Embracing your identity in Christ and letting go of the old you

Let’s be honest—identity is messy. One moment you’re confident, the next you’re questioning your worth. We wear so many labels—success, failure, divorced, overlooked, insecure, achiever, broken. But here’s the truth: God doesn’t call you by your past; He calls you by your purpose. And when you surrender your life to Christ, you step into a new identity—an identity not based on your history, but His victory.

Still, embracing your identity in Christ isn’t always easy. The conflict between who you were and who you’re becoming can feel like an internal tug-of-war. But if you’ve been wrestling between the “old you” and the “new you,” this post is for you.

1. The Conflict: Why the Old You Won’t Go Quietly

When you gave your life to Jesus, your spirit was made new—but your habits, thoughts, and emotional patterns didn’t just vanish overnight. That old version of you still whispers lies like:

• You’re not really changed.

• This won’t last.

• God can’t use someone like you.

The Apostle Paul got it. He wrote in Romans 7:19 (NIV), “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.” Sound familiar?

You’re not crazy. You’re in a process.

Dr. Neil T. Anderson, author of Victory Over the Darkness, explains:

“The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity.”

2. What God Says About You

Let’s clear something up: your true identity is not based on your feelings, your past, or even your performance. Your identity is rooted in what God says about you.

Here’s what Scripture says about who you are now:

• You are a new creation – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

• You are God’s masterpiece – “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works…”(Ephesians 2:10)

• You are chosen – “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you…” (John 15:16)

• You are forgiven – “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…” (Ephesians 1:7)

• You are free – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

• You are not condemned – “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

3. The Tug-of-War: Old Labels vs. New Life

Transitioning into your new identity is like taking off old clothes that don’t fit anymore. They might be familiar, but they’re no longer you.

Here are some old labels people carry and the new identity God gives:

Lisa Bevere, author of Without Rival, once said:

“When you know who you are, you will stop trying to be someone you’re not.”

4. Practical Steps to Embrace Your Identity in Christ

You don’t just “become” someone new by trying harder. Identity transformation is a daily partnership with the Holy Spirit. Here’s how to live it out:

A. Renew Your Mind with God’s Word

Romans 12:2 reminds us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Your thoughts shape your identity. What you meditate on will eventually define you.

Daily practice:

• Read a passage of Scripture each morning that speaks to your identity in Christ.

• Write declarations like:

  • “I am loved.”

  • “I am not my past.”

  • “God is working in me.”

B. Reject False Labels

If you keep answering to the wrong name, you’ll never walk in the authority of the right one.

Practical Tip:
Make a two-column list:

• Left side: Lies you’ve believed about yourself.

• Right side: God’s truth to replace them.

Post that list where you’ll see it often. Speak it out loud. Truth isn’t just information—it’s transformation.

C. Surround Yourself with People Who See the Real You

You don’t need people who keep reminding you of your past—you need people who call out your future.

• Join a Christ-centered community.

• Confess struggles to trusted friends.

• Ask for accountability that pushes you toward growth, not guilt.

As Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

D. Practice Forgiveness (Including Self-Forgiveness)

Holding onto past mistakes is like trying to run with a backpack full of bricks.

Author and pastor Craig Groeschel put it this way:

“You are not who others say you are. You are not even what your mistakes say you are. You are who God says you are.”

Let it go. If Christ has forgiven you, who are you to hold it against yourself?

E. Take Action from Your New Identity

Don’t wait to feel like a new person—act like one. Walk like a son. Speak like a daughter. Love like someone who has been loved well.

• Serve someone.

• Encourage a stranger.

• Pray bold prayers.

• Say no to old patterns.

• Show up differently, even if it feels awkward at first.

Eventually, your emotions will catch up with your identity.

5. Identity Isn’t Perfection—It’s Position

You’re not becoming someone new to earn God’s approval. You’re walking in who you already are because you’ve already been approved.

When God looks at you, He doesn’t see your mistakes. He sees Jesus.

You’re seated with Christ (Ephesians 2:6). You’re a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20). You’re in right standing, even if you’re in a hard season.

6. When the Old You Shows Up Again

Don’t panic when old thoughts, temptations, or behaviors try to creep in. That’s not failure—it’s spiritual muscle memory. It just means you need a moment of realignment.

Here’s what to do:

• Pause and pray: “God, remind me of who I am.”

• Ask: “Is this behavior consistent with my identity in Christ?”

• Reset: Replace the lie with truth. Realign your response with God’s Word.

Even Paul had to die daily to himself (1 Corinthians 15:31). So will we. But that’s how transformation works—daily, not instantly.

7. You Were Made for More

You weren’t saved to stay stuck. Your life is meant to reflect God’s glory, not your former shame.

The more you embrace your new identity, the more peace you’ll carry. The more confident you’ll become. And the more people you’ll help walk into their own healing.

This is bigger than just you.

Final Thoughts: Walk It Like You Own It

You’re not who you used to be—and thank God for that. The person you were may have been full of pain, regret, or pride, but the person you’re becoming is full of purpose, power, and peace.

Jesus didn’t just save you from something—He saved you for something.

It’s time to stop wrestling with the old you and walk boldly in your new identity. You were never meant to blend in. You were meant to stand out—as a reflection of the One who made you new.

Expert Summary Quote

To wrap this up, here’s a powerful quote from Dr. Tony Evans:

“If you don’t know who you are, then you’ll never know what you’re supposed to do. Identity comes before activity. Once you know you’re a child of God, you can live like one.”

Practical Takeaways (Rooted in Biblical Truth):

1. Start your day declaring your identity in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

2. Reject the lies of your old life and speak God’s truth over yourself (John 8:32).

3. Find community that reinforces your spiritual growth (Hebrews 10:24-25).

4. Forgive yourself and others, and don’t rehearse the past (Philippians 3:13).

5. Act from your new identity, even when it feels uncomfortable (Colossians 3:10).

6. Stay rooted in Scripture—it’s your mirror and your compass (James 1:23-25).

7. Celebrate progress over perfection—God’s grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).