Christian Biblical Counsel: IDENTITY – WHO ARE YOU?

Identity: Who Are You?

Do You Know Who You Really Are?

by June Hunt

What is your real identity? What is an identity? Is your identity something you are born with? Is it changeable or never able to change? Ever since Adam made his choice to disobey God in the Garden of Eden, he and all his descendants have been identified with sin. His declaration of independence explains the rebellious nature we each inherited. Because we were born into the family of Adam, we all possess the natural bent to live self-centered lives. Yet with a heart of love, the heavenly Father has persistently sought to draw each person with His offer of adoption. He desires to adopt us into His family and to give us a new nature … the same moral nature of His Son. When you become a true Christian by receiving Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you also receive a new identity. As a child of God, your old sin nature has been exchanged for a glorious new identity in Christ!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

i. definitions

If someone were to ask, “Who are you?” what would you say? Many of us describe ourselves by what we do, such as “I am a school teacher,” or “I am an accountant.” Others may have spent years studying genealogy charts tracing their roots to determine who they are through family lineage. But name tags will not be sufficient when a life or death situation forces you to look at the core of your being and find out who you really are in relation to the One who created you!

A. What Is Your Identity?

• The identity of a person is based on the distinguishing characteristics of that person.

• Your identity involves both your inner character and your outer conduct that distinguish you from everyone else.

• The word identity comes from the Latin wordidem, which means “same.”

• Your visible conduct should consistently reflect your inner character. This forms your identity.

“As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.” (Proverbs 27:19)

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

(Psalm 139:13)

B. What Is the Difference between Your Inner Identity and Your Outer Identity?

• The Visible You

— How you are known by others

a. Your personality

b. Your masks, pretenses, outer appearance

c. Your actions

“Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.” (Proverbs 20:11)

• The Real You

— How you are known by God

a. Your basic nature

b. Your character

c. Your value system

“All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart.” (Proverbs 21:2)

C. What Is an Identity Crisis?

• An identity crisis is a period of difficult transition, such as adolescence or midlife, when the visible you severely conflicts with the real you—causing pain, distress and a desire for change.

— “Who am I?”

— “What do I believe in?”

— “What values should I live by?”

— “What do I want to do with my life?”

“Folly delights a man who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding keeps a straight course.” (Proverbs 15:21)

• An identity crisis is a period of severe disillusionment when your identity is based on a role or relationship that has been changed or removed.

— The loss of a job

Identity was in your career (a role).

— The loss of a spouse due to death or divorce

Identity was in your marriage partner (a relationship).

— The “empty nest”

Identity was in being a parent (a role).

— A move from a secure environment

Identity was in your friends and family (a relationship).

— The onset of a disability

Identity was in your ability to perform (a role).

— The loss of an intimate friendship

Identity was in a cherished companion (a relationship).

— A financial loss

Identity was in your social status (a role).

“Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?” (Job 6:13)

• This identity crisis can be a severe form of identity confusion that results from childhood trauma or sexual abuse.

— Homosexuality

(rejecting your God-given sexuality)

— Bizarre dressing or cross-dressing

(taking on a different identity, so as to feel significant)

— Victim mentality

(feeling powerless in relationships)

— Dissociative disorders

Amnesia

(temporary memory loss)

Fugue

(starting life over with a new identity)

Multiple Personality Disorder

(adopting two or more personalities as a way of coping with life)

ii. characteristics

What happens if you are caught in an identity crisis? In some ways, you would be like an amnesiac—you don’t know who you are—you can’t find your own way home. What a fearful situation! If your heart is heavy with fear, if you don’t seem to know yourself or know what to do with yourself, just know that God knows. He not only holds all the answers, but He also waits for you to seek Him for the right answers.

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

(Psalm 34:4)

A. Inner Emotional Conflicts

Emotional conflicts within those who are struggling to establish a personal identity are common to every age group. These feelings are related as much to external events as they are related to inner thoughts and preoccupations.

• Anxiety—“I don’t know who I really am.”

• Depression—“I have no hope for the future.”

• Self-doubt—“I am so inadequate.”

• Self-consciousness—“I am unacceptable and unloved.”

• Low self-worth—“I am not good enough.”

“How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?”

