Embracing Our Identity: From Sinship to Sonship

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Our Identity in Christ

Understanding our identity in Christ is crucial for experiencing true freedom and transformation. Many believers struggle with the notion that they are bound to sin repeatedly, even after accepting Christ. This belief can be damaging as it contradicts the transformative power of the gospel. The Bible tells us that we are the righteousness of God and should not identify ourselves as sinners but as children of God. When we see ourselves as righteous in Christ, we can live out that identity more fully. This shift in perspective is essential for experiencing the fullness of God's transformative power in our lives. [01:19:03]

Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Reflection: How can you remind yourself daily of your identity as a child of God rather than a sinner? What practical steps can you take to live out this new identity?

Day 2: The Power of Words

The words we speak have the power to shape our reality. Telling someone they will sin again can plant seeds of doubt and hinder their transformation. Instead, we should speak words of life and affirm their identity in Christ. Our words can either build up or tear down, and as believers, we are called to use our words to encourage and uplift others. By affirming the righteousness of others and ourselves, we create an environment where true transformation can occur. [01:20:42]

Proverbs 18:21 (ESV): "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who needs encouragement. How can you use your words to affirm their identity in Christ and support their spiritual growth today?

Day 3: Immediate Transformation

Transformation is not just a future promise but a present reality. We must believe that Christ can change us today, not just over time. This belief will enable us to affirm others' potential for change and freedom in Christ. When we embrace the idea that transformation can happen now, we open ourselves up to the immediate work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This perspective allows us to live in the fullness of God's power and grace, experiencing His transformative work daily. [01:27:54]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: What area of your life do you need to believe God can transform today? How can you actively invite the Holy Spirit to work in that area right now?

Day 4: Seeing Through Christ's Lens

We must see ourselves and others through the lens of Christ's finished work on the cross. This perspective allows us to affirm our righteousness and the righteousness of others, fostering an environment of growth and freedom. When we view ourselves and others through Christ's lens, we see the potential for transformation and the reality of our new identity in Him. This shift in perspective helps us to live out the truth of the gospel and encourages others to do the same. [01:36:08]

Colossians 3:3-4 (ESV): "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Reflection: How can you practice seeing yourself and others through the lens of Christ's finished work on the cross? What changes in your attitude or behavior might this perspective bring about?

Day 5: Sharing the Message of Freedom

The gospel is a message of freedom, not condemnation. We must share this message with others, affirming their identity in Christ and the transformative power of the gospel. By doing so, we help others to experience the freedom and grace that comes from knowing Christ. This approach will help us touch lives and grow in the Lord, creating a community of believers who live out the truth of the gospel daily. [01:54:50]

Galatians 5:1 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of freedom in Christ? How can you share this message with them in a way that affirms their identity and encourages their transformation?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Hallelujah, Amen. Today, I am grateful to share the gospel with you, focusing on a message of freedom and growth. The theme is "Sin No More," which might sound like a call to avoid sin, but it goes deeper. Our main scripture is Romans 8:1, which speaks of no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus who walk according to the Spirit. This message is about understanding our identity in Christ and moving from a mindset of "sinship" to "sonship."

Many of us struggle with the idea that we are bound to sin repeatedly, even after accepting Christ. This belief can be damaging, as it contradicts the transformative power of the gospel. We are often told that we will sin again, which undermines the message of being made new in Christ. The Bible tells us that we are the righteousness of God and that we should not identify ourselves as sinners but as children of God.

1 John 1:7-9 explains that while we must acknowledge our sins, we are also cleansed from all unrighteousness through Jesus Christ. This duality can be confusing, but it emphasizes that we are not to live in a state of sin-consciousness. Instead, we should embrace our new identity in Christ, who has made us righteous.

We must stop labeling ourselves and others as sinners, as this can plant seeds of doubt and hinder true transformation. Instead, we should affirm our identity as righteous children of God. This shift in perspective is crucial for experiencing the fullness of God's transformative power in our lives.

Transformation is not just a future promise but a present reality. We must believe that Christ can change us today, not just over time. This belief will enable us to look others in the eye and affirm their potential for change and freedom in Christ. We must see ourselves and others through the lens of Christ's finished work on the cross, which has made us righteous.

