What does Sinclair Ferguson (a reformed theologian) mean by a 'new identity'? I watched some of the Youtube recordings of lectures given by Sinclair Ferguson and I am now uncertain which one it was in which he stated that in Colossians we see that 'we are given a new identity'. So I cannot now refer to it but I remember the wording distinctly.
However, just searching under the words indicates that is is a concept common in what might be considered evangelical Christianity today.
But I am personally unfamiliar with this concept, myself, and can think of nowhere in scripture where wording like this, as such, is used.
I know that the Son of man states, Revelation 2:17, that 'to him that overcometh ... I will give ... a white stone and in the stone a new name written ...' but that does not - exactly - say that the new name is the person's new name. And a new name is not, necessarily, the same as a new 'identity'.
Jesus gave Simon a new name (Peter) but that did not change his identity and he was thereafter known as 'Simon', 'Simon Peter'or 'Peter'.
The names written upon persons in Revelation 3:12 are the name of God, the name of the city of God and the new name of the Son of man : not their own name, new or otherwise.
Paul says 'I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ liveth in me', Galatians 2:20, but the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, in union with the spirit of the believer, is not anything to do with an alteration to identity. It is a union of spirit, in which union (of Holy Spirit) Christ himself dwells within.
I am therefore left somewhat mystified by the expression 'given a new identity' and would like to ask if anyone can further enlighten me either from Sinclair Ferguson's other utterances or from reformed theology generally, what is meant by the expression and what texts are brought forward in order to support the concept.
I'm not aware of the specific lectures you are referring to, but I have listened to / read a fair amount of his work. I imagine Sinclair Ferguson would be thinking along these lines:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)


I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

The point is that coming to Christ is the most significant thing that can happen to someone - Jesus likens it to being &quot;born again&quot; (John 3:3).
This is how Paul describes the Christian life:

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)

It's significant enough that we can talk about an &quot;old self&quot; and a &quot;new self&quot;. Of course the word 'identity' isn't used - that's a more modern construct - but I think the concept is there.
I should add that it's not being given a new identity doesn't mean a totally new identity in the sense that it's alien to us: rather, it's the restoration of an identity which sin had distorted and defiled. In Christ we become the people who God designed us to be.
Without wishing to put words in Dr Ferguson's mouth, I think he is probably meaning something like that!