Sin and identity formation

In most religions, sin is usually defined as an action that breaks a moral law. Simple enough. But in Christianity, Jesus made it much more problematic, saying that even the thought of breaking a moral law is sin (Matthew 5:21-48). Who can withstand this level of scrutiny?!

Jesus wants to get at sin much sooner and deeper in our inner being than we might first realize.  The desire to sin and the conception of sin both happen inside of us (James 1:14-15).  When we think of why we sin, it usually stems from a core belief (however subtle it may be) that says 'I am not enough'.  For example, we might think that we are not worthy unless we are successful or desirable or powerful or popular etc.  And because self-esteem is at stake, we strive to be successful or desirable or whatever at all cost including hurting people that get in the way of our objective.  In order words, we sin or hurt others to get something that fulfills our need for positive self-identity.  

The beauty of Jesus and his salvation lies in this -- that by believing in him, we are made children of God (John 1:12).  It is as though we have been born again, allowing us to rest in this new identity and cease our strivings to be whatever the old self tells us.  The antidote to sin then is in letting our sonship in God sink deeper than the lies that we'd believed in in the old life.  The old identity must be replaced by a better one to lose its power over us in the new life.  What better identity can we have than being sons and daughters of God?