“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJ)

Christ’s work of redemption presents mankind with the opportunity to experience a new beginning with God. No longer separated by sin, man can now be reconciled with God and enjoy peace with his fellowman (Rom. 5:1). For believers to fully experience this new beginning, we must possess a clear understanding of our new identity in Christ. This understanding is critical for living victoriously (1 John 5:4).

Identity is the condition of being a specific person or thing. Our personal identity is the result of the people, places, and things we connect or associate with. This is also true of our spiritual identity. While personal identity looks at outward influences, spiritual identity, however, looks at two things: (1) the Person of Jesus Christ and (2) the Place of the Cross.

Jesus Christ took on our physical identity (in his fleshly body) so that we can become partakers of his spiritual identity (Heb. 12:14-15). This divine incarnation resulted in the provision of the perfect sacrifice required to satisfy the penalty for sin that we might have eternal life and become children of God (Rom. 8:16).

It is in the shadow of the Cross that we leave our old nature and become crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20). It is here that we die to sin and deny its death hold upon our life (Rom. 6:11). It is in His resurrection, that we received new life for our new beginning.

Once we fully grasp our identity in Christ we can begin to live victoriously, ready to receive “all the fullness of God” (John 1:16). Once estranged and hostile to God, our hope and assurance now rests in the completed work of the Cross and the new beginnings which Christ, with His life, acquired for us. Our past (life) is past (behind us). He is our New Beginning (Col. 1:18).

Good to the Last Byte…
If we have new beginnings, why don’t we live more victoriously? Christ has provided all we need to live holy (Eph. 1:3-9). It is now our responsibility to daily walk out and live out the new identity Christ has provided.

“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.” Psalm 51:2-3 (NKJ)

The 51st Psalm is God’s lesson on confession. It was authored by King David after he was confronted by Nathan the prophet for his adulterous affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah. The whole incident was not unlike the stories we read in the gossip tabloid or see in the latest “made for television” sequel. King David, however, gives us a better approach to confession.

First, King David quickly accepted responsibility for his behavior and pleaded guilty to all charges. He immediately called upon God for forgiveness. He offers no excuses but appealed to God to “blot out, wash and cleanse him” from his “transgressions, iniquity, and sin.”

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.” (VV. 3-4)

Next, King David recounted God’s expectation of him, as a man and as the leader of Israel. Though King David had perpetrated this crime against Uriah, he answered to a Higher Judge, the omniscient God, who see, hears, and knows all things. There are no “hidden sins” in His presence.

“Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” (VV. 4-6)

Finally, King David was concerned about his broken relationship with God. He had the unique opportunity of walking closely with the Lord most of his life beginning as a young shepherd boy in the hills of Bethlehem. He longed to be restored to that relationship.

“Create in me a pure heart, 0 God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (VV.10-12)

It is important that we learn to quickly confess our sins. Unconfessed sin results in guilt and shame, spiritual strongholds in our lives, and even worst, a broken relationship with God. Therein lies the power in confession. Power comes from the One who is “faithful to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

“Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives transgressions?” (Micah 7:18) There is none O Lord like You.