Embracing Our Identity and Grace in Christ

 

Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the profound truth of our identity in Christ and the transformative power of God's grace. We began by acknowledging the season of divine healing and the manifestation of the Spirit's gifts, emphasizing that these are not merely for display but are intended for daily living and for God's power to work through believers.

We continued our "Go Deep Grace" series, anchoring our discussion in Romans 5:19, which contrasts the disobedience of Adam with the obedience of Christ. We delved into the common misconception that many hold, believing themselves to be "poor, dirty rotten sinners," and challenged this notion with the biblical truth that we are made righteous not by our own works but by the obedience of Jesus Christ.

Drawing parallels between the physical geography of Israel and spiritual truths, we examined how the layout of the land itself teaches the message of Romans 5:19. We saw the Sea of Galilee as a symbol of the life of God, full of abundance and life, and the Dead Sea as a representation of death and the grave, illustrating the descent of mankind from life in God to death in sin.

We journeyed through the Old Testament, recounting the story of the Israelites at the Jordan River, poised to enter the Promised Land. We likened the Ark of the Covenant, carried by the priests into the Jordan, to Jesus Christ stepping into the flow of human sin and stopping it, just as the waters of the Jordan were halted.

The sermon culminated in the call to recognize that through faith in Christ, we are no longer in the lineage of Adam, bound to sin and death, but have been transferred into the lineage of Christ, made alive and righteous. We are invited to embrace this new identity and to let the river of life, which flows from Jesus, flow through us to others.

Key Takeaways:

- The geography of Israel, from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, is a divine illustration of the spiritual journey from life in God to the consequences of sin in death. Just as the land descends from the heights to the depths, so did humanity fall from its original state of communion with God to a state of separation and death due to sin. [57:45]

- The Ark of the Covenant, which represents Christ in the Old Testament, was carried into the Jordan River to stop the waters, symbolizing Christ's intervention in human history to halt the flow of sin and death. This act prefigures the cross, where Jesus bore the sins of humanity and opened the way to eternal life. [01:10:38]

- Our righteousness is not a result of our own efforts but is a gift received through faith in the obedience of Jesus Christ. As believers, we must renew our minds to this truth, shedding the identity of sinners and embracing our new nature as the righteousness of God in Christ. [49:19]

- The crossing of the Jordan River into the Promised Land is not a metaphor for entering heaven but represents the believer's journey from living under the law to living in the grace and promises of God. It is a call to live in the reality of God's promises now, not just in the afterlife. [01:22:14]

- True transformation occurs not by changing external behaviors but by an inward change of nature. When we believe in Christ, we are born again into a new lineage, no longer bound by the sin nature of Adam but made alive in the righteousness of Christ. This inward change is what empowers us to live out the kingdom of God on earth. [01:38:26]

In conclusion, today's message invites us to a deeper understanding of our identity in Christ and the transformative power of His grace. It calls us to live out the reality of the kingdom of God daily, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and to share this life-giving truth with others.

Study Guide

### Bible Reading

1. Romans 5:19 - "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."
2. Joshua 3:14-17 - "So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground."
3. 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 - "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

### Observation Questions

1. What does Romans 5:19 say about the impact of Adam's disobedience and Christ's obedience on humanity?
2. In Joshua 3:14-17, what miraculous event occurred when the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the Jordan River?
3. According to 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, what are the contrasting outcomes of Adam's actions and Christ's actions?
4. How does the geography of Israel, from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, illustrate the spiritual journey from life in God to death in sin? [57:45]

### Interpretation Questions

1. How does understanding our identity in Christ, as described in Romans 5:19, change the way we view our past sins and current struggles? [49:19]
2. What is the significance of the Ark of the Covenant stopping the flow of the Jordan River at the town of Adam, and how does this prefigure Christ's intervention in human history? [01:10:38]
3. How does the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land relate to the believer's journey from living under the law to living in the grace and promises of God? [01:22:14]
4. In what ways does the inward change of nature, as described in 1 Corinthians 15:21-22, empower believers to live out the kingdom of God on earth? [01:38:26]

### Application Questions

1. Reflect on your own life. How has your understanding of being made righteous through Christ's obedience (Romans 5:19) impacted your daily living and interactions with others? [49:19]
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of recognizing our new identity in Christ. What practical steps can you take to renew your mind and embrace this new identity daily? [49:19]
3. The Ark of the Covenant symbolized Christ's intervention to halt the flow of sin and death. How can you allow Christ to intervene in areas of your life where you feel overwhelmed by sin or struggles? [01:10:38]
4. The crossing of the Jordan River represents moving from law to grace. Are there areas in your life where you are still living under the law rather than embracing God's grace? How can you make that shift? [01:22:14]
5. True transformation occurs from an inward change of nature. Identify one area in your life where you need to experience this inward change. What steps can you take to allow God's Spirit to transform you in this area? [01:38:26]
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of letting the river of life flow through us to others. How can you actively share the life-giving truth of Christ with someone in your life this week? [01:46:02]
7. Reflect on the symbolism of the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. How can you ensure that your life is more like the Sea of Galilee, full of abundance and life, rather than the Dead Sea, which represents death and stagnation? [57:45]

Devotional

Day 1: Geography of Spiritual Descent
The land of Israel serves as a profound illustration of the spiritual journey from communion with God to the consequences of sin. The descent from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea mirrors humanity's fall from grace. The Sea of Galilee, teeming with life, represents the fullness and abundance of life in God. In contrast, the Dead Sea, with its barrenness and lack of life, symbolizes the death and emptiness that sin brings. This geographical metaphor teaches that sin leads to a spiritual death, a separation from the life-giving presence of God. It is a powerful reminder of the original state of communion with God that was lost due to disobedience and the dire need for redemption.

