SPIRITUAL IDENTITY THEFT (How God Sees You – 1)
We hear a lot about identity theft today. Much time and money are spent protecting our identity so no one steals it. Our identity is ours and we don’t want anyone else using it. Unfortunately, we often aren’t as careful with our spirituality identity. Sometimes we let Satan come along and steal our identity, replacing it with one of his making. He lies to us about how God sees us and who we are in Him, like he did to Eve. When we reject our real identity in Christ and accept a false version, we open ourselves to many problems and sins. It’s not that our identity is stolen, it’s more like we just give it away! Why would anyone willingly do that?
When we aren’t aware of our true identity as a Christian, we settle for something far less. We focus on our sins, failures and weaknesses. We feel defeated, joyless and hopeless. Our focus is on ourselves and our inadequacies and faults instead of on Jesus and all He has done for us. This is just what Satan wants for us.
Just what is our true identity in God’s sight, the “New Creation” He has formed when we gave our hearts and lives to Him? Read the following carefully. Write out verses that speak to you. Hang them up where you will see them. Memorize them so they are always with you. That’s the best way to keep Satan from stealing your identity.
God chose you before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). You are more important to Him than the creation of the universe because He made you first. Then He created the universe just so you’d have a wonderful place to live and you’d see how great He is.
Your sins are gone forever (Colossians 1:14). Our new identity is as “Saints” (Ephesians 1:1, etc.) because we are at this very moment seen as perfect in His sight. When we do sin, all we have to do is admit it to Him and the sin is completely and forever removed (1 John 1:9). What’s more, we will never be judged for any sin we have ever committed or ever will commit. Romans 8:1-2 promises “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8 concludes with the same truth (31-34). “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
You will never lose your salvation. You can live in the confidence that your salvation is secure and eternal. Learn to see yourself as a blood-bought believer who sins are forever removed. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” You will live with Him in heaven forever. Ephesians 2:6 “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 3:20 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,”
Think of these three when tempted to be down on yourself. Remember the saying, “When Satan reminds you about your past, remind him about his future!” (October 29, 2023 Doylestown, PA)
1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
How healthy is your spiritual identity?
Where do you most struggle with seeing yourself as God sees you?
Which of these truths that were presented above do you need most right now? Write out the Bible verses and carry them with you. Read them whenever your true identity falters. Memorize them.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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