Made New in Christ
Hello everyone. This week’s topic is very personal to me. From my teens into early adulthood, I struggled with my identity and fully understanding who I am in Christ. I grew up going to church. Throughout my young adult life, I served in various ministries. I was good at being productive and “doing.” I thoroughly enjoyed serving both in and outside of the church. Wherever there was a need, if I had the time and the ability, I had no problem helping out. But in spite of my willingness to serve and help others, I had one area I did not grasp. That area was sonship. I believed that God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I believed in the finished works of the cross. I put my faith in Jesus, who I publicly confessed and believed in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. I was even baptized at the age of 11. Nevertheless, I struggled with seeing myself as a child of God. I knew I was saved, but I had a difficult time comprehending God as my Father.
It wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I became aware how my fractured relationship with my natural father affected the way I saw my Heavenly Father. I viewed God through a distorted lens. I began to associate Yahweh with the negative experiences I had with my own father. I was very standoffish and not trusting. I struggled with praying to God. I avoided having open and honest conversations with Him. I had more fear of Him than love for Him. This was not a reverential fear–instead it was a fear of approaching Him or making a mistake dreading the possible consequences. Where the Word instructs us to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need–that was not me by any means. (Heb. 4:16) I was approaching God with timidity or often not at all.
But through counseling, Yah revealing Himself to me and reading the Word, I began to understand the true character of God. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I was able to identify the false beliefs that I had accepted about Yah. Additionally, reading the Word helped me to learn the truth and come out of agreement with the lies. My perception of Yah had changed. I no longer saw Him solely as God the Father, but He was my Father. Confronting and healing from the lies was a process. It didn’t happen overnight–it took place over a timespan of a few years. The healing and restoration that transpired in my life was necessary. I am grateful the scales were removed from my eyes, and I was able to receive the love of the Father–not only receiving His love, but knowing in the depths of my soul that I am His child. During that time, I was overwhelmed by His love. Prior to this, I believed that I was unlovable and it was challenging for me to receive love. I was not affectionate, and I struggled to tell loved ones “I love you.” I was very closed off even though deep down I wanted to be more expressive in my love for others.
I discovered that once I saw my Heavenly Father through the correct lens, likewise, I could see my natural father correctly. It allowed me to forgive my dad for the areas where he fell short as a father. It allowed me to extend grace and no longer hold on to the anger I harbored from childhood. I will tell you from the outside I appeared quiet and reserved. But inwardly, I was full of anger and resentment. I was short-tempered with little to no patience with others. There was so much I held inside, suppressing it for years. I didn’t know how to express myself in a healthy manner. While pursuing a relationship with Yah, it gave me the opportunity to confront the issues I never addressed but had caused me pain for many years. I was able to cry out to my Father and know that He was concerned about me.
In my heart, I knew He heard me and would not leave me in the state I was in. It allowed me to see my life from a different perspective. Whatever I didn’t receive from my dad, I always had in God. He made up for what had been lacking in my childhood and adulthood. It was as though I could see clearly for the first time in my life. I felt restored and loved. The anger and rejection I once felt was replaced with love and fulfillment in knowing that God had been with me all my life. Through the highs and lows, He was walking alongside me–oftentimes carrying me through it. He had been caring for and preserving me from childhood into adulthood.
I shared my story, hoping that it encourages you to see yourself through your true identity in Christ, not who you once were. No matter how our stories started, as born-again believers, we are children of God–once we are saved, we receive the Spirit of adoption and become a son of God. You are not an orphan. You are not fatherless. You are not motherless. You are not abandoned. You are not rejected. Regardless of what you didn’t receive from your natural family, you are adopted into God’s family. You have a Father who has called you His child. You are a part of a spiritual family that truthfully supersedes anything natural.
Today’s topic is for those who are new to the faith as well as those who have been walking with God for many years. No matter how long we have been saved, we need to be reminded of who we are in Christ. There are many things or even people we face on a daily basis that may cause us to question who we are. But whatever and whoever we encounter, it is necessary that we are secure in our identity as a child of God. Also, I want to emphasize walking in the newness of life we have in Christ–embracing our restored identity. Each of us is a new creation. We have a new identity. And we have a new nature. In being made new in Christ, we do not have to live bound to who we once were prior to salvation.
New Creation. New Identity. New Nature.
Before we can dive into our identity as a child of God, we must know that when we are born again, we become a new creation. We are regenerated, meaning we are spiritually reborn or converted. At the time of conversion, God begins to work on our inner man. We can see our desires start to change; some are immediate, and others are gradual. This is the beginning of our journey with God. It is important to remember that we are not who we used to be. Our slate is wiped cleaned. The blood of Jesus has cleansed us of all unrighteousness. We have received Christ’s righteousness, and we are in right standing with the Father. We are walking out our salvation and submitting ourselves to the process of sanctification. We no longer have to see ourselves through the lens of our past. In the second portion of 2nd Corinthians 5:17, it states, “Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Once we recognize that we’re a new creation, we can embrace our new identity. The Word tells us that we are children of God by our faith in Christ Jesus. We have received the spirit of adoption and sonship. Because of our faith in Christ, we are brought into God’s spiritual family. With our sonship comes benefits. We are counted as Abraham’s seed. Also, we become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.
Additionally, the Spirit of God bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. It is spirit recognizing spirit. Those who belong to God are led by His Spirit. Believers are led by the Holy Spirit and sealed with the Holy Spirit. So once we are born again, this newness we have is–we are a new creation; and, we have a new identity as a son of God led by the Spirit of God.
Lastly, being led by the Holy Spirit helps us to put on our new nature. We are no longer bound to our old sinful behavior. We once were slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to righteousness. This requires each of us to make a decision. Will we walk in the Spirit, resulting in our lives being pleasing and acceptable to God? Or, will we walk after the flesh driven by our carnal desires leading us away from Him? This is a daily decision we have to make. My hope is that we choose to be led by the Holy Spirit because the beauty of choosing Him is knowing He will never steer us in the wrong direction. It may be uncomfortable and challenging. It may result in us having to let go of certain things and further exercising self-denial. But in the end, it will ensure we are in alignment with the will of our Father.
No Longer Bound to the Past
With everything I discussed, it is my desire that each of us fully walks in the newness of life made available through Christ. No matter how horrible your past may have been, it is covered under the blood of Jesus. We do not have to see ourselves through the lens of our past. When others want to remind you of who you used to be and what you used to do, you don’t have to walk around in shame and condemnation. Instead, it can be used as an opportunity to share your testimony of how God has restored you and made all things new in your life. Your testimony can help others who are in the same or similar condition that you once found yourself in. It reveals that if God saved you and brought you out, He is more than able to do the same for them.
Lastly, for those who are struggling in their identity, I would encourage you to seek God with your whole heart. We can go to our Father and be honest about our difficulties. There is no reason to conceal it and pretend everything is okay. Yah can handle it; we just need to be willing to express it.
Reading and meditating on scripture helps to reaffirm our identity in Christ. Wherever there is any doubt or questions, replace it with the truth of the Word. As you build yourself up with the Word, it becomes easier to identify any lies the enemy or others have caused you to believe. Once the lies are addressed, we must come out of agreement with them. To fully walk in the newness of life, we need to see ourselves the way our Father sees us.
Recap: Newness in Christ
- New Creation
- Anyone in Christ is a new creation.
- New Identity
- Spirit of adoption 》Sonship
- New Nature
- Led by the Spirit of God, not our flesh
- Servant of righteousness (Slave to righteousness-NKJV)
