Do You Know Who You Really Are?
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 nature. The Bible reveals that you receive a new identity in Christ!1
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
(Galatians 3:26)
If someone were to ask, “Who are you?” what would you say?
Many of us describe ourselves by what we do, such as “I am a school teacher,” or “I am an accountant.”2 Others may have spent years studying genealogy charts tracing their roots to determine who they are through family lineage. But name tags aren’t necessary with God who formed you heart, and fashioned life. He knows your true identity—He knows the true you.
“From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind;
from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—
he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.”
(Psalm 33:13-15)
What Causes the Struggle with Identity?3
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.
“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
(1 Corinthians 15:22)
Grace filled words:
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)
Additional Scripture: James 1:5-8; Proverbs 27:19; Proverbs 20:11