(Psalm 13:2)

B. Outer Evidence of Conflict

Inner emotional struggles with identity usually result in the following patterns of inconsistent behavior:

• Oppositional attitude and actions

• Difficulty in making a positive spiritual commitment

• Unhealthy friendships

• Inability to make decisions or impulsive decision making

• Rejection of family values or blind acceptance of values of others

• Struggles with sexual immorality

• Difficulty in establishing intimacy

• Excessive difficulty in choosing a career

• Inability to set long-term goals

“He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

(James 1:8)

iii. causes

A. What Causes the Struggle with Identity?

Most people experience confusion about who they really are because they lack a biblical understanding of what determines their identity. Your behavior is an outgrowth of your identity. Our personal identity is determined by what “family” we are born into. Spiritually, everyone is a descendant of Adam—we were born into “Adam’s family.” No one in Adam’s family has the capacity to live as God designed us to live.

A new spiritual life is made possible in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. To embrace Him as your personal Lord and Savior is to inherit a new family and a new identity “in Christ.” With this new identity you will begin to develop Christlike character by choosing to rely on Him to deal with your daily problems.

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

• The Family of Adam

Every individual is born into the family of Adam, is identified with Adam and will exhibit the character of Adam. Adam represents the humanistic view of life.

— The one in Adam sees human beings in control of events and circumstances.

— The one in Adam believes there is no absolute truth; everything is relative.

— The one in Adam believes in choosing one’s own moral restraints.

— The one in Adam sees self-fulfillment as life’s highest purpose.

To be in Adam means that you are an heir to everything he was.

“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.”

(Romans 5:12)

• The Family of Christ

God has made it possible for any individual to have a new identity by moving us out of the family of Adam and adopting us into the family of Christ. Everyone who is “in Christ” experiences a new birth—“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3), receives a new heart—“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26), and becomes conformed to the character of Christ—“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29).

— The one in Christ sees God in control of events and circumstances.

“The Lord works out everything for his own ends—even the wicked for a day of disaster.” (Proverbs 16:4)

— The one in Christ is set free by the truth.

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ ” (John 8:31–32)

— The one in Christ knows moral absolutes that establish godly behavior.

“You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.” (Psalm 119:4)

— The one in Christ sees fulfilling the will of God as life’s highest purpose.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

To be in Christ means that you are an heir to everything He is.

“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

(Galatians 3:29)

B. The Root Cause of Identity Struggles

Nonbelievers experience lack of fulfillment because of their choice to remain in Adam’s family … seeking to meet their own needs and living out of their own resources. Believers may be unfulfilled because they lack understanding that their identity is now in the person of Christ. They still seek to serve God and meet their own needs out of their own resources.

Wrong Belief:

“My identity is found in the significant roles and relationships in my life. I will be fulfilled when I am seen as having an image of success.”

Right Belief:

I am fulfilled as my life reflects the image of God by allowing Christ to live in me and through me. My identity is found not in earthly roles or relationships, but is found in Christ.

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:9–10)

Eagles and Turkeys

Once upon a time, a little eaglet fell to the ground from its nest high on a cliff. While blindly thrashing around, the baby eaglet was found by a flock of turkeys. Being kind, generous creatures, the turkeys proceeded to take the helpless eaglet under their wings and teach him everything he needed to know for survival. The tenderhearted turkeys taught the eaglet to forage for acorns when his tummy felt empty. Yet after eating until he was full, there was still a strange, unsatisfied hunger within his heart.

Upon losing his down and growing pinions, he began flapping and flailing around. Of course he looked silly, and the turkeys could hardly keep from laughing. As his wings grew ridiculously big and bulky, he could never keep them neatly tucked like the other good turkeys. As a matter of fact, the more he grew, the less he looked like them. Meanwhile, the turkey hens clucked in motherly concern at his strangeness, making him all the more embarrassed and confused.

On several occasions, the growing eaglet looked up and saw many mature eagles soaring far above the earth. His little heart pounded with desire to follow, but an old gobbler squawked, “No, no! You don’t want to be like them! Those up there are vultures!” Crushed and defeated, the eaglet grew to maturity without ever leaving the ground. He tried very hard to be a good turkey, but was still unhappy and didn’t know why.

One day when the eagle was foraging on the forest floor, dragging his bulky, useless wings, a wise owl looked down from his perch and said to the eagle, “Whoo are you? And what are you doing?” The eagle replied, “I am a bad turkey. I try so hard, but I just can’t do anything right.” The old owl replied, “Your problem is that you don’t know who you are. You’ve been turkeyized. You’re an eagle, and eagles are meant for the sky. You’ll never be happy living down on the ground.”

The eagle’s eyes were opened. He saw who he really was. He saw where he was meant to be. The eagle found the courage to try something he had never done before. He stretched out his wings and flapped to the top of a tree to see his way to the sky. The good turkeys raised their voices in astonishment. Many feared he would fall. But the eagle lifted his wings and rose with the currents of the wind. Never did he need to look back. The eagle could now do what he was meant to do … because he knew who he really was.

