Claim Your Identity in Christ – Let Go of the Past and Walk in New Life
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;”
— Ephesians 4:22 (KJV)
The Apostle Paul had a reputation as a homicidal lunatic, but God changed that by revealing his true identity. Paul later wrote, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11, KJV). The same applies to you. You must put off and rebuke your old self and claim your new identity in Jesus Christ. “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV). Think about who you are now and what God has brought you out of. You are no longer the person you once were—the old man or woman is dead.
After you have received forgiveness through Jesus Christ, your past doesn’t define you. “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12, KJV). You must claim your identity in Christ, allowing your thoughts, words, and actions to align with His.
There may be people who still talk about who you used to be. You may have ex-wives, ex-husbands, or former girlfriends and boyfriends who bring up your past, speaking as if they still know you. But they don’t. “Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3, KJV). I don’t care how many years you dated or were married—your new life is now in Christ. Those who refuse to accept that are rejecting Christ Himself. “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me” (Luke 10:16, KJV).
You cannot get caught up in conversations about who you used to be or the things you used to do—unless you are glorifying Christ with it and testifying to what He has brought you out of. If you speak of your past, let it be a testimony of God’s power, not a chain that binds you to what no longer exists.
Reflective Questions:
1. In what ways do you struggle to fully embrace your identity in Christ?
2. Are there people in your life who still define you by your past? How can you respond in a Christ-centered way?
3. How does knowing that God has removed your transgressions (Psalm 103:12) encourage you to walk in freedom?
4. When you reflect on your past, do you use it to glorify Christ or dwell on past mistakes?
5. What practical steps can you take today to walk confidently in your new identity in Christ?
Prayer:
Help me where I struggle with the old man. Strengthen me to overcome the ways and thoughts of my past, and do not let them creep back into my mind—no matter what others may say or bring against me. Whatever my response may be, let it glorify You and Your Son, reflecting the transformation You have worked in me. Thank You for bringing me out of darkness and into Your marvelous light.
In Christ, I pray. Amen.
Thank you for reading. God bless you!
Stand firm in your new identity. Walk in the truth of who God says you are, not who people remember you to be.
All Scripture referenced in our blogs comes from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible.
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Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press