Embracing Our Identity and Inheritance in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Living by the Spirit

We are called to live by the Spirit, putting to death the misdeeds of the body and choosing life. This transformation is a daily choice, and as we practice listening to the Spirit, we find life that is truly life. The Spirit enables us to see and hear differently, changing our senses and making sins that once enticed us repulsive. [27:51]

Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."

Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you need to put to death the misdeeds of the body? How can you actively choose to listen to the Spirit in this area today?

Day 2: New Identity in Christ

When we live by the Spirit, we receive a new identity as children of God. This identity is our core and requires us to let go of other identities imposed by the world. Just as Israel had to shed their identity as slaves, we must shed our worldly identities to fully embrace our identity as God's children. [34:15]

1 John 3:1 (ESV): "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

Reflection: What worldly identity or label do you need to let go of to fully embrace your identity as a child of God? How can you remind yourself of your true identity in Christ today?

Day 3: Purpose and Vocation

Our identity as children of God comes with a purpose and vocation in God's redemptive work. This vocation is deeper than any job or title we hold. It is a call to love one another and be an outward expression of God's love in a broken world. [41:52]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Reflection: How can you express God's love in a practical way to someone in your life today? What specific action can you take to fulfill your vocation as a child of God?

Day 4: Suffering with Purpose

Being part of God's family means inheriting both blessings and challenges, including suffering. However, our suffering is not without purpose; it is connected to the suffering of Christ and leads to hope. Our suffering produces perseverance, character, and ultimately, hope. [50:56]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: What current suffering or challenge are you facing? How can you view this suffering through the lens of Christ's suffering and the hope it produces?

Day 5: Embracing Our Inheritance

If the Spirit of God is in you, you have a new identity and a role to play in God's amazing, life-changing work. Embrace this identity and inheritance today, living as beacons of God's love and power in the world. The world needs to see people living in the power of the Spirit. [54:07]

Colossians 1:12-13 (ESV): "Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son."

Reflection: How can you actively embrace and live out your inheritance as a child of God today? What specific steps can you take to be a beacon of God's love and power in your community?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning and happy Sunday! Today, we continue our series "Beyond the Basics" by diving into Romans 8, one of the most profound chapters in Scripture. We explore the themes of identity and inheritance through the lens of the Apostle Paul's letter to the Christ followers in Rome. Paul emphasizes that we have an obligation, not to live according to the flesh, but to live by the Spirit. This obligation stems from the incredible gift of the Spirit of God living inside us, a gift we could never repay.

Paul uses the Greek word "opheletes," which means debtor or one who owes something, to describe our obligation. However, this is not a debt we can repay; rather, it is a call to live transformed lives by the Spirit. Living by the Spirit means putting to death the misdeeds of the body and choosing life. This transformation is akin to the story of Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables," who, after receiving an extravagant gift, is called to live a life of honesty and goodness.

The Spirit enables us to see and hear differently, changing our senses and making sins that once enticed us repulsive. Conversely, the things that draw us closer to God become attractive. This transformation is a daily choice, and as we practice listening to the Spirit, we find life that is truly life.

Paul also tells us that living by the Spirit gives us a new identity: we are children of God. This identity is our core, and it requires us to let go of other identities that the world imposes on us. Just as Israel had to shed their identity as slaves, we must shed our worldly identities to fully embrace our identity as God's children. This identity anchors us through all seasons of life and gives us a purpose and vocation in God's redemptive work.

As children of God, we are called to represent the family and be part of God's mission to save and transform the world. This vocation is deeper than any job or title we hold. It is a call to love one another and be an outward expression of God's love in a broken world. Our identity as God's children comes with both great blessings and challenges, including suffering. However, our suffering is not without purpose; it is connected to the suffering of Christ and leads to hope.

In conclusion, if the Spirit of God is in you, you have a new identity and a role to play in God's amazing, life-changing work. Let's embrace this identity and inheritance today, living as beacons of God's love and power in the world.

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Key Takeaways

1. changing work. Embrace this identity and inheritance today, living as beacons of God's love and power in the world. The world needs to see people living in the power of the Spirit. [54:07]
### [54:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:29] - Introduction to Romans 8
[24:32] - Inheritance and Identity
[25:33] - Obligation to Live by the Spirit
[26:44] - The Gift of the Spirit
[27:51] - Living Transformed Lives
[30:06] - The Spirit's Role in Our Lives
[31:14] - Temptation and Self-Deception
[31:57] - Spiritual Floodlight
[32:59] - Daily Choice to Follow the Spirit
[34:15] - New Identity as Children of God
[35:13] - Letting Go of Worldly Identities
[35:53] - True Identity in Christ
[36:37] - Living as Children of God
[38:18] - The Prodigal Son
[40:12] - Anchored in Our Identity
[41:52] - Vocation and Purpose
[43:11] - Representing God's Family
[44:40] - Called to Be Ambassadors
[46:07] - Role in God's Redemptive Work
[47:39] - Community and Calling
[49:08] - Demonstrating Life by the Spirit
[50:56] - Suffering with Purpose
[52:33] - Personal Testimony
[54:07] - Embracing Our Inheritance
[54:07] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Romans 8:12-17, what is the obligation that Paul speaks about, and what does it mean to live by the Spirit? [26:44]
How does Paul describe our new identity in Christ in Romans 8:14-17? What terms does he use to explain this relationship? [34:15]
In John 13:34-35, what command does Jesus give, and how does He say people will recognize His disciples?
What promise does God give to Israel in Exodus 19:4-6, and how does this relate to our identity and vocation as described in the sermon? [44:40]