God gives you a brand new identity when you embrace Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. With Him, you are given “everything you need for life and godliness” in the person of the indwelling Spirit of Christ Himself (2 Peter 1:3–4). With this new identity, develop Christlike character by choosing to rely on Him to enable you to deal with your daily problems. God says that “Christ in you” provides the supernatural ability to live as He intended you to live.

iv. steps to solution

A. Key Verse to Memorize

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

(Galatians 2:20)

B. Key Passage To Read and Reread

Ephesians 5:8–17

Adam made the choice not to obey God. Therefore, all his descendants inherited a nature that is independent of God and seeks to please itself. Because God has made it possible for us to be His children … we are given a new nature that is submissive to God and seeks to please Him.

Your New Family Inheritance

(Ephesians 5:8–17)

• You have moved from darkness to light.

v. 8

• You reflect God’s goodness, righteousness and truth.

v. 9

• You desire to please God.

v. 10

• You expose evil and ungodliness.

v. 11

• You are blessed with wisdom.

v. 15

• You make the most of opportunities.

v. 16

• You seek to know God’s will.

v. 17

C. Replace False Belief Systems from Your Past

Are you like the little eaglet, accepting lies and untruths from your past? Make time alone with your heavenly Father, and search out the false beliefs that keep you from soaring like the eagle.

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”

(Ephesians 1:18)

• An adopted child

Wrong Belief:

“I wasn’t worth keeping.”

Right Belief:

God not only cares about me, He adopted me, and He’ll never leave me.

“He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 1:5)

• A child of divorce

Wrong Belief:

“I must be the reason my parents are divorced.”

Right Belief:

I am not responsible for the actions of others. Each person is accountable to God.

“Each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)

• A multiple birth child (twin, triplet)

Wrong Belief:

“I felt lost in the shuffle.”

Right Belief:

I am a unique creation of God. He knew me before I was born.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:13–14)

• A fatherless child (death)

Wrong Belief:

“I never had a real father who loved me and cared for me.”

Right Belief:

God will be my helper, defender and encourager. He is the Father of the fatherless.

“But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.… You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.” (Psalm 10:14, 17–18)

• A child born in poverty

Wrong Belief:

“I didn’t get a fair start in life.”

Right Belief:

God has not forgotten me, for He defends the cause of the needy.

“I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.” (Psalm 140:12)

D. The Seven Day Formula for

Claiming Your Identity in Christ

In order for Christians to walk in victory, we need to identify the lies we believe about ourselves and exchange them for the truth about who we really are in Christ. Consider the following seven lies we tell ourselves followed by seven truths from God’s Word.For lasting change to occur, we must cast aside the lies and constantly rely on the truth of Scripture.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

(Romans 12:2)

Look at one of the lies each day. Ask yourself, Am I believing this lie? Then look up Scriptures for that day and write them down. Read them aloud, and thank God that His Word confirms the truth about you—whether you feel like it or not. If you repeat this practice for three weeks, you will have begun to see yourself through God’s eyes.

Day One … My New Family

Lie:

“I can’t feel valuable unless I’m loved and accepted by my family and the significant people in my life.”

Truth:

I have God-given value because I have been placed into a new family where I am unconditionally loved and accepted by God.

• I am chosen by God.

“He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” (Ephesians 1:4)

• I am adopted by God.

“In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” (Ephesians 1:4–5)

• I am a child of God.

“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

• I am born again.

“You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)

• I’ve been adopted into the family of God.

“You did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:15–16)

Day Two … My New Characteristics

Lie:

“I’ll never feel valuable because this is just the way I am. I cannot change.”

Truth:

I have God-given value because God has changed me on the inside and has given me new characteristics.

• I am a new creation.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

• I have a new nature.

“In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ.” (Colossians 2:11)

• I have a new heart.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

• I have a new spirit.

“I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:27)

• I have a new mind.

“ ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)

Day Three … My New Clothing

Lie:

“I can’t feel I have value unless I live in the right neighborhood, drive the right car and wear the right clothes.”

Truth:

I have God-given value because I have a new residence in God’s kingdom and the new clothing of Christ.

• I am clothed with Christ.

“All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” (Galatians 3:27)

• I am baptized into Christ.

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)

• I am hidden in Christ.

“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3)

• I am sealed with the Spirit of Christ.

“You also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14)

• I am given the full armor of God.

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:13–17)

Day Four … My New Life

Lie:

“My life has no value since I’ve done so many things wrong—my life is ruined.”

