I have been thinking lately about the Old Identity and the New Identity. It seems in my life (and in the lives of those around me), that at times there can be two different people or identities operating—the Old Man and the New Man. The Bible says to put off the old and to put on the new. But quite frankly, sometimes, I find myself putting “the old” back on. And I don’t know why I would do such a foolish thing when I know better.
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” –Ephesians 4:22-24
Ahhh. I forget that the old is corrupted by deceitful desires. I put on the old again because I am deceived by my own wants in that moment… Which are corrupted, so that makes them impure.
But even knowing that my desires are impure is not enough to stop the selfish sinful man in me. I still go back to doing that which I don’t want to do, even after knowing why I do it. I need something more.
In praying about this, I felt God remind me that the Old Man has to be killed. Crucified. There can’t be an old identity to return to. You have to give away the old man so that you can’t put him back on anymore. Or better yet, burn, decimate, destroy the old man. Life in Christ must be one, new, integrated identity. So often we save our old identity “just in case” God’s plan doesn’t work out. We have our old habits and patterns lying around to return to if God doesn’t come through for us the way we would want Him to. But you see, that isn’t true surrender to God and His sovereignty. To truly surrender to Him, He gets the final say. We don’t get to have a backup plan, or backup behaviors to return to in order to make us feel safe. We are supposed to crucify the old man one temptation at a time, until he is dead. Totally gone. And be raised with Christ, living in His resurrection Power. Totally trusting God’s leading and living in step with His Spirit.
“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” –Galatians 2:19-20
I have been crucified with Christ. Crucified.
“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin…In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” –Romans 6:6-7,11
Ruthlessly eliminate the old Identity and old habit patterns, and you will live victorious and free in Christ.
We can be so soft on our sin at times, justifying away why we don’t have to give it up. “I’m wounded,” “I’m hurt,” “I’m weak and triggered in this area,” “It feels so real.” Again, our corrupted sinful strategies to deal with our own hurt hearts instead of surrendering to God and His way.
I’ll give you an example. Over the summer, God revealed to me that a way I deal with frustration is through annoyance. He convicted me that this is a sinful pattern in my life that He wants to change. The other night, my husband disagreed with me about a service that someone provided. I said, “They do provide this service.” And he disagreed with me saying he didn’t think they provided the service. By the 3rd time of saying, “Yes they do,” I was annoyed. When he asked me why I was annoyed I said, “I’m personally offended because you don’t believe me. I feel like I have to push back with force to get you to believe me.” He said, “Why not operate in love instead of annoyance?” Was it such an important thing for me to be right in? Why did I feel personally offended? There are many times my husband a I disagree about facts and in the end, truth prevails. Whoever was wrong apologizes and whoever was right doesn’t hold it over their head. Sometimes it’s just a matter of facts and truth, not personal offense.
So why was I personally offended?
It goes back to childhood and the need to be right. Growing up I was told I was wrong a lot, even when I was right. I felt I could never win. I was bringing Old Identity baggage into a present situation that had nothing to do with the past. My husband wasn’t telling me I was so wrong, he was having a discussion trying to get to the truth. He thought he had all the information, but he was mistaken. Me choosing to be annoyed with him, and taking personal offense, was returning to an identity and habit patterns that shouldn’t be there for me to return to. I even had prayed that morning that God would help me to operate in love more. He was answering my prayer, giving me an opportunity to practice, and I didn’t even see it. I was too focused on myself.
Knowing why I do something, or why I am prone to operate in the old identity is good, but it isn’t the end game. Crucifying the old man and living in the new is.
How do you crucify the Old Man? One temptation at a time. Until you are totally free and made new in that area.
Paul said, “I die daily.” –1 Corinthians 15:31
The old must be done away with so the new can occupy.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” –2 Corinthians 5:17
As I am aware that God is calling me to move out of relating in annoyance, I resist the temptation as it arises and repent quickly if I give in. It is easier for something to hide/remain in your life if it’s not being hunted. But once you begin hunting it down, it can’t hide or stay so easily anymore. Hunting itself implies killing. Hunt the sin areas down in your life so that sin no longer has dominion over you.
“Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” –Genesis 4:7
Don’t allow for there to be any comfortable areas from the Old Man for you to hide in anymore. Don’t leave the Old Identity lying around for you to pick up and put back on when you feel like it. Don’t go in and out of the new identity, waffling and wavering. Remain. Abide. Abide in Jesus.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” –John 15:5
Click the image for a video on this same topic.
Life Is Beauty-full 