After a life marked by deception and struggle, Jacob experiences a profound transformation when God reminds him of the new identity he’s been given—no longer the deceiver, but Israel, one God fights for. This shift reflects the deeper truth available to all who turn from sin and toward Jesus: God gives a renewed identity not based on performance, but on his grace. Jacob’s life turns on a moment of grace where he's called to live as who he really is, not who he was. It’s a call echoed to everyone—put away idols, turn from what enslaves, and live in the freedom of who God now says you are. There's a challenge in remembering and walking out this new reality, especially when the past clings tightly or the struggles don’t vanish overnight. But the truth remains: when we are in Christ, we are made new, adopted into family, and called to live each day from that truth. When we repent, God gives us a new identity and makes us family.

Scripture References: Genesis 35:1-29

Related Topics: Grace, Identity, Repentance | More Messages from Josh Weiland | Download Audio

From Series: "Pursuing Presence"

Jacob had quite a life. It was one that was all about God's presence, but I'm not sure he saw it that way! In Jacob we'll see the life of a twin brother who struggled against his own family from the womb all the way to old age, until he finally learned how to allow God's pursuing presence to define his life. Jacob's journey, in many ways, is the opposite of what God desires for us. (To call it messy is an understatement.) Yet his life is also one of many in Scripture where we see God never quits pursuing us!

Message Notes & Study Guide     Who I Am In Christ