Identity Restored: Reclaiming Who God Says You Are
Introduction: The Crisis of Identity Confusion
"God sent His Son... that we might receive adoption to sonship."
One of the most painful conditions in the world is not sickness. It's identity confusion.
People don't know who they are. People don't know whose they are. People don't know what they're worth. People don't know where they belong.
I want you to know that this was not God's plan for us. God created us in the right image.
"Then God said, 'Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.'" (Genesis 1:26, AMP)
Repeat after me: I am made in God's image and likeness.
"What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet." (Psalm 8:4-6, AMP)
So, they had:
- God's image
- God's likeness
- God's authority
Yet Satan convinced them they were missing something.
"The devil didn't start with murder or destruction. He started with identity theft."
Adam and Eve weren't tricked into eating fruit first. They were tricked into forgetting who they were.
Point 1: The Target Was Identity, Not Fruit
"Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, 'Can it really be that God has said, "You shall not eat from any tree of the garden"?'" (Genesis 3:1, AMP)
Before the fall, they had identity and authority.
"If Satan can get you to doubt God's Word, he can get you to doubt who you are."
Point 2: The Lie: "You Are Missing Something"
"But the serpent said to the woman, 'You certainly will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened [that is, you will have greater awareness], and you will be like God, knowing [the difference between] good and evil.'" (Genesis 3:4-5, AMP)
Satan introduced false lack.
The enemy never offers something new, only a counterfeit upgrade.
Point 3: Identity Lost Leads to Insecurity
Before the fall:
- Walked with God
- Ruled with authority
- Lived uncovered
"Then the eyes of the two of them were opened [that is, their awareness increased], and they knew that they were naked; and they fastened fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool [afternoon breeze] of the day, so the man and his wife hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, 'Where are you?' He said, 'I heard the sound of You [walking] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so, I hid myself.'" (Genesis 3:7-10, AMP)
After identity theft:
- Hiding instead of walking
- Covering instead of ruling
- Fear instead of confidence
"When you don't know who you are, you start covering what God never told you to hide."
Point 4: Jesus Restored What Adam Lost
"Then Jesus was led by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." (Matthew 4:1, AMP)
Both Adams were tested: the first Adam and the last Adam.
"So, it is written [in Scripture], 'The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL (an individual)'; the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving spirit [restoring the dead to life]." (1 Corinthians 15:45, AMP)
"After He had gone without food for forty days and forty nights, He became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.' But Jesus replied, 'It is written and forever remains written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God."' Then the devil took Him into the holy city [Jerusalem] and placed Him on the pinnacle (highest point) of the temple. And he said [mockingly] to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, "He will command His angels concerning You [to serve, care for, protect and watch over You]"; and "They will lift you upon their hands, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone."' Jesus said to him, 'On the other hand, it is written and forever remains written, "You shall not test the Lord your God."'" (Matthew 4:2-7, AMP)
Adam failed in a garden. Jesus won in a wilderness.
Before Jesus performed a miracle, the Father said who He was. Jesus didn't perform to prove identity. He stood on identity first.
Point 5: You Have a New Identity
"But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name." (John 1:12, AMP)
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]." (2 Corinthians 5:17, AMP)
The enemy knows: If he can confuse your identity, he can control your destiny.
But when Jesus was born, He brought a package that redefined everything:
"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]." (John 10:10, AMP)
You Are Known and Chosen
You are not an accident. (Psalm 139:13-16)
You are not random. (Jeremiah 1:5)
You are not forgotten. (Isaiah 49:15-16)
You were chosen, pursued, and adopted.
You didn't find God. God found you (Luke 19:10).
You didn't earn identity. Identity was gifted to you (Romans 6:23).
Identity Before Christ vs. Identity After Christ
Identity Before Christ
Identity After Christ
Lost (Luke 19:10)
Accepted (Ephesians 1:6)
Dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1)
Loved (Romans 5:8)
Outsider (Ephesians 2:12)
Chosen (1 Peter 2:9)
Orphan (Romans 8:15)
Forgiven (Colossians 1:14)
Stranger (Colossians 1:21)
Royal (Revelation 1:6)
Guilty (Romans 3:23)
Seated with Christ (Ephesians 2:6)
Powerless (Romans 5:6)
Called (Romans 8:30)
Equipped (2 Timothy 3:17)
Set apart (1 Corinthians 6:11)
You Are Who God Says You Are
You are not what happened to you.
You are not what you did.
You are not the labels others placed on you.
You are not the names guilt whispers in your ear.
You are who God says you are.
Truth
Sin started with forgotten identity.
Salvation restores sonship.
You don't have to earn what God already gave.
Living Like Spiritual Orphans vs. Living as Adoptees
Many believers are saved but still live like spiritual orphans:
- Afraid God will abandon them (Hebrews 13:5)
- Unsure of their worth (Matthew 6:26)
- Trying to earn acceptance (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- Comparing themselves (Galatians 6:4)
- Feeling unqualified (2 Corinthians 3:5)
- Feeling unwanted (Psalm 27:10)
But adoptees don't beg for love. They inherit it (Romans 8:17).
Adoptees don't fight for a seat at the table. Their name is already on it (Psalm 23:5).
Adoptees don't question ownership. Their Father signed the papers in blood (Hebrews 9:12).
Jesus didn't just forgive your sins. He gave you a family (Ephesians 2:19).
Closing Declaration
"I am not trying to become something. I'm returning to who God already said I am."
"Today, God is restoring what the enemy tried to steal: your identity."
Discussion Questions
- Identity Theft in the Garden: The sermon teaches that "the devil didn't start with murder or destruction. He started with identity theft" and that "Adam and Eve weren't tricked into eating fruit first—they were tricked into forgetting who they were." What "false lack" has the enemy introduced into your thinking? Where has Satan convinced you that you're missing something, even though God has already given you His image, likeness, and authority?
- Covering What God Never Told You to Hide: After the fall, Adam and Eve moved from "walking with God" to "hiding," from "ruling with authority" to "covering," and from "confidence" to "fear." The message states, "When you don't know who you are, you start covering what God never told you to hide." What are you currently hiding or covering because of identity confusion? What fears are keeping you from walking confidently in who God says you are?
- Jesus Stood on Identity First: The sermon contrasts Adam failing in a garden with Jesus winning in a wilderness, noting that "Jesus didn't perform to prove identity. He stood on identity first." In what areas of your life are you trying to perform to prove your worth or earn God's acceptance? How would your actions change if you fully believed your identity was already established before you did anything?
- From Orphan to Adoptee: The message lists ways believers live like "spiritual orphans" (afraid of abandonment, unsure of worth, trying to earn acceptance, comparing themselves, feeling unqualified, feeling unwanted) versus living as "adoptees" (inheriting love, having a seat at the table, ownership signed in blood). Which orphan mindset do you struggle with most? What would it look like to live as an adoptee this week instead of begging for what you already have?
- You Are Who God Says You Are: Looking at the "Identity Before Christ vs. Identity After Christ" comparison, which "after Christ" identity do you have the hardest time believing about yourself (accepted, loved, chosen, forgiven, royal, seated with Christ, called, equipped, set apart)? The closing declaration states, "I am not trying to become something. I'm returning to who God already said I am." What specific step will you take this week to return to (not earn) the identity God has already given you?