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean to "put to death the misdeeds of the body" as mentioned in Romans 8:13? How does this process look in daily life? [27:51]
How does the concept of being "children of God" change the way we view our identity and purpose in life? [34:15]
How can the command to "love one another" in John 13:34-35 be practically applied in our daily interactions and relationships? [43:11]
What are some ways that our suffering can lead to hope, as described in Romans 8:17 and Romans 5:3-5? How does this perspective change our approach to challenges? [50:56]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt the Spirit guiding you. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? How can you be more attentive to the Spirit's guidance in your daily life? [30:06]
What are some "worldly identities" that you might be holding onto? How can you begin to let go of these and fully embrace your identity as a child of God? [35:13]
Think of a specific way you can demonstrate love to someone in your community this week. How can this act of love reflect your identity as a disciple of Christ? [43:11]
Identify a current challenge or suffering you are facing. How can you see this situation as an opportunity for growth and hope, in light of Romans 8:17 and Romans 5:3-5? [50:56]
How can you actively participate in God's redemptive work in your community? What specific steps can you take to be an outward expression of God's love? [46:07]
Reflect on the idea of being an ambassador for Christ. What does this look like in your workplace, school, or home? How can you better represent God's family in these areas? [44:40]
Consider the story of the prodigal son. Is there an area in your life where you need to return to God and embrace your identity as His child? What steps can you take to make this return? [38:18]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Paul begins by saying that we have been given something so amazing, so powerful, so wonderful. The fact that the Spirit of God lives inside of you. And you can have that conversation anytime you want. We can have the power that we talked about last week. Because the Spirit of God lives inside of you, we have an obligation." [27:51] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "When we live out of the power of the Spirit, we become part of God's family. That's a big deal. We get a new identity and it's our core identity. And to receive this identity, we just need to let the Spirit do its work in us. But part of it is we have to let go of some of those other identities that we have in our lives." [34:15] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You will not find your identity in what you have, but in who has you. You will not find your identity in what you do, but in what has been done for you. And you will not find your identity in what you desire, but in who has desired, at infinite cost to himself, a relationship with you." [35:53] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Live into your identity. You are a child of God. You are a child of God. You belong in your brokenness, in your imperfection, in your mistakes. You are a child of God. And we claim that identity by living in the Spirit, leaning into what the Spirit tells us, accepting the truth and rejecting the false promises and lies of this world." [36:37] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If the spirit of god is in you you have a new identity you are a child of god and you've inherited a legacy you have a role to play in this amazing life-changing work that god is doing in the world do you believe that can we live into this identity and embrace our inheritance today can we be the people in the church that he's called us to be because the world needs to see people living in the power of the spirit and that could be you and me today" [54:07] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "But today, we're talking about God's power and how it comes to us through our identity and our inheritance. So I want to start with a question. When you think about what you have inherited from your family, what comes to mind? What do you think about when you think about what you have inherited from your family?" [24:32] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "You know when the Spirit's working inside of you, sins that normally would be enticing get dulled and may even become offensive to you. And in contrast, the things that draw you to God become interesting and attractive like reading the Bible and worshiping and prayer. Your heart gets changed and so it breaks for the things that breaks God's heart." [31:57] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "And when we live into our true identity, as God's beloved children, we get filled with that kind of love as well. We become the people that God wants us to be. And yet, and yet I know, I know it can be tough to stay in that place, that voice that says, no, I want something else. It's hard, but know that no matter where you wind up, you can always come home because you are a child of the living God." [38:18] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Paul implores us to live life by the spirit, not because God's a control freak and wants to just see us obey. It's because we need to demonstrate what this life looks like for the world so that they can see it. And I'm not saying that God's a control freak. I'm not saying that God's a control freak. I'm there's something bigger out there. And if we're not living by the spirit, we have nothing to show." [49:08] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Now, the final part of our passage reminds us that if we're truly living into our calling and into God's will, it's going to be a challenge. Now, if we are children and we are heirs of God, co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings, in order that we may also share in his glory. Being part of the family means that we inherit lots of things. We inherit great things and we inherit hard things, right?" [50:56] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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