Truth:

I have God-given value, for I’ve been given a new clothing in Jesus Christ.

• I am redeemed.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

• I am washed.

“That is what some of you were [wicked]. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)

• I am purified.

“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

• I am justified.

“Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

• I am sanctified.

“You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11)

Day Five … My New Image

Lie:

“My life has value as long as I can look good to others.”

Truth:

I have God-given value even though I have fallen in the past and may stumble in the future. He has given me a new clothing.

• I am totally accepted by Christ.

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Romans 15:7)

• I am totally blameless before Christ.

“He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” (Colossians 1:22)

• I am totally righteous in Christ.

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

• I am totally complete in Christ.

“In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness [made complete] in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2:9–10)

• I am totally perfect because of Christ.

“By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:14)

Day Six … My New Freedom

Lie:

“My life has no value because I have failed and deserve to be punished.”

Truth:

I have God-given value based not on my past performance but on Christ, who lives in me and who gives me freedom from condemnation.

• I am free from accusation.

“He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” (Colossians 1:22)

• I am free from condemnation.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

• I am free from the law.

“So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.” (Romans 7:4)

• I am free from sin.

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11)

• I am free from God’s wrath.

“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:9)

Day Seven … My New Inheritance

Lie:

“My life has no value if I do not succeed financially and leave a comfortable inheritance.”

Truth:

I have God-given value because I’ve been given a new inheritance that provides the only true and lasting significance and security possible.

• I have been made an heir of God.

“So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:7)

• I have inherited everything needed to be godly.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:3)

• I have inherited a divine nature.

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:4)

• I have inherited every spiritual blessing.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3)

• I have inherited eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

E. In the Image of God

If the real you has “Christ in you,” then the visible you will reflect the character of Christ through you.

“And we pray this … that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.… In whom [Christ] we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” (Colossians 1:10–16)

The Bible says,

“He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God.”

(Colossians 1:15)

Therefore, with Jesus living in you, He will enable you to reflect the image of God. This is your true identity!

Your New Identity In Christ

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”

(1 Corinthians 15:22)

In Adam

In Christ

Old Creation

New Creation

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Unrepentant Heart

New Heart

“Because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:5)

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

Slave to Sin

Free from Sin

“We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” (Romans 6:6)

“Anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” (Romans 6:7)

Death

Life

“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” (Romans 6:22)

Powerless

Strength

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6)

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

Enemies of God

Reconciled to God

“If, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10)

Condemned

No Condemnation

“The gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.” (Romans 5:16)

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

Slave

Son

“Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.” (Galatians 4:8)

“Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.” (Galatians 3:7)

Slave to Impurity

Slave to Righteousness

“I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.” (Romans 6:19)

Poverty

Riches

“You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Accused

Blameless

“Now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” (Colossians 1:22)

Under Law

Under Grace

“Sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)

“Sin shall not be your master, because you
are not under law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)

Under Judgment

Justified

Under a Curse

Redeemed from the Curse

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’ ” (Galatians 3:13)

Under Wrath

Free from Wrath

“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” (Ephesians 2:3)

“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:9)

In Darkness

In the Light

“You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

selected bibliography

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-III-R. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 1987.

Anderson, Neil T. Victory Over the Darkness: Realizing the Power of Your Identity in Christ. Ventura, CA: Regal, 1990.

Brown, Steve. Born Free: How to Find Radical Freedom and Infectious Joy in an Authentic Faith. Grand Rapids: Raven’s Ridge, 1993.

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Evans, Tony. Free at Last: Experiencing True Freedom Through Your Identity in Christ. Chicago: Moody, 2001.

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Gillham, Bill, and Anabel Gillham. Wheat & Tares. Fort Worth, TX: Gillham Ministries, 1994. audiocassette.

Hunt, June. Counseling Through Your Bible Handbook. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2007.

Hunt, June. How to Forgive … When You Don’t Feel Like It. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2007.

Hunt, June. How to Handle Your Emotions. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2008.

Hunt, June. Seeing Yourself Through God’s Eyes. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 2008

Lord, Peter. Soul Care. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1990.

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McVey, Steve. Grace Walk. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1995.

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Needham, David C. Birthright: Christian, Do You Know Who You Are? A Critical Concern Book. Portland, OR: Multnomah, 1979.^{^[1]}

^{^[1]} Hunt, J. (2008). Biblical Counseling Keys on Identity: Who are You? Do You Know Who You Really Are? (1–18). Dallas, TX: Hope For The Heart.

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Christian Biblical Counsel: IDENTITY – WHO ARE YOU?

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