Embracing God's Sovereignty and Our New Identity in Christ
Summary
In today's gathering, we reflected on the profound truth of God's sovereignty and goodness, especially in the context of leadership and governance. We acknowledged that God is the ultimate authority, surpassing all earthly powers, and we prayed for wisdom and discernment for our leaders. This understanding brings comfort, especially in times when our values seem unrepresented. We are reminded that God is actively working to bring about His kingdom, even when we cannot see it, and that our faith should be anchored in this truth.
We also celebrated the significance of baptism as a public declaration of faith, symbolizing the death of our old selves and the resurrection into new life in Christ. This act of faith is a testament to our personal and communal relationship with Jesus.
Our journey through Exodus has been a powerful reminder of God's deliverance from oppression, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual. We revisited the concept of sin, not just as a personal failing but as cosmic treason against God's order. Sin is the vandalism of the peace God intended for creation, and it is something we cannot overcome on our own. However, through Jesus' sacrifice, we are offered redemption and the power to live beyond sin's grasp.
The story of the Passover in Exodus 12 illustrates God's judgment and mercy. While judgment is necessary for God to be good, He provides a way out through the sacrifice of an innocent lamb, foreshadowing Christ's ultimate sacrifice. This act of grace is scandalous yet transformative, offering us a new identity as children of God, free from the condemnation of sin.
We are challenged to confront our own hard-heartedness and the lie of self-forgiveness. True repentance and acceptance of God's grace allow us to live in the freedom and newness of life that Jesus offers. We are no longer defined by our past sins but by our identity in Christ. This assurance is not based on our actions but on God's unchanging promise.
Key Takeaways:
- God's sovereignty surpasses all earthly powers, providing comfort and assurance that He is in control, even when our values seem unrepresented. We are called to trust in His ultimate plan and work towards His kingdom. [21:57]
- Baptism is a public declaration of faith, symbolizing the death of our old selves and resurrection into new life in Christ. It reflects our personal and communal relationship with Jesus, emphasizing the importance of living out our faith within the community. [23:12]
- Sin is not just a personal failing but cosmic treason against God's order. It is the vandalism of the peace God intended for creation. Through Jesus' sacrifice, we are offered redemption and the power to live beyond sin's grasp. [29:00]
- God's judgment is necessary for His goodness, but He provides a way out through the sacrifice of an innocent lamb, foreshadowing Christ's ultimate sacrifice. This act of grace offers us a new identity as children of God, free from condemnation. [31:24]
- True repentance and acceptance of God's grace allow us to live in freedom and newness of life. We are no longer defined by our past sins but by our identity in Christ. This assurance is based on God's promise, not our actions. [53:01]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[21:57] - Prayer for Leaders
[23:12] - Significance of Baptism
[26:23] - Revisiting Oppression
[29:00] - Sin as Cosmic Treason
[30:17] - The Gospel's Power
[31:24] - God's Judgment and Mercy
[34:05] - The Necessity of Judgment
[35:07] - Universal Guilt
[37:12] - God's Provision
[38:49] - The Passover Lamb
[40:24] - Christ's Atoning Sacrifice
[44:20] - Barabbas and Jesus
[46:22] - Hard-Heartedness
[49:19] - The Lie of Self-Forgiveness
[53:01] - New Identity in Christ
[56:46] - Living in Freedom
[59:51] - Assurance in God's Promise
[01:00:39] - Communion and Remembrance
[01:03:49] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Exodus 12:1-13
- Romans 3:23
- 1 John 4:9-10
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Observation Questions:
1. In Exodus 12, what specific instructions did God give to the Israelites regarding the Passover lamb, and what was the significance of the blood on the doorposts? [37:12]
2. How does the sermon describe sin as "cosmic treason," and what are some examples given of this rebellion against God's order? [29:00]
3. According to the sermon, what role does baptism play in a believer's life, and how is it connected to the death and resurrection of Jesus? [23:12]
4. What does the sermon say about the necessity of God's judgment and how it relates to His goodness? [31:24]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of sin as "cosmic treason" challenge our understanding of personal sin and its impact on our relationship with God? [29:00]
