THE BATTLE OF IDENTITIES:

Knowing the New Creation After the Spirit

Introduction

One of the greatest discoveries a believer can make is the discovery of his true identity in Christ Jesus. Many Christians are born again but continue to live according to their old identity because they do not understand who they have become in Christ.

The Christian life is fundamentally a battle of identities—a battle between what God says about us and what our natural senses, experiences, and society say about us.

Paul understood this when he wrote:

"Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh..." (2 Corinthians 5:16)

The believer is called to know himself and others according to the Spirit rather than according to the flesh.

1. THE INWARD MAN AND THE OUTWARD MAN

The Bible reveals that every human being has two dimensions:

The Outward Man

The outward man is the physical body.

This is the part that:

Eats physical food
Wears physical clothes
Sees with natural eyes
Hears with natural ears
Functions in the physical world

The Inward Man

The inward man is the spirit and soul.

This inward man:

Sees through the eyes of understanding
Hears the voice of God
Feeds on God's Word
Wears spiritual garments
Communes with God

Paul wrote:

"Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16)

The real you is not your body.

The real you is your spirit.

2. THE NEW BIRTH OCCURS IN THE SPIRIT

When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, He introduced one of the greatest truths of the Kingdom.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6)

When a person is born again:

The body remains the same.
The personality may appear unchanged initially.
But the spirit is recreated.

A brand-new creation comes into existence.

Paul said:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature..." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The new birth is not the improvement of the old man.

It is the creation of a completely new man.

3. DEATH DOES NOT END LIFE

James tells us:

"The body without the spirit is dead." (James 2:26)

Death is simply the separation of the spirit from the body.

The spirit remains alive, conscious, and aware.

Jesus demonstrated this through the story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31).

The rich man:

Recognized Abraham.
Remembered his brothers.
Held conversations.
Experienced awareness.

The spirit does not die.

The spirit simply relocates.

4. KNOWING MEN AFTER THE SPIRIT

Many people knew Jesus after the flesh.

They said:

"Is not this the carpenter's son?" (Matthew 13:55)

"Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph?" (John 6:42)

They knew His earthly background.

But they did not know His heavenly identity.

The demons recognized Him better than many people did.

They knew Him as:

The Son of God.
The Holy One of God.
The Christ.

This teaches us that natural familiarity can blind people to spiritual reality.

5. JESUS SPOKE FROM HIS TRUE IDENTITY

Jesus constantly spoke from the reality of who He was.

He declared:

"I am the Bread of Life." (John 6:35)

"I and my Father are one." (John 10:30)

"I am the resurrection and the life." (John 11:25)

"Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58)

"A greater than Solomon is here." (Luke 11:31)

These statements offended many people.

Why?

Because they knew Him after the flesh.

Whenever a believer begins to speak according to God's revelation of who he is, those who only know him naturally may misunderstand him.

6. THE NEW CREATION IS FROM ABOVE

Jesus said:

"Ye are from beneath; I am from above." (John 8:23)

The believer is now born from above.

The new creation:

Has heavenly citizenship.
Is joined to Christ.
Is one spirit with the Lord.

"He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." (1 Corinthians 6:17)

You are no longer merely an earthly person trying to reach heaven.

You are a heavenly citizen living on earth.

7. THE POWER OF CONFESSION

Jesus constantly spoke what would happen before it happened.

He said:

"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (John 2:19)

He said:

"The Son of man shall be delivered... and the third day rise again." (Luke 9:22)

Faith speaks.

Faith gives expression to what God has revealed.

A powerful example is Jairus.

Jairus said:

"Come and lay your hands on her, and she shall live." (Mark 5:23)

His words established the pathway for the miracle.

Jesus responded according to the faith that Jairus expressed.

8. ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT IS IN YOU

One of the most powerful verses in the New Testament is:

"That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." (Philemon 1:6)

Faith becomes effective when you acknowledge what God has already placed within you.

Many believers spend their lives praying for what they already possess in Christ.

The Holy Spirit wants to show you:

What you have.
Who you are.
What belongs to you.
What Christ accomplished for you.

9. REVELATION KNOWLEDGE

Paul prayed:

"That the eyes of your understanding being enlightened..." (Ephesians 1:18)

The Holy Spirit wants to give believers exact knowledge.

Not mere information.

Revelation.

The kind of knowledge that changes how you think, speak, and live.

Hebrews tells us:

"Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." (Hebrews 11:3)

The invisible realm governs the visible realm.

The Holy Spirit wants to open our eyes to spiritual realities.

10. ABRAHAM: THE MODEL OF IDENTITY

God changed Abram's name to Abraham.

Abraham means:

Father of many nations.

At the time God gave him that name:

He had no child.
There was no evidence.
Circumstances contradicted the promise.

Yet Abraham embraced God's identity for him.

He agreed with God before manifestation appeared.

That is faith.

11. THE HOLY SPIRIT'S MINISTRY

The Holy Spirit has been given to reveal the realities of Christ.

"We have received... the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." (1 Corinthians 2:12)

The Holy Spirit teaches:

Sonship.
Righteousness.
Authority.
Wisdom.
Union with Christ.
Kingdom identity.

His mission is to reveal Christ in us.

12. LIVING BEFORE GOD

Much of spiritual growth happens before God before it appears before men.

Isaiah said:

"Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord." (Isaiah 49:5)

Even before visible manifestation appears, the believer stands before God and agrees with His verdict.

Faith says:

"I am who God says I am."

Even when circumstances disagree.

CONCLUSION

The battle of identities is ultimately the battle between:

Natural knowledge and revelation knowledge.
Flesh identity and spiritual identity.
Human opinion and God's verdict.

Victory belongs to the believer who discovers who he is in Christ, acknowledges every good thing that is in him, and boldly lives from that reality.

Daily Confession

I am a new creation in Christ Jesus.

I am born of God.

I am seated with Christ in heavenly places.

I am one spirit with the Lord.

Christ lives in me.

The Holy Spirit dwells in me.

I have the wisdom of God.

I have the mind of Christ.

I walk in revelation knowledge.

I acknowledge every good thing that is in me in Christ Jesus.

I am who God says I am.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.