I remember the day my youngest son Josiah was born. As we drove to the hospital, my wife awaited the final day of her pregnancy and we looked forward to meeting our son. Even though we knew we were having a son for the last 6 months and had seen our son developing through ultrasound pictures, we anxiously awaited meeting him in person. The day had come where we would finally meet our son face-to-face.

The moment arrived when we finally saw his precious face and heard his little cry. We all cried together for the first time and were filled with joy that will last a lifetime. After everything settled down, a nurse came with paperwork so we could officially name our son. His name would be in print, official, and would follow him all the days of his life.

Those particular papers, his birth certificate and social security card, would be his earthly identity. People will know him from these papers, hire him for jobs from these papers, and when he’s old enough, he will use them to file his own taxes or apply for loans.

As I was reading my Bible, I came across scriptures in the book of Galatians that discuss our true identity. The apostle Paul wrote this New Testament book as his testimony. He takes the time to explain to his readers and acquaintances what our true identity is when we truly and genuinely receive Christ as our Lord and Savior. Paul explains it this way in Galatians 2:19-20:

For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

In verse 19, Paul is talking about his old life that he left behind; in this old life, Paul would never be good enough to be in the presence of God. After he left his old self behind and accepted the truth of Jesus Christ, Paul no longer had to live up to impossible standards and “died to the law.” The law Paul speaks of is found in Deuteronomy and no one could obey every law given to the people—until Jesus came to the earth as a man and lived a sinless life.

In verse 20, Paul said that his old fake identity no longer existed and that his new identity was revealed in Jesus Christ. In Acts 9:3-22 we read about Paul’s journey to Damascus where he hears the voice of Jesus. The Lord appealed to him, and after accepting Jesus as His true Lord and Savior, Paul’s new identity took over his life along with a new mission.

We must learn to see ourselves like Paul saw himself. Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our new identity, just like Paul’s, is written in the Book of Life and we can never be blotted out of this book (Revelation 3:5).

We are covered by the blood of Christ and our old identity died with Christ on the cross. Our sins hung on the cross with Jesus, our sins were buried with Jesus, and we rose from the dead with Jesus as righteous heirs of the Kingdom of God. Our old self is dead and we only have the identity of Jesus in our hearts and minds.

Even though Paul has been dead for many centuries, we see his testimony changing lives to this very day, including mine. Remember that you were born with a God-given purpose which includes living a life just like Jesus did.

If you have not received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, do it today. Use Romans 10:9-10 as your guide or use the video below to walk through a prayer of Salvation with Pastor Kim Mills.

Leave your testimony for others to read and change people’s lives just like Paul did.