2. In what ways does the story of the Passover in Exodus 12 foreshadow the sacrifice of Jesus, and how does this understanding deepen our appreciation of the gospel? [40:24]
3. The sermon mentions the lie of self-forgiveness. How does this lie affect a person's spiritual growth and relationship with God? [50:32]
4. How does the assurance of a new identity in Christ, as discussed in the sermon, change the way believers view their past sins and current struggles? [53:01]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt your values were unrepresented in leadership or governance. How can you find comfort in God's sovereignty during such times? [21:57]
2. Have you publicly declared your faith through baptism? If not, what might be holding you back, and how can you take steps towards this declaration? [23:12]
3. Consider the areas in your life where you might be resisting God's order. What steps can you take to align your actions with His will and avoid "cosmic treason"? [29:00]
4. How do you respond to the idea that God's judgment is necessary for His goodness? In what ways can you embrace His grace and mercy in your life? [31:24]
5. Think about a situation where you have struggled with self-forgiveness. How can you shift your focus from self-condemnation to accepting God's forgiveness and grace? [50:32]
6. In what ways can you live out your new identity in Christ, free from the condemnation of past sins? Identify specific actions or changes in mindset that can help you walk in this freedom. [53:01]
7. How can you support others in your community who are struggling with hard-heartedness or the lie of self-forgiveness? What practical steps can you take to encourage them towards repentance and acceptance of God's grace? [49:19]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Trusting in God's Sovereignty
In a world where earthly powers often seem overwhelming, it is crucial to remember that God's sovereignty surpasses all. He is the ultimate authority, and His plans are beyond our understanding. This truth offers comfort and assurance, especially when our values feel unrepresented. We are called to trust in His ultimate plan and work towards His kingdom, knowing that He is actively working even when we cannot see it. This trust is not passive but involves active prayer for wisdom and discernment for our leaders, aligning our hearts with God's purposes. [21:57]
"For the kingdom is the Lord's, and he rules over the nations." (Psalm 22:28, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust God's sovereignty? How can you actively surrender these areas to Him today?
Day 2: Baptism as a Declaration of New Life
Baptism is a profound public declaration of faith, symbolizing the death of our old selves and resurrection into new life in Christ. It is a testament to our personal and communal relationship with Jesus, emphasizing the importance of living out our faith within the community. This act of faith is not just a ritual but a transformative experience that marks our identity in Christ. It calls us to live in a way that reflects our new life, engaging with our community and supporting one another in our spiritual journeys. [23:12]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: How does your life reflect the new identity you have in Christ? What steps can you take to live out this identity more fully within your community?
Day 3: Understanding Sin as Cosmic Treason
Sin is not merely a personal failing but a cosmic treason against God's order. It is the vandalism of the peace God intended for creation, and it is something we cannot overcome on our own. However, through Jesus' sacrifice, we are offered redemption and the power to live beyond sin's grasp. This understanding of sin challenges us to confront our own shortcomings and seek God's grace for transformation. It is a call to recognize the gravity of sin and the profoundness of God's mercy, leading us to a life of repentance and renewal. [29:00]
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: What areas of your life do you need to surrender to God's grace for transformation? How can you actively seek His redemption today?
Day 4: Embracing God's Judgment and Mercy
God's judgment is necessary for His goodness, but He provides a way out through the sacrifice of an innocent lamb, foreshadowing Christ's ultimate sacrifice. This act of grace is both scandalous and transformative, offering us a new identity as children of God, free from the condemnation of sin. Embracing this truth requires us to confront our own hard-heartedness and the lie of self-forgiveness. True repentance and acceptance of God's grace allow us to live in the freedom and newness of life that Jesus offers. [31:24]
"For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh." (Romans 8:3, ESV)
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are holding onto self-condemnation? How can you embrace God's mercy and live in the freedom He offers?
