Lesson 1 Your New Identity In Christ

Your New Identity In Christ

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. 2
Corinthians 5:17

Introduction:

When we receive Christ as our Lord and Saviour, He gave us a

brand new life. Our old and dying self is gone and was replaced with a
new and living life. We call it born again.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a

new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.

It is important to know and understand that we have a brand new life in Christ. We should see
ourselves with a new identity and a new perception. Your personal identityhow you see yourselfis often
shaped by your early experiences in life. Maybe your parents said things to you as a child that made you doubt
your worth. Maybe you were rejected or abused. Since then, you see yourself has no worth. But God, through
His Son, Jesus Christ, identified us as His own and called us His children.

2 Corinthians 1:22 - He has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts. You are
defined by God and God alone. He identifies you as his own NLT

What this means is that you abandon any image of yourself that is not from God. You stop accepting
what others have said about you, how others have labelled you, and how others have defined you.

You start believing what God says about you, that he is pleased with how he created you, and that God
defines you.

Youre not defined by your feelings. Youre not defined by the opinions of others or by your
circumstances. Youre not defined by your successes or failures. Youre not defined by the car you drive, the
money you make, or the house you say you own when the bank really does.

The thing is, if you dont know who you are, then youre vulnerable to other people telling you who you
are. But the concrete, solid, gospel truth is that you are who God says you are, and no one else has a vote in
the matter.

This identity issue is an important part of living the abundant life. Jesus was able to face the incredible
demands of his mission because he knew exactly who he was. He knew that he mattered to God, and that
gave him confidence to move purposefully in faith.

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Lesson 1 Your New Identity In Christ

You are now identified with Christ and have the power of the Holy Spirit within you. You are Gods
precious child, and he created you in a way that pleases him.

WHAT IS YOUR OLD SELF

When we talk about old self, that is before we receive Christ, we are talking about our sinful nature. We
are born sinners, not because we sin, but because of the sin of one man Adam. Through his sin, everyone
born of flesh becomes sinners.

Romans 5:19a For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners

Because of sin, we became subject to the bondage of curse and death. And there is in no way we can
scape this.

Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death

For this reason, our old self is dying without a chance of rescue. But Jesus came to save us and gave
us a new life.

WHAT IS YOUR NEW SELF

Because of Gods love towards us, He gave us a brand new life called eternal life.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world the He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in
Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

We are born sinners, but because of Christ, we are born again righteous, not because we obey God
and do good, but because of the obedience of Christ.

Romans 5:19b by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Because of the obedience of Christ, even to the point of death on the cross, we are set free from the
bondages of curse and death. Now, we can enjoy our brand new life with Christ. A life that is full of blessings
and favors.

Romans 6:23b but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus.

We need to understand that God gives us a gift, not something to be earned, but to be received by
faith. We dont to pay for it, for we cannot pay its price. It was already paid by the blood of Christ.

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Lesson 1 Your New Identity In Christ

The Divine Exchange

Our new identity in Christ is free of charge but it does come cheap. God gives His Son to die on the
cross instead of us. God make an exchange that we might have life everlasting. This exchange is called the
divine exchange.

These are some of the things that God gives in exchange for something from us.

1. Jesus died that we might have life.

2. Jesus paid the price that we might be redeemed.
3. Jesus took our sins that we might become righteous.
4. Jesus bore sicknesses and diseases that we might have health and healing.
5. Jesus became poor that we might become rich.
6. Jesus was rejected and abandoned that we might be accepted and received.
7. Jesus was cursed and mocked that we might be blessed.
8. Jesus was made like a person that we might be godly.
9. Jesus, the Son, was made slave that we, a slave, might become the sons of God.

APPLICATION

1. In what area of your life does it need renewing?

2. What is now your new identity that you receive from God through Jesus Christ?