Sin Begins with a False Identity
What is false identity?
Let’s look at this.
Sin. Sin. Sin.
Sin begins with a false identity.
We have to understand what sin really is because I think we have a mindset of what we think it is – but this is going to show what it really is.
The story in Genesis reveals that sin starts not with an act but with a distorted belief about God and ourselves.
God’s original truth – humanity was created in the image of God.
You are already known, loved and made for relationship with Him.
The serpent life, the serpent life, on the other hand in Genesis, the serpent tempted humanity with “you will be like God.”
Yet, humanity had already been created in God’s image.
So, the deception was, “You’re not already what God says you are. You must do something independently to become it.”
And so, I just love this word – it’s identity amnesia.
Adam and Eve forgot or ceased trusting the truth of their God-given identity.
So, let’s from that, look at the false perception and how that came to be.
It started with distrust – distrust, doubting in God’s goodness and wisdom.
Then the independence, the desire to be one’s own God, self-rule.
Then the disobedience, rejection of God’s word and authority.
And then fear, fear of God, others and consequences.
And then the shame came in. Brokenness in identity, feeling exposed, hiding, withdrawing from God’s presence, accusations, blame shifts to others, relationships break, and death consciousness, awareness of mortality, separation from God.
The outward act, the choice to eat was the outward act, but it flowed from an inward distortion.
Let’s make sure we get that.
The choice to eat was an outward act, but it flowed into an inward distortion.
I love this here: The heart of sin is a false belief about God and ourselves.
Let me just say that again.
The heart of sin, the core part of sin, is a false belief about God and ourselves.
And it moved to an inward distortion when they ate from the tree.
The real problem was believing wrongly about God and themselves. There’s that identity amnesia.
Therefore, sin is not only doing wrong. It also involves believing wrongly about God and ourselves and then living from that false belief.
Let me just say that again because that’s so powerful.
Therefore, sin is not only doing wrong. It also involves believing wrongly about God and ourselves and then living from that false belief.
The Gospel restores true identity.
You are known. You are loved. You’re already his. You walk in truth. You live in the relationship.
Christ in me, in us, the hope of glory.
Amen and amen.
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