Day 5: Living in the Assurance of God's Promise
We are no longer defined by our past sins but by our identity in Christ. This assurance is not based on our actions but on God's unchanging promise. It calls us to live in the freedom and newness of life that Jesus offers, grounded in the certainty of His love and grace. This assurance empowers us to face life's challenges with confidence, knowing that our identity is secure in Him. It is a call to live boldly, reflecting the transformative power of God's promise in our daily lives. [53:01]
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)
Reflection: How does the assurance of God's promise impact your daily life? What steps can you take to live more boldly in the freedom and newness of life that Jesus offers?
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Quotes
1) "Baptisms are when people come and say, hey, I want the church to know that I love and I follow Jesus. And it's making their faith public. You can have a private faith, and it's important to have a private faith. It's important to have a personal relationship with Jesus, but we don't just get to have one personal relationship. We actually have a corporate relationship that we experience Christ in our relationship with one another. And so baptism is a chance for those who would identify as followers of Christ, trusting in his sacrifice for their salvation to declare that to the church. And they do that by, in a way, modeling what Jesus did, which is dying to their old life and being raised again to new life." [24:00] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "Two weeks ago, I talked about how sin is the vandalism of shalom. That is, it is the vandalism of the peace by which the world was created. That the world was created in wholeness, unity, and harmony. And when sin entered in, it shattered it all. That sin is the undoing, the breakdown of creation. And the reason we struggle with it so much, the reason we're so deeply affected by it, either our own sin or sin done to us, is because we don't have the resources within ourselves to deal with it. We don't have the resources to deal with it. We're created to deal with it. So God did, by giving us Christ." [27:50] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "Thankfully for us, the gospel breaks that. Thankfully that God, when he says, you have been and acted in a way of, as rebels in a treasonous way, you have betrayed me. When he stands in that judgment, we have this wonderful, beautiful thing, which is his gospel, by which we can be restored and have that judgment removed. The gospel breaks the power of sin. Talk about that. Two weeks ago, where the gospel of, and believing in Jesus gives us this new life and this ability to live beyond the power of sin. It also, though, is the place where we see the judgment of God absorbed, where God's wrath is not demonstrated to those who deserve it, but was demonstrated to Jesus who didn't deserve it." [31:24] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "God can't be good if he doesn't provide a way out. If he doesn't provide some sort of solution. And that's what God does, is he comes and he says, listen, this judgment is coming, and it's coming over all the land of Israel, and everyone is guilty. The Israelites were guilty of sedition against God. You know what? We read elsewhere in the Old Testament, referring back to this time, that the Israelites worshiped the Egyptian gods. That in their homes, they had shrines to those gods. That as much as they believed, and asked God to save them, they still worshiped the gods of the culture around them. That they were guilty. But God comes, and in his mercy and his grace, because he is good, provides a solution. Provides a solution that will absorb his judgment, absorb the wrath, so that the people don't have to." [37:12] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "To be forgiven is to have and receive a new life as a child of God. You are no longer a sinner. You're no longer identified by those actions. We may still commit those actions, but they don't identify us. Therefore, you're not allowed to say I'm an angry person. Right? You're not allowed to say I'm a lustful person. You're not allowed to say I'm an evil person. You can't say that. You might do those things. But they can't be your identifier. I'm a child of God who sins. I'm not a sinner. Right? I'm not defined by that. But because we've become so accustomed to those identifiers, we don't know what it means to walk in newness of life." [53:01] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Our preoccupation with self -forgiveness is to say this. It's to consider your judgment greater than God's. God says I judge sin. It requires death. Therefore, an innocent one will die and suffer in your place. Yeah, but I think it's worse than that. It's to consider your sin greater than God's grace. It's basically to say this. Jesus didn't suffer enough. I need to suffer too. Do you hear that? No, no. Jesus writhing in pain physically. Emotionally betrayed and rejected. Denied and abandoned by his closest friends. Spiritually forsaken by God. That wasn't enough. I need to punish myself some more. I need to beat myself up a little bit more." [52:11] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "When we look at our sin and hate what it did to Jesus, we can be set free from it. When we look at our sin and see what the devastation that it's caused, but see that Jesus delivers us from its power, we can walk in new life. That is only true in Christ. It is not found anywhere else. No other religion. No other worldview. No other ideology. No government. No religion. No relationship can give you that that Jesus has already given you." [58:18] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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