Wearing Our New Identity

Friday, September 5

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (ESV)

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”

Devotion

How would you respond if being introduced to a stranger and they asked, “Who are you?”

Would you reply with your name? Maybe with what you do for a living? But is your name or what you do for a living really who you are? Or are they just your name and occupation?

The question of “who are you” speaks to your identity, and your identity is neither your name nor occupation. Your identity comes from God Himself. And Paul is explaining in these verses that in Christ, we have a brand new identity distinct from who we were before. We’ve been spiritually re-made by being reconciled to God through Christ.

A problem we face today is that the world identifies us so loudly by our past, our credentials, the things we do or the things we have done, what’s brought us fame, or what’s brought us shame. The world’s system can be so heavy that we start identifying ourselves in the same way, even as Christians.

Let’s not forget that while we may live in the world, we are not of it, and it’s imperative we don’t obtain our identity from it. Paul urges us not to conform ourselves to the pattern of this world, but to completely renovate our minds and therefore be transformed from who we used to be (Romans 12:2).

Our citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20). Our identity comes from being redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). God has transformed us, the church, from sinners to saints. Reggie Dabbs’ sermon calls us to stand in the gap as redeemed ‘first responders.’ Our new identity in Christ equips us to embrace this calling, as reconciled new creations entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation.

In the words of Reggie Dabbs, we're no longer wearing red bands. The old is gone; the new has come.

Today's Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for me and for wiping away my every sin. I acknowledge that my old nature has passed away, and has been replaced with a new nature, which is You. I am born of Your love and Your righteousness. I pray for a new perspective each day when I view the world and my current existence in it. I pray that I shine as a beacon of Your truth to lead others Home. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Apply It Today

Begin to make a list of scripture verses in the Word of God that describe who you are in Christ. Mediate on them. Start with one aspect of your life and let these truths change how you see yourself and your actions. 

Resources
  • Here’s a concise list of verses to guide your ‘Apply It Today’ practice. Reflect on these and other identity-focused scriptures, writing them on notes to place around your home and workspace: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20, Romans 8:17, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 2:9.