A person's identity is important.  An identity can represent what we see ourselves as having been in a historical sense, as being what we are like a snap shot of today, or it can forecast our potential of what we might possibly become.  Identity thieves understand this dynamic and as one of the fastest growing theft crimes they seek to assume someone's financial history, their present earning statements and monetary worth, as well as the credit line that the victim has for future purchases.
 
Satan is lair, a theif, a murderer, and an accuser of those redeemed by faith in Christ Jesus.  In the beginning he wanted to assume God's identity to be like unto God and he was able to secure an accomplice: Adam.  Though a real person, Adam's name has become synonymous with "the flesh" and the deeds of the flesh.  Adam wanted to do something that only God's identity could accomplish: know good and evil, or put into modern language, to be able establish his own brand of morality - to decide for himself what is to be considered good or bad behavior.  In short, Adam committed identity theft and his sentence was capital punishment: immediate spiritual death followed by physical death.  His lust brought for sin, and when sin was finally finished, it brought death.  This why it is said that in Adam we all die.  Sin also gave birth to guilt.  
 
Guilt can be like looking over your shoulder to see if there is a policeman nearby when you are speeding or about to cross the street when the "do not cross" sign is on.  Guilt can also be a heavy burden that smothers joy and drains the very life out of you.  Guilt can also be like a frantic and desperate panic that grips us when we realize that we just turned into oncoming traffic and are about to feel the consequences of our wrong turn. 
 
When we turn from our sinful way to acknowedge that our morality cannot compete with God's righteousness, trusting by faith that Christ will redeem us, what happens to our identity at that point?  It is crucified with Christ.  Your life is then hidden in Christ.  When the Heavenly Father now looks at you, whose identity does he see?  Jesus Christ's.  Yes, until the flesh either dies or is transformed, there is still the possibility that it commits sin, but your life is still hidden in Christ.  This is why Satan is only the accuser of the brethren, not an eye witness.  He may see the act that the flesh commits against God, but when he tries to point his finger, all he sees is Christ who knows no sin and has committed no sin.  Paul remarked about his new identity in Christ by saying that when he does those things that he knows should not be done, it is the flesh and not the real him because he is dead to sin and that the life he now lives is Christ because he is in Christ.  Paul also warned that though all things were lawful for him, because his identity is hidden in Christ, only some things are benificial to do while others reap negative repercussions.
 
If the devil cannot steal your identity in Christ, then he will settle for common fraud.  He will scam you to have you willingly put on your old identity to feel guilt and seperated from the love of Christ one more time.  A scammers depends on the victim to cooperate in order for the scam to work, and the same is true when it comes to the father of lies.  Guilt breeds fear and fear makes a child of God weak and unstable - virtually powerless.  A sure sign that guilt has entered back into your life is that you will feel so seperated from Christ that you will ask for forgiveness over and over.  Why ask forgiveness again when Christ has already forgiven you?  The first century Hebrew believers under the Law repeatedly asked forgiveness and often entreated favor.  For example, they had to forgive in order to be forgiven.  Under Grace, however, we are forgiven already and are thus at liberty to forgive - but if we fail, we are already forgiven!  All require God's grace to enter heaven, but there is a reason why they were called the "weaker brethren" compared to Paul's converts under grace.
 
I suggest you try over the next month to focus on this dynamic of living under grace by faith, that your true identity is in Christ not the deeds and failures of your flesh, that you are forgiven already.  Learn to be thankful for the forgiveness so freely given instead of fearfully asking forgiveness.
 
There are several stories in the bible of two children where the younger "stole the identity" of the older.  The most famous of these is when Jacob (aka Israel) not only took his older brother Esau's birth right, but also stole his blessing by committing identity theft.  These events foreshadowed Christ who did not steal or usurp but rather willingly laid down His life on the Cross.  He took the birthright that Adam had scorned and bought back the Father's blessing by suffering death.  He took upon our old identity, becoming Sin for us, thereby becoming the "second Adam" in which we - our new identity through faith - now live.
 
Focus on who you are in Christ - it is sense of self esteem that no deeds of our flesh can tarnish.
 
 
  
 
 
 
 

Hello, there;
I just wanted to thank you for sharing your story. I know it's not an easy thing to do, but I am so glad that you found this site and that it is helping you. More than that, I am so glad that you found the Lord and that He is healing you and doing such an incredible work in your life. I just want to encourage you, though, I know how frustrating this kind of a struggle can be, but you shouldn't hate yourself. God doesn't hate you. He loves you, and is working to restore you and strengthen you.
Should you give into the temptation, do not beat yourself up over it, but press on and remember that in Christ you have the victory. Again, thank you so much for sharing your story. It is a beautiful testimony, and I know that God will use it to encourage and reach others.
God bless you!!! He will give you the victory.
Many blessings
April