"For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he is his maker!), he established it, he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited: 'I am the Lord, and there is no other.'" - Isaiah 45:18

Reflection: How does the imagery of the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea help you understand your own spiritual journey from life to death and back to life in Christ? [07:40]


Day 2: Christ, Our Ark in the Waters
The Ark of the Covenant's entry into the Jordan River is a powerful Old Testament symbol of Christ's intervention in human history. As the priests carried the Ark into the waters, the flow of the river ceased, prefiguring the moment when Christ would step into the flow of human sin and stop it with His sacrifice. This act foreshadows the cross, where Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world, halting the deadly current of sin and death and making a way for eternal life. This imagery invites believers to see Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises and the one who makes possible a new life free from the bondage of sin.

"And the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho." - Joshua 3:16

Reflection: In what ways does the story of the Ark of the Covenant crossing the Jordan River deepen your understanding of Christ's work on the cross for you? [01:10:38]


Day 3: Righteousness Through Christ Alone
Our righteousness is not a product of our deeds but a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ. This truth challenges the misconception that we are merely sinners in God's eyes. Instead, we are made righteous by the obedience of Jesus, not by our own efforts. This gift of righteousness is a fundamental aspect of our new identity in Christ. It is a call to renew our minds, to shed the false identity of sinners, and to embrace our true nature as the righteousness of God in Christ. This understanding is crucial for living a life that reflects the kingdom of God and for experiencing the fullness of His grace.

"For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous." - Romans 5:19

Reflection: How can you shift your self-perception from seeing yourself as a sinner to embracing your identity as the righteousness of God in Christ? [49:19]


Day 4: Living in God's Promises Now
The crossing of the Jordan River by the Israelites is not merely a metaphor for entering heaven but signifies the believer's transition from living under the law to living in the grace and promises of God. This historical event is a call to believers to inhabit the reality of God's promises in the present, not just to await them in the afterlife. It is an invitation to experience the abundant life that God has for His people here and now, to walk in the fullness of His grace, and to manifest His kingdom on earth.

"And the Lord said to Joshua, 'Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.' And so the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day." - Joshua 5:9

Reflection: What is one promise of God that you can start living in today, and how can you actively take steps to do so? [01:22:14]


Day 5: Transformed by a New Nature
Transformation in the Christian life is not about merely changing behaviors but about an inward change of nature. When we believe in Christ, we are born again into a new lineage, no longer bound by the sin nature of Adam but made alive in the righteousness of Christ. This inward change is the source of our power to live out the kingdom of God on earth. It is the essence of being a new creation, where old things have passed away, and all things have become new. This new nature empowers believers to live a life that is pleasing to God and to be vessels of His grace to others.

"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

Reflection: What are some ways you can live out your new nature in Christ in your daily interactions with others? [01:38:26]

Quotes

"Hey, it's in the nature of the people of Adam. It's in your nature until you believe upon what Christ fully paid for you as a gift. We're not born looking like Adam. We're born looking like a new creation." [01:40:31]( | | )

"It is a two, it is totally different, different line. There are only two kinds of people in the earth. There are those who are in Christ and there are those who are in Adam. There's only two kinds." [01:38:26]( | | )

"Paul would say, who bewitched you? Why don't we just start believing the Bible? And as the old evangelists say, let the hide go with the hair and let the roughie and drag. We're going to start believing the Bible that we, you know what? I want to encourage you to start saying this out loud every day." [01:43:29]( | | )

"From the life of God, the Sea of Galilee, flowing down, coming down out of the life of God, God created Adam. But Adam did what? Adam fell into sin. And he's corrupted. And he has a sin nature." [01:25:16]( | | )

"Let the river flow. Let it come. And let this word come in and let it come out so we can share this word with other people. We can take it to our family, to our jobs, to our friends. I believe with all my heart, we're in the beginning of a revival." [01:46:38]( | | )

"Are you still in the line of Adam? Just trying, trying, trying. But what's the end? It keeps coming out. How righteous are you? Or have you accepted the truth of Jesus? And believed that he is all sufficient, once and for all?" [01:47:54]( | | )

"The same way we are not a sinner because of sin. We're a sinner because one man sinned. I'm also not righteous because I do right. We're righteous because one man did right. It's in the Bible, but one man, by one man's obedience, the many are made righteous." [49:19]( | | )

"God told Moses, have the craftsmen, if you can bring that box back up, have the craftsmen build an ark, or really it's a box, it's four feet long, it's two feet wide, I mean two and a half feet wide, two and a half feet tall. It's made of pure acacia wood." [01:10:38]( | | )

"Joshua 3, 14. Here we go. The Jordan is at flood stage. All during the harvest. Yet as soon as the priest who carried the Ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing." [01:22:14]( | | )

"We're following a bloodline. And when he comes up, he fulfills the promise. He does everything that God says do, but he's still producing corruptible man. And so the tribes, you see, they become Israel. And what do they do? The rest of the Bible is about how God goes in, wipes out the enemy, restores the people, puts them back up." [01:32:46]( | | )

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Transcript
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