In conclusion, let us embrace our identity in Christ and speak words of life and freedom. Let us not plant seeds of doubt but affirm the transformative power of the gospel. We are not defined by our sins but by the righteousness of Christ. This is the message of freedom that we must share with others.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Identity in Christ: We must shift from identifying as sinners to identifying as children of God. This change in perspective is crucial for experiencing true freedom and transformation. When we see ourselves as righteous in Christ, we can live out that identity more fully. [79:03]
2. Power of Words: The words we speak have the power to shape our reality. Telling someone they will sin again can plant seeds of doubt and hinder their transformation. Instead, we should speak words of life and affirm their identity in Christ. [80:42]
3. Immediate Transformation: Transformation is not just a future promise but a present reality. We must believe that Christ can change us today, not just over time. This belief will enable us to affirm others' potential for change and freedom in Christ. [87:54]
4. Seeing Through Christ's Lens: We must see ourselves and others through the lens of Christ's finished work on the cross. This perspective allows us to affirm our righteousness and the righteousness of others, fostering an environment of growth and freedom. [96:08]
5. Message of Freedom: The gospel is a message of freedom, not condemnation. We must share this message with others, affirming their identity in Christ and the transformative power of the gospel. This approach will help us touch lives and grow in the Lord. [01:54:50]
### [114:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[72:33] - Introduction and Gratitude
[73:34] - Theme: Sin No More
[74:06] - Romans 8:1-2: No Condemnation
[75:06] - Struggling with Sinship
[76:23] - Mixed Messages About Sin
[78:22] - Righteousness of God
[79:03] - Identity in Christ
[80:42] - Power of Words
[81:59] - 1 John 1: Cleansed from All Sin
[84:39] - Walking in the Light
[85:46] - Born in Sin, Made Righteous
[87:54] - Immediate Transformation
[89:00] - From Sinship to Sonship
[90:11] - Finished Work of Christ
[91:07] - No Condemnation
[92:47] - Tolerance for Sin
[94:07] - Sin Shall Not Have Dominion
[95:03] - Freedom from Sin
[96:08] - Seeing Through Christ's Lens
[97:13] - Blood of Jesus Cleanses
[98:20] - Message of Hope
[99:27] - Life and Transformation Today
[100:09] - Never Alone in Struggles
[101:16] - Accepted in the Beloved
[102:08] - Message of Love
[102:58] - Peace and Joy in Christ
[104:50] - Restoring Joy
[105:57] - Knowing Who We Are in Christ
[107:04] - Speaking Words of Life
[107:45] - Romans 5: Freedom in Christ
[110:59] - Receiving Righteousness
[112:19] - Putting Off Sin, Putting On Righteousness
[114:09] - Embracing Our Identity in Christ
[114:50] - Message of Freedom and Grace

