Shedding the Old Self: A Hebrew Israelite Perspective on Being Born Again

As human beings, we are naturally creatures of habit. From childhood onward, we develop ways to cope with the trials, challenges, and traumas that life throws at us. These coping mechanisms—whether emotional, behavioral, or psychological—often become woven deeply into our identities. For many, they are survival tools that helped us endure pain, rejection, and hardship. However, as children of the Most High God, called to walk in His truth and light, we come to realize that these mechanisms can also be shackles, holding us back from the fullness of the spiritual life that God desires for us.

The Hebrew Israelite worldview centers on restoration—restoration of identity, relationship, and righteousness. To be born again in this understanding is not simply a religious cliché or a momentary experience. It is a profound, ongoing spiritual transformation, a resurrection of the spirit that requires the death of the old self. The old self is not just sinful habits, but also those ingrained trauma-based responses and coping behaviors that have silently governed much of our lives.

Understanding the Old Self and Its Coping Mechanisms

The Bible teaches us in Ezekiel 36:26, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” This verse reveals that the transformation God seeks is a total renovation of our inner being—from hardened, stony hearts to hearts that are soft, receptive, and filled with His Spirit.

For many in the Hebrew Israelite community, this is a journey that involves confronting the generational curses and traumas handed down from centuries of oppression, slavery, and displacement. These wounds are often buried deep, but their effects manifest as anger, bitterness, depression, anxiety, addictions, and other harmful behaviors. These manifestations, while once protective shields, have become obstacles to embracing the abundant life God promises.

The Example of Anger: Root Cause and Healing

Consider the example of anger, a common struggle among many who carry the pain of their people’s history. Anger can be a weapon—a way to assert control, demand respect, or mask deeper wounds of hurt and rejection. But the Word warns us in James 1:20 that “the anger of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” As born-again children of Israel, we are called to a higher standard, a righteous anger that burns away injustice without consuming our spirits or alienating us from God’s love.

Healing begins with identifying the root causes of this anger. It is not enough to suppress or express anger without understanding why it exists. Many times, anger is a symptom of unresolved pain or trauma. The Hebrew Israelite walk emphasizes repentance—not only turning away from sin but turning toward God to receive His healing balm for deep-seated wounds. Through prayer, study of Torah, community support, and divine intervention, the believer begins to dismantle the walls built around the heart.

Trauma Manifestations: Anxiety, Depression, and Addiction

The manifestations of trauma vary widely. Anxiety and depression can paralyze the spirit, robbing us of joy and purpose. Addiction offers a false relief but binds the soul in chains. These are not weaknesses but signs that the spirit is crying out for restoration.

The Torah teaches us about shalom—not just peace, but completeness and wholeness. The path to shalom involves dealing honestly with the broken parts of ourselves. This may mean seeking counsel from elders, engaging in communal worship, fasting, or using scriptural affirmations to renew the mind. For the Hebrew Israelite, healing is holistic: mind, body, and spirit.

The Necessity of Letting Go

Being born again means a deliberate, often painful choice to let go of the old self and the coping mechanisms that have shaped us. It is the crucifixion of the flesh to make room for the Spirit. The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” This crucifixion is not just metaphorical—it requires active rejection of anything that hinders our alignment with God’s will.

Letting go does not mean forgetting or denying the past but releasing its hold on our present identity. It means forgiving those who have wronged us and, most importantly, forgiving ourselves for the ways we have allowed trauma to define us.

Embracing God’s Light and Love

As we dismantle these old structures within ourselves, God’s light and love begin to fill the space left behind. We become beacons of His glory, reflecting the image of the Creator once again. This new birth is marked by fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Hebrew Israelite walk encourages us to view this transformation not as a one-time event but as a lifelong pursuit. The more we yield to God, the more fully we become vessels of His truth and righteousness, shining brightly in a world still full of brokenness.

Conclusion: The Reward of the Journey

Yes, the journey to being born again is not easy. It requires humility, perseverance, and sometimes painful self-examination. But it is a necessary pilgrimage toward restoration, healing, and ultimate freedom in God. As descendants of Israel—called out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)—we are empowered to shed the old and embrace the new, becoming true reflections of the Creator’s glory on earth.

When we let go of our old coping mechanisms and trauma-derived behaviors, we open ourselves to walk in the fullness of God’s plan for us. We move from mere survival to thriving, from brokenness to wholeness, from captivity to liberty. In this transformation, we not only restore ourselves but also fulfill our collective destiny as the true Israelites—a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.