Redeemed Identity in Christ: How to Embrace Your New Name and Leave Shame Behind
Framing verse: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
When You Forget Who You Are
You love Jesus, but sometimes you forget what that actually means for you. You know the verses, but the weight of your past still clings. Shame sticks. Guilt whispers. Old labels scream louder than God’s truth: Failure. Addict. Unworthy. Too much. Not enough.
If you've ever wondered, “Can I really be new?”—you are not alone. And the answer isn’t just yes. It’s already true. If you are in Christ, you have a redeemed identity. Not in theory. In reality.
This is not about pretending the past never happened. It’s about knowing it no longer defines you. God doesn’t just forgive your sin—He gives you a new name. A new nature. A new place in His family. Let’s talk about what that means—and how to live like it’s true.
God Has Always Been a Renamer
Scripture is full of identity shifts. God never leaves His people stuck in the stories they wrote for themselves. He steps in and rewrites them:
Abram became Abraham—“father of many nations” (Genesis 17:5)
Sarai became Sarah—“mother of nations” (Genesis 17:15)
Jacob became Israel—“one who wrestles with God” (Genesis 32:28)
Simon became Peter—“rock” on whom Christ would build His church (Matthew 16:18)
Each name change came with a calling. A future. A promise. And none of them earned it. God didn’t wait for perfection before renaming them. He called them what they were becoming—because He was the One doing the transforming.
That same God calls you by a new name today. Not because of your performance, but because of Christ’s finished work.
What Redeemed Identity Really Means
To be redeemed is to be bought back, rescued, restored. When Jesus laid His life down for you, He didn’t just wash your past clean—He rewrote your future:
From orphan to child of God (John 1:12)
From condemned to justified (Romans 8:1)
From enemy to friend (John 15:15)
From slave to free (Galatians 5:1)
From unclean to righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21)
This is not about becoming a better version of yourself. This is a new creation. You are not your struggle. You are not your story. You are not your sin. You are His.
God is not improving the old you. He crucified it (Galatians 2:20). And He raised you with Christ, clothed in righteousness, called by a new name. One you don’t have to earn. One you already have.
Why You Still Feel Like the Old You Sometimes
If all this is true, why do the old patterns, voices, and feelings keep showing up?
Because while your identity was changed in an instant, your thinking needs to catch up. That’s called sanctification—learning to live from what’s already true. The enemy can’t steal your new name, but he’ll do everything he can to make you forget it.
This is why the journey of faith isn’t about achieving perfection. It’s about anchoring deeper into what’s already been secured for you by Jesus.
Four Rhythms to Walk in Your Redeemed Identity
New identity is a gift. But walking in it is a rhythm. Here’s how to stay rooted when the old names come knocking:
1. Declare Truth Daily
Put it on your mirror. Set it as your lock screen. Tape it to your dashboard. Say it out loud until it gets in your bones:
“I am a new creation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
“I am God’s workmanship.” (Ephesians 2:10)
“I am chosen, holy, and dearly loved.” (Colossians 3:12)
You are not speaking to become it. You’re speaking it because it’s already true.
2. Confront the Lies
When shame says, “You’ll never change,” ask: Would God say that about me? If not, name the lie and bring it into the light. Jesus didn’t just die to forgive your sin—He died to silence your accuser (Revelation 12:10).
3. Use Gospel Imagination
Picture Jesus with you in a Gospel scene. Watch how He treats people. Listen to what He says. Let Him rewrite the inner narrative you’ve believed for too long. He is not disgusted by your weakness. He draws near to heal it.
4. Stay in Community That Knows Your New Name
You weren’t meant to fight these lies alone. Find people who will speak truth over you when you forget. A small group. A coach. A spiritual friend. Someone who will remind you, “That name isn’t yours anymore.”
You Are Not Who You Were
The cross didn’t give you a second chance. It gave you a second birth. You are not the sum of your worst decisions. You are not the shadow of your trauma. You are not your mental health diagnosis or your hidden habit. You are redeemed.
Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people alive. And that includes you.
Don’t strive to prove your worth. Rest in what’s already been secured. The door is not cracked open—it is flung wide with welcome. You belong.
Next Steps & Internal Links
Want to shed shame and walk fully in your new name? Enroll in More Than Your Past.
Need help replacing lies with truth? Explore our Christian Meditation Techniques.
Feeling stuck in anxiety? Read Biblical Ways to Beat Anxiety.
You Do Not Have to Do This Alone
If you're struggling to believe your new name, we’re here. Our coaching is honest, gentle, and rooted in Scripture. We’ll help you trade the voice of shame for the voice of truth—and build rhythms that help you walk in freedom.
Send a quick message that says, “I need help,” and we’ll point you to the next right step. If you’re not sure where to begin, request a short check-in call. We’ll figure it out together.