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Romans 8:1-2, what is the status of those who are in Christ Jesus? How does this relate to the concept of condemnation? [01:14:06]
In 1 John 1:7-9, what are the conditions for being cleansed from all sin? How does this passage describe the relationship between walking in the light and fellowship? [01:21:59]
Romans 5:17 speaks about receiving the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness. How does this passage contrast the effects of Adam's trespass with the effects of Jesus' obedience? [01:50:59]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of "no condemnation" in Romans 8:1-2 affect our understanding of our identity in Christ? What does it mean to walk according to the Spirit? [01:14:06]
1 John 1:7-9 mentions both the acknowledgment of sin and the cleansing from all unrighteousness. How can these seemingly contradictory ideas coexist in a believer's life? [01:21:59]
Romans 5:17 talks about reigning in life through Jesus Christ. What does it mean to "reign in life" as a believer, and how does this relate to the concept of righteousness? [01:50:59]
The sermon emphasizes the power of words and their impact on our identity and transformation. How can the words we speak to ourselves and others either hinder or promote spiritual growth? [01:20:42]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life. Do you identify more with being a sinner or a child of God? How can you shift your perspective to embrace your identity in Christ more fully? [01:19:03]
Think about the words you use when speaking to others about their struggles. How can you ensure that your words are life-giving and affirming of their identity in Christ? [01:20:42]
The sermon suggests that transformation is a present reality, not just a future promise. Can you identify an area in your life where you need immediate transformation? How can you trust Christ for that change today? [01:27:54]
How can you practice seeing yourself and others through the lens of Christ's finished work on the cross? What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of this perspective daily? [01:36:08]
The message of the gospel is one of freedom, not condemnation. How can you share this message of freedom with someone in your life who may be struggling with guilt or shame? [01:54:50]
Consider a time when you struggled with sin-consciousness. How did it affect your spiritual growth? What steps can you take to focus more on your righteousness in Christ rather than your past sins? [01:18:22]
How can you create an environment in your small group or community that fosters growth and freedom by affirming each other's identity in Christ? What specific actions can you take to support this? [01:45:57]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "He gives us life. He transforms our lives today. He is our hope. He is with us today. It's going to, you're going to have trouble. You can look that person in the eye and say, you are going to have trouble. I'm going to have trouble. But I'm never going to be alone. We are not alone. We are not working, doing life alone. People are going to struggle. Do it every day. But we have hope, and we have more than hope, because he actually does deliver. He actually does transform lives." [01:39:27] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The message is God loves you. Jesus loves you. I love you, brother. And you are far better than what you're living right now. You are far more valuable than the life that you were living right now, and I'm not talking about just cleaning you up. I'm talking about on this side, do you have peace? Do you have peace? Because if you don't have peace, you can't have peace. If you don't have joy, good tidings of great joy, right?" [01:42:08] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Transformation can happen immediately. And it does happen. And just because we don't see it immediately doesn't mean that God's not willing to do it, or that he doesn't want to do it. And I believe, I believe in this church that he wants us to see people the way he sees us. And I believe that we have to get this. We have to get it. If we're going to grow, and I mean grow in the Lord, if we're going to touch lives that I believe the way the Lord wants to here in this place, we have to, we have to know who we are in him." [01:44:50] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We, our lives have to be so different than what the world has to offer. And they don't need the scriptures beating over their heads, telling them, well, you know you were drunk. I mean, you go out there in the street ministry. Have you done any street? Well, you know you shouldn't be drinking. You know you're going to go to, come on now. That is not the message. That is not the message." [01:42:08] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "We are the righteousness of God. That he has imparted. And imputed righteousness to us. We have just heard that we are sons. We are children of God. And which of us. Would go to our sons. And daughters and go come here little sinner. Who would do that? Who would do that to a son. Or a daughter or someone they love. Come here you little sinner. sinner. So it's one thing to sin, but it's another thing for us to put that label on that person and have their identity be in sin, or comfortable with it, or even plant that seed, because we know the power of our words are what? Life, or?" [01:18:22] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We tend to have a tolerance and build up a tolerance for sin in our lives. Because if we can tolerate the little things and accept them, eventually, we can become desensitized to what we would consider the greater things. But either way, it's not for us to have that person identify with the thing that they are doing wrong. Even the things that you can't even fathom that someone, would do." [01:32:47] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We have to receive the abundance of grace. Don't let that guilt condemn, don't let that thing that you do identify you. You are not the thing that you do wrong. You are righteous before God. And this is the message for this church to take to people. This is what, when they come, when they start coming here, the youth that we want to come and people, this is what they need to hear. Not condemnation, not the thing that they're doing, you know it's wrong. It's receive the abundance of grace. You are still righteous. You are still a child of God. You are still blood bought. He's yours and you are his." [01:54:09] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We know that we are sons, we know that we are daughters. We know that. On an intellectual level, very much so. I've met, you know, you meet people on the street who know the Bible very well. A lot more than me. A lot more than many people. But can we really look in someone's eyes? Because you know, I don't know if you've seen it, you've dealt with people who've had issues, really habitual issues. Can you, can you really look in their eyes and say, you are going to change? You are changed. Because the work of Christ is finished. His work is finished. We are clothed in righteousness. We have become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus." [01:30:11] (72 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We are not sinnerships. Our sinnership is not what we identify with. It is our righteousness in God. He makes us righteous. So I would encourage, don't do what I used to do. Or let us be mindful of the words that we speak. Let's not speak things that into existence or plant seeds that someone will do wrong. And that they're basically, because that's a dual message. Now if we use the word if, that's different. If you happen to, that's completely different. That is okay. But not, you are going to. That's completely different. You're putting it on him." [01:47:04] (69 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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