In this message from our I AM series, Greg Nixon gets honest about the narrative he carried about himself for years, and holds it up against what’s actually said about us in Christ: chosen, adopted, made new. A look at why identity has to come before authority, and what it takes to start believing what’s true about you.
Wherever this message finds you, we hope it draws you closer to God and deeper into life with Jesus.
The summary of this message has been drafted automatically from the transcript. Its accuracy may vary.
Identity Before Authority
Repentance is often misunderstood, but at its core, it is simply this: return to grace and change the way you think. The way we think informs our behaviors, our behaviors form our habits, and our habits shape our lifestyle. If we want our lives to change, it has to start with our minds.
As followers of Jesus, our lives are built on four pillars:
- His humanity,
- His death,
- His resurrection, and
- His ascension.
Because of what Jesus accomplished, we have been given incredible authority. But here is the catch—we often try to exercise that authority without first understanding our true identity.
Before Jesus ever performed a miracle, He was baptized. When He came out of the water, the Father spoke:
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
— Matthew 3:17
Jesus was affirmed in His position as a beloved Son before He accomplished anything. His identity was the absolute basis for His authority. We cannot step through the doors God is opening for us if we still believe the “Authorised Personnel Only” sign the enemy has taped to the front. In Christ, you are authorized.
Confronting the False Narratives
To step into the new life God promises, something has to die. The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 2:20,
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
— Galatians 2:20
For years, many of us have carried around a false narrative about who we are. Even as a pastor, I have battled for much of my life: “I’m ugly. I’m disposable. I’m second best. I have an expiration date. Hide yourself away.”
That is the space where the battle rages—in our thinking.
But the truth of the Gospel is that every single one of those lies was nailed to the cross. To let the new creation out, the old version of ourselves has to die. We have to wake up daily and remind ourselves: the old is dead, the new is alive in Christ.
What God Actually Says About You
When the internal, deathly narrative gets loud, we have to look at what God actually says about us. Ephesians 1 (verses 3-14) paints a breathtaking picture of our true identity:
- You are Holy and Blameless:
God does not look at you and see guilt. He sees you as pure. - You are Adopted:
You have been brought permanently into the family of God. - You are Forgiven and Redeemed:
Your past, present, and future mistakes are covered by grace that is continually lavished upon you. - You are Sealed:
You have been marked with the Holy Spirit. Your identity has the King’s seal on it, and it cannot be revoked.
Furthermore, 1 Peter 2:9-10 reminds us that we are a chosen people and a royal priesthood. We are not common, rejected, or disqualified. We take pride of place on God’s mantle.
We don’t get what we deserve; we get Jesus.
— Gregory Nixon
Putting “Steel in Your Spine”
How do we actually put this into practice? How do we stop conforming to the pattern of the world and actually transform our minds?
- Partner with God:
Philippians 2 tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling—an awe-inspired response to God’s goodness. Recognize that God is at work within you. When you feel overwhelmed, pray one simple, powerful word: “Help.” - Audit Your Attention:
Philippians 4 instructs us to meditate on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, and lovely. If we feed our minds with the anxiety and negativity of the world, our identity suffers. - Stay in Community:
We need each other to affirm what God is saying. Sometimes a friend or spouse is simply confirming a truth the Holy Spirit is already whispering to your heart.
When we start believing what Jesus says about us rather than the lies of shame, condemnation, and rejection, our lives begin to bear fruit. As Daisy powerfully shared at the close of the message, relying on the Holy Spirit in moments of intense fear can quite literally put “steel in your spine.” It empowers us to break old generational patterns, stop running in fear, and respond to life’s hardest moments from a place of deep, secure love.
The old is gone.
The new is here.
You are completely loved, and you are authorised.
