Romans 6:14
• The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death – Romans 8:2
• I walk in the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control) – Gal. 5:22-23

Once we have learned to walk in our identity in Christ, the Lord will take us through a sanctification and glorification process so that we can be conformed into the image of Christ. Paul’s epistle to the Romans helps us understand that we have been justified by having faith in Jesus Christ. After justification, the Holy Spirit takes us through a process of sanctification enabling us to live a holy life which is well pleasing to God. Glorification is when the Lord then conforms us into the very image and likeness of His precious Son Jesus. The good news is that the Lord will do His work in us, but He asks us to be willing and obedient.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

Thank You Jesus that Your Word says that You will finish the good work You started in us, and thank You Father that You conform us into the exact image and likeness of Your precious Son – Jesus. Amen.