A New Identity

Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. 

–2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP 

In 2012 Tyler Perry’s southern matriarchal alter ego Mabel Simmons, affectionately known as Madea to family, friends, and law enforcement, made her way through theatres all across the nation in a film simply called “Madea’s Witness Protection.”  In this film George Neederman, a Wall Street investment backer, is set up to take the fall when he learns his company has been laundering money through a Ponzi scheme backed by the “Mafia Malones”–a well-known (and feared) Mafia family. George and his family, being placed under federal protection, at the suggestion of Madea’s nephew Brian are relocated to Atlanta where they seek refuge in Madea’s home until the investigation as well as the trial reaches an end. Being under federal protection, the Neederman’s are not allowed any contact with the life they knew before coming to Atlanta; no phone calls, no letters, no texts, no communication of any kind. Aside from George meeting with Brian to weed through the paper work and a brief trip to a worship service venturing outside of the safety of Madea’s home is also not allowed. Of course, if you are familiar with Tyler Perry and his colorful cast of characters, you know Madea brings her own touch of discipline and tough love to the situation but that is a side note. The main point of the story is while the Simmons home is used as a safe haven for George and his family it is done so because someone, that someone being the Malone Family, means to do them harm should they find them. In other words, the Malones are out to get them.

Someone is out to get you!

That’s a rather disconcerting thought, considering we live in the age of hackers, cyber attacks, and identity theft where our personal information is compromised. We change our privacy settings, update our passwords, sign up for fraud alerts, sometimes investing in companies who not only protect our information but will also go through the steps of restoration should we find ourselves the unwitting victims of such theft.

What do we do when the enemy tries to steal our identity?

Are we are aware of our spiritual identities being compromised?

Have you ever felt a nagging, a heaviness in your spirit? A voice whispering in your ear taking you through a laundry list of everything you have ever done wrong not just in your own life but perhaps your interactions with others? Do you feel unforgiven even though you laid your burden at the cross? Do you ever find yourself comparing yourself to someone else, wishing you were more like them and less like you? Do you ever question your purpose? Are you emotionally exhausted and mentally bankrupt? Do you feel defeated, powerless, helpless, hopeless, as if somehow you have failed in whatever it was you had purposed to do? Are you wondering if God really does have your best interests at heart?

That, my friends, is spiritual identity theft!

I have said before that though Satan’s days are numbered (a thing of which he knows all too well) he is far from being stupid. What he is is sneaky, subtle, and deceptive. There are times when, as written in 1 Peter 5:8,  he “walks about as a roaring lion” but more times than not he tip toes in like a meek and gentle house cat. Consider these words from John 10:10:

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy…”

Anytime…don’t miss this…anytime you are reminded of your past…he is trying to steal your identity!

Anytime you question whether God really loves you, whether He has your best interests at heart…he (Satan) is trying to steal your identity!

Anytime you question your purpose, compare yourself to the brother or sister sitting next to you, or are left feeling any of the above i.e helpless, hopeless, powerless, or defeated…he is trying to steal your identity!

Anytime you are left feeling physically worn out, emotionally drained, and spiritually depleted to the point of taking your eyes off of Jesus and wondering if He can really be trusted…he is trying to steal your identity!

Ah! but John 10:10 continues by saying…

 “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” 

Growing up in the church I heard this phrase being tossed around a LOT. It goes a little something like this–“I’m a sinner saved by grace!”

Jesus did not die for me to remain in my sin. If He did, not only did I waste my time and His by handing over the reigns of my life to Him but His sacrifice on the cross was a waste also. Journey with me to 1 John 3:5-10 where it reads:

  “You know that He appeared in visible form and became Man to take away [upon Himself] sins, and in Him there is no sin [[a]essentially and forever].

 No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains [b]in communion with and in obedience to Him—deliberately, knowingly, and [c]habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him].

[d]Boys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness [who is upright, conforming to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action, living a consistently conscientious life] is righteous, even as He is righteous.

 [But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].

 No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and [e]habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.

 By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow [f]believer in Christ). 

Now walk with me to Hebrews 7:25 where the author says, “Therefore He is able also to save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede and intervene on their behalf [with God].” 

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatia, “I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” 

Sometimes even well-meaning people are the unknowing mouth pieces for the enemy when it comes to distracting and keeping us from who we are in Christ. Either through word or deed their purpose is to keep us from what it is that He has called us to do. But in Romans 8:1-4 we learn, “Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  For what the Law could not do [that is, overcome sin and remove its penalty, its power] being weakened by the flesh [man’s nature without the Holy Spirit], God did: He sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful man as an offering for sin. And He condemned sin in the flesh [subdued it and overcame it in the person of His own Son], so that the [righteous and just] requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not live our lives in the ways of the flesh [guided by worldliness and our sinful nature], but [live our lives] in the ways of the Spirit [guided by His power].” 

Verses 10-12 read,

“If Christ lives in you, though your [natural] body is dead because of sin, your spirit is alive because of righteousness [which He provides].  And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

 So then, [a]brothers and sisters, we have an obligation, but not to our flesh [our human nature, our worldliness, our sinful capacity], to live according to the [impulses of the] flesh [our nature without the Holy Spirit]—” 

How awesome is this? Our old selves, our former ways, every sin we have ever committed be it by omission or commission, all of these things through Christ have been sealed in the tomb.

Why resurrect them?

Are you a victim of spiritual identity theft? As Christ followers we are open targets for just such an attack on our identity in Him. However, as Christ followers, we are given a new identity if we will just come to Him and receive it!

Devotional Time 

In this time take a few minutes for reflection and self-examination. In what area (or areas) is the enemy attempting to steal your identity? Give it to Jesus and thank Him for doing “a new thing” in you!