I struggle to know who I am. What is my identity? What makes me me? I have a really hard time untangling my identity from the things I’ve done and the things I do. Things of which I’m ashamed. At my core, I know I am a sinner. What I fail to realize so often is that I am also a redeemed and pardoned child of God, hurting and in constant need of grace.
“I Am Not the Same” is a song written by Aaron Keyes, Ben Smith, Pat Barrett, and Matt Redman. Here’s a link to a video of this song as performed by Seventh Day Slumber: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCJ3eHYs3vI. Below are several verses from the Bible that affirm the words in this song. My prayer is that I can internalize these truths and live in the freedom Christ purchased for me, to remember I am not the same as my past or my sin. I am a new creation in Christ.
Verse 1:
Thus says the Lord Yahweh: In the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be built…. [A]nd the waste and desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited. Then the nations that are left around you shall know that I, Yahweh, have built the ruined places…. (Ezek 36:33, 35–36)
… God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…. (1 John 4:16–18)
Verse 2:
We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life. (Rom 6:4)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love…. (Eph 1:3–4)
Pre-Chorus:
[God] predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself…. (Eph 1:5)
[Christ him]self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Pet 2:24)
[Yahweh] raises up the poor out of the dust.
He lifts up the needy from the dunghill,
To make them sit with princes,
and inherit the throne of glory.
(1 Sam 2:8)
You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses…. (Col 2:13)
Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (Luke 15:4–5)
He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me…. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me. (Psalm 18:17, 19; ESV)
Chorus:
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. (2 Cor 5:17)
Don’t be afraid; for you will not be ashamed.
Don’t be confounded; for you will not be disappointed.
For you will forget the shame of your youth;
and the reproach of your widowhood you shall remember no more.
(Isa 54:4)
Bridge:
After this, Jesus, seeing that all things were now finished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.” … When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.” He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit. (John 19:28, 30)
For he has looked down from the height of his sanctuary.
From heaven, Yahweh saw the earth;
to hear the groans of the prisoner;
to free those who are condemned to death.
(Ps 102:19–20)
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentence to Israel, remission of sins. (Acts 5:30–31)
The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!” (Rev 11:15)
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