Embracing Our Identity and Grace in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as a Response to Grace

Our faith is a response to God's initiative, rooted in His grace. It is not merely an intellectual agreement but a deep, personal trust in Jesus Christ. This faith is a gift from God, allowing us to become children of God through Christ's imputed righteousness. We are reminded that our righteousness is not our own but is given to us through Christ's perfect obedience and sacrificial death. This understanding calls us to a life of gratitude and humility, recognizing that our salvation is not earned but received. [02:25]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: In what ways can you express gratitude today for the gift of faith that God has given you?

Day 2: Justification and New Life in Christ

Justification by faith is not a license to sin but a call to live a life that reflects our new identity in Christ. Baptism symbolizes our union with Christ in His death and resurrection, marking a transition from our old life to a new life under His lordship. This new life involves a radical departure from worldly values, as we are called to live according to the teachings of Jesus. Our lives should reflect His redefinition of power, success, and relationships, demonstrating the transformative power of being united with Him. [05:09]

Colossians 3:1-3 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you can more fully live out your new identity in Christ today?

Day 3: The Tension of Our Dual Identity

Our identity in Christ is both a present reality and a future hope. We are seated with Him in the heavenly places, yet we live in the tension of being both perfect in Christ and imperfect in our daily lives. This dual reality calls us to set our minds on things above and to live out our heavenly identity in our earthly existence. We are encouraged to embrace this tension, knowing that our perfection in Christ is a promise that will be fully realized in the future. [10:20]

Philippians 3:20-21 (ESV): "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."

Reflection: How can you remind yourself today of your heavenly identity while navigating the imperfections of daily life?

Day 4: Assurance in God's Eternal Promise

The assurance of our salvation is grounded in God's unchanging promise to love us forever. This love is irrevocable and eternal, providing us with security and peace. We are reminded that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. This assurance should fill us with confidence and hope, knowing that our salvation is secure in His hands. [13:42]

Hebrews 6:17-19 (ESV): "So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain."

Reflection: What are some ways you can rest in the assurance of God's eternal love for you today?

Day 5: Drawing Near to Christ

Jesus invites us to come near to Him, to receive His mercy and grace. Our response is to believe, to enter through the narrow gate, and to live out our identity as those who have been brought near to God through Christ. This invitation is a call to intimacy with Him, to experience His love and forgiveness, and to walk in the newness of life He offers. We are encouraged to draw near to Him daily, trusting in His goodness and grace. [20:10]

James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to draw nearer to Jesus and experience His grace more fully?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound truth of our identity in Christ and the transformative power of being united with Him. The journey of faith begins with the recognition that while God elects us to salvation, it is our responsibility to believe and receive Him. This belief is not a mere intellectual assent but a deep, personal trust in Jesus Christ, who grants us the right to become children of God. The mystery of salvation is rooted in God's grace, and our faith is a response to His initiative. We are reminded that our righteousness is not our own but is imputed to us through Christ's perfect obedience and sacrificial death.

Paul's teachings in Romans and Colossians emphasize that our justification by faith is not a license to sin but a call to live a life that reflects our new identity in Christ. Baptism symbolizes our union with Christ in His death and resurrection, marking a transition from our old life to a new life under His lordship. This new life is characterized by a radical departure from the values of the world, as we are called to live in accordance with the teachings of Jesus, who redefines power, success, and relationships.

Our identity in Christ is both a present reality and a future hope. We are seated with Him in the heavenly places, yet we live in the tension of being both perfect in Christ and imperfect in our daily lives. This dual reality calls us to set our minds on things above, to live out our heavenly identity in our earthly existence. The assurance of our salvation is grounded in God's unchanging promise to love us forever, a love that is irrevocable and eternal.

The story of Joseph and his brothers serves as a powerful illustration of reconciliation and grace. Just as Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and invited them to draw near, Jesus invites us to come near to Him, to receive His mercy and grace. Our response to this invitation is to believe, to enter through the narrow gate, and to live out our identity as those who have been brought near to God through Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Our faith is a response to God's initiative, rooted in His grace. We are called to believe and receive Christ, becoming children of God through His imputed righteousness. This faith is not our own doing but a gift from God. [02:25]
2. Justification by faith is not a license to sin but a call to live a life that reflects our new identity in Christ. Baptism symbolizes our union with Christ, marking a transition from our old life to a new life under His lordship. [05:09]
3. Our identity in Christ is both a present reality and a future hope. We are seated with Him in the heavenly places, yet we live in the tension of being both perfect in Christ and imperfect in our daily lives. [10:20]
4. The assurance of our salvation is grounded in God's unchanging promise to love us forever. This love is irrevocable and eternal, providing us with security and peace. [13:42]
5. Jesus invites us to come near to Him, to receive His mercy and grace. Our response is to believe, to enter through the narrow gate, and to live out our identity as those who have been brought near to God through Christ. [20:10]
** [20:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:07] - The Necessity of Belief
[02:25] - Faith Rooted in Grace
[03:16] - Righteousness Through Christ
[04:21] - Appropriation of Faith
[05:09] - Justification and Sin
[06:12] - Baptism as Union with Christ
[07:36] - Living in a New Identity
[08:42] - The Call to Holiness
[09:27] - Knowing Our Identity
[10:20] - Raised with Christ
[11:02] - The Reality of Our Identity
[12:01] - Safe in Christ
[13:42] - God's Eternal Promise
[15:35] - The Narrow Gate
[18:00] - Joseph's Revelation
[20:10] - Invitation to Draw Near

