Read: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:22-24
Identity transformation is a powerful experience. Maybe for you, it was the day you found out you were going to be a parent—one of the greatest identity transformations you ever experienced. Your life forever changed, yet for a while, you didn’t feel any different. You knew you were going to have a child, but you didn’t immediately know what that meant. It took time for your identity as a parent to take root.
For me, my discipleship journey has been like that. I realize a little more every day what it means to truly surrender my life to Christ. It isn’t just a decision to follow a set of beliefs—it’s these little moments where I recognize that my entire identity has shifted. I am no longer defined by my past, my mistakes, or even my achievements. Instead, I am defined by my relationship with Jesus. Everything in my life changed, though it took time for me to fully understand and live out this new identity.
When we come to Christ, our identity is transformed. We become a new creation, but it often takes time for this new identity to fully manifest in our lives. Just as it takes time to grow into a new role, whether as a parent or in another significant life change, we must grow into our new identity in Christ. This involves putting off the old self and embracing the new self, created in the likeness of God.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul emphasizes that in Christ, we are a new creation. The old has passed away, and the new has come. This transformation is both instantaneous and ongoing. We are immediately made new in Christ, but we also spend our lives learning to live out this new identity.
Reflect on how your identity has been transformed in Christ. Are there areas where you are still holding on to your old self? Consider what it means to fully embrace your new identity in Christ and how this transformation can shape your daily life.
Questions for Reflection:
- In what ways has your identity been transformed by Christ?
- Are there aspects of your old self that you need to let go of?
- How can you live more fully in your new identity as a creation in Christ?