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

John 1:11-13
Ephesians 2:8-9
Romans 6:1-4

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Observation Questions:

According to John 1:11-13, what is the significance of receiving and believing in Jesus' name? How does this relate to becoming children of God? [01:23]
In Ephesians 2:8-9, what does Paul say about the nature of faith and grace? How does this passage describe the relationship between faith and salvation? [02:44]
Romans 6:1-4 discusses the symbolism of baptism. What does Paul mean when he says we are "baptized into Christ Jesus" and "baptized into his death"? [06:12]
How does the sermon describe the dual reality of being both perfect in Christ and imperfect in our daily lives? [11:18]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of imputed righteousness, as discussed in the sermon, change the way believers view their own efforts to achieve righteousness? [03:49]
What does it mean to live a life that reflects our new identity in Christ, as mentioned in Romans 6:1-4? How does this impact our daily decisions and actions? [05:09]
The sermon mentions the tension between our heavenly identity and earthly existence. How can believers navigate this tension in practical ways? [11:18]
How does the story of Joseph and his brothers illustrate the themes of reconciliation and grace in the context of our relationship with Christ? [18:00]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your personal journey of faith. How have you experienced the transformative power of being united with Christ? What steps can you take to deepen this union? [02:25]
In what ways can you actively live out your new identity in Christ this week? Consider specific actions or changes in behavior that align with Jesus' teachings. [05:09]
The sermon emphasizes setting our minds on things above. What practical steps can you take to focus more on your heavenly identity amidst daily distractions? [12:01]
How can the assurance of God's eternal love and promise provide you with security and peace in times of uncertainty or doubt? [13:42]
Consider a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation. How can the story of Joseph inspire you to extend grace and seek healing in that relationship? [18:00]
Jesus invites us to draw near to Him. What barriers might be preventing you from fully accepting this invitation, and how can you overcome them? [20:10]
Identify one area in your life where you struggle with sin. How can the understanding of being "raised with Christ" empower you to overcome this struggle? [10:20]

Sermon Clips

He points out that there's no way that we can work out our condition and put ourselves in a right standing with God. He then says but the glory of the good news is that the righteousness of God has been manifested. It's apart from the law and it is that was the law and the prophets have testified to but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. [00:03:18]

So a righteousness that is alien to us through Jesus Christ as a result of what Christ has done. He has kept the law in its Perfection. He's the only righteous man that ever lived. He has borne the penalty of sin which we deserve but he took in our place and now that righteousness is imputed to all who believe. [00:03:45]

Paul is recognizing the fact that somebody will put up their hand and say well if this justification by faith thing means that I am completely righteous in Christ, that I am now raised with him as he said in Ephesians 1 that I am seated with him in the Heavenly places that the whole thing is signed sealed and delivered, why don't I just sin as much as I want to sin? [00:05:01]

And Paul says now listen let's just think about this what shall we say then are we to continue in sin we'll just go on sinning so that Grace May abound so that we can say look how wonderful God is that he forgives by no means now what's his argument, how can we who died still live in it? [00:05:30]

Don't you know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism not that baptism achieved this as the Roman Catholic Church teaches by the baptism portrayed this. So when the person has been brought face to face with the word of Truth The Gospel of Salvation and has believed, has discovered who Jesus really is. [00:06:04]

Therefore since you have been United with Christ, it is absolutely incongruous for you then to engage in that which he who is now your lord and King has told you is off limits. You can take it all the way down the line society says you are what you have amassed Jesus says where your treasure is there will your heart be also. [00:07:59]

The answer is to remind yourself Who You Are, this is who I am I am a new creation I died with him I've been raised with him he ascended and I ascended with him I have been seated with him in the Heavenly places it is absurd it's not impossible but that's the appeal you see. [00:09:01]

We are both in Christ and we are in Cleveland we are raised and we're down here we are both perfect and horribly imperfect perfect in the righteousness of Christ he looks on us and he sees us in his son our wives look on us and they don't see us like that we look on ourselves and if we look inside of ourselves there's only reason for discouragement. [00:11:18]

Seek the things that are above, set your minds on things that are above not on things that are on the Earth for you have died and here's this amazing phrase and your life is hidden with Christ in God my life is hidden with Christ in God we used to sing it as children safe In the Arms of Jesus. [00:12:00]

The marriage of Christ to his church is an irrevocable engagement that's what makes marriage wonderful if you can stick with it you know that's why I love songs like with the lines like as long as old men sit and talk about old woman as long as old women sit and talk about no as long as old men sit and talk about the weather. [00:12:53]

When he drew you to himself when you in child like trust opened up your empty hands and took hold of that which he made Available to You by his death on the cross he promised in fact way before you even did anything he had already promised that's what makes it so amazing I'm going to love you forever loved with everlasting love. [00:13:47]

Joseph says to his brothers, come near to me please, come near to me please, it would have been legitimate if he said I am Joseph, welcome to Egypt, the jail is down here, you will only be in it a short while because most of you will have your heads chopped off as a result of all that you've done, you were my enemies you were opposed to me you did all these things to me but hey, come near to me. [00:19:28]

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Embracing Our Identity and Grace in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Faith as a Response to Grace

Day 2: Justification and New Life in Christ

Day 3: The Tension of Our Dual Identity

Day 4: Assurance in God's Eternal Promise

Day 5: Drawing Near to Christ

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing Our Identity and Grace in Christ

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