Embracing Our Identity: Living in God's Grace

Devotional

Day 1: Called to Be Holy, Not Just to Do Holy

God’s call on your life is not simply to follow a list of rules or to perform outward acts of holiness, but to be transformed from the inside out—to be holy because He is holy, and then to let that new identity shape all that you do. When you realize that your holiness is rooted in God’s own character and not your own efforts, you are freed from striving and invited into a relationship that changes your desires, your actions, and your purpose in the world. This is not about perfection or pretending, but about being set apart, living as one who belongs to God, and letting that reality shine in a world desperate for something real. [26:29]

1 Peter 1:13-16 (ESV)
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"

Reflection: In what area of your life have you been trying to “do holy” without first embracing your identity as one who is already made holy in Christ? How might your actions change if you truly believed you are set apart by God?

Day 2: Your Inheritance Is Secure—Kept in Heaven for You

The hope you have in Christ is not fragile or uncertain; it is a living hope anchored in the resurrection of Jesus and a guaranteed inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. No matter what trials or failures you face, your future is shielded by God’s own power, and nothing in this world can touch what He has promised you. This security is not meant to make you complacent, but to give you the freedom and courage to live differently, knowing that your eternity is safe in His hands and not dependent on your own ability to hold onto it. [55:13]

1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV)
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Reflection: Where in your life do you find yourself anxious about your future or your standing with God? What would it look like today to rest in the security of your inheritance in Christ?

Day 3: Trials Refine Your Faith, Not Define Your Worth

The difficulties and griefs you experience are not signs of God’s absence or your lack of faith, but are used by God to refine and prove the genuineness of your faith, which is more precious than gold. Even when you fail or suffer, your future in Christ remains untouched, and God uses these trials to shape you into the person He created you to be. Rather than despairing in hardship, you can greatly rejoice, knowing that pain never has the final word and that your faith, tested and refined, will result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus is revealed. [01:01:16]

1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)
"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Reflection: Think of a current or recent trial in your life. How might God be using this experience to refine your faith and draw you closer to Him, rather than to punish or distance you?

Day 4: Faith Is Trusting and Resting in Christ’s Finished Work

Salvation is not about your ability to perform or your emotional experiences, but about placing your confident trust in the finished work of Jesus—believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that He is Lord. Just as you trust a chair to hold your weight without questioning its maker, you are invited to rest the full weight of your life on Christ, knowing He will never let you down. This faith is both content (knowing the truth of the gospel) and confidence (entrusting yourself to it), and it is the only way to move from spiritual death to life. [01:14:35]

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV)
"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Reflection: What is one area where you are still relying on your own strength or goodness instead of resting in Christ’s finished work? What would it look like to “take your weight off your own feet” and trust Him fully today?

Day 5: The Spirit Makes You Alive—You Are God’s Child Forever

You were not simply bad and in need of improvement; you were spiritually dead and in need of resurrection. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God raises your spirit to life, making you His child forever—a reality that cannot be undone by your failures or changed by your circumstances. This new birth is a present and ongoing reality, and the Spirit’s presence in you is God’s guarantee that you belong to Him, now and always. Let this truth fill you with inexpressible joy and confidence as you walk through each day as one who is deeply loved and eternally secure. [01:12:55]

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV)
"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory."

Reflection: How does knowing that you are sealed and made alive by the Holy Spirit—God’s own guarantee—change the way you see yourself and your relationship with God today?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered as a community of faith—some for the first time, others for many years—each of us drawn by God’s sovereign hand and deep love. There is a profound truth in simply being present before God, acknowledging, “I’m here,” and recognizing that He sees us, knows us, and desires relationship with us. Our journey is not about anonymity before God, but about stepping into the reality that He has chosen us, called us, and longs for us to respond in faith.

We explored the call to holiness, not as a checklist of behaviors, but as an identity rooted in God’s own character. Peter, writing to believers scattered and suffering under persecution, reminds us that our hope is not anchored in our past or our performance, but in the guaranteed future God has secured for us through Christ. The world may be filled with chaos, inconsistency, and pain, but our inheritance is shielded by God Himself—untouchable, unfading, and eternal. This hope is not theoretical; it is a living hope, made possible by the resurrection of Jesus, and it transforms the way we live in the present.

Peter’s own story is a testament to God’s grace. He knew failure intimately, yet his failure was not final. Christ restored him, just as He restores us, and calls us to live out of the security of our salvation. We are exiles here, citizens of heaven, scattered to sow seeds of grace wherever we go. Our faith is not about striving to become holy, but about living from the reality that we have been made holy by God’s choosing and Christ’s sacrifice. Even in suffering, we can greatly rejoice, knowing that trials refine our faith and prepare us for the fullness of life God intends.

Salvation is not complicated; it is a gift received by faith. God’s Spirit brings us from death to life, sealing us as His own, and nothing can snatch us from His hand. The call is simple: believe in your heart, confess with your mouth, and rest in the finished work of Christ. For those who have received this gift, baptism is the next step—a public declaration of the inward transformation God has accomplished. May we walk in the abundance of grace and peace, living as those who are set apart, secure, and filled with inexpressible joy.

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Key Takeaways

1. Holiness Is Identity, Not Performance God’s call to “be holy as I am holy” is not a demand to perfect our behavior, but an invitation to embrace a new identity rooted in His character. We do not “do holy” to become holy; rather, because we have been made holy by God’s choosing and Christ’s sacrifice, our lives naturally reflect that reality. This distinction frees us from striving and invites us into authentic transformation. [26:29]
2. Our Future Secures Our Present The certainty of our inheritance in Christ—kept in heaven, shielded by God’s power—penetrates our present reality and empowers us to live differently. No matter the chaos or inconsistency of the world, our hope is anchored in what God has already accomplished and what He has promised. This guaranteed future is meant to inspire courage, joy, and steadfastness in the face of trials. [35:35]
3. Failure Is Not Final with God Peter’s life demonstrates that even the most blatant inconsistency or failure cannot sever our relationship with God. Christ’s restoration of Peter after his denial is a picture of grace that meets us in our lowest moments and calls us forward into purpose. Our failures may grieve us, but they do not define us; God’s faithfulness and our future in Him remain secure. [59:26]
4. Salvation Is Resurrection, Not Rehabilitation The gospel is not about making bad people good, but about making dead people alive. We are born spiritually dead, and only through the resurrection power of Christ are we brought to life. This new birth is a present, ongoing reality—our spirit is raised, God’s Spirit indwells us, and we are forever changed. The assurance of this transformation is not based on our performance, but on God’s eternal, intentional work. [44:17]
5. Faith Is Resting in Christ’s Finished Work True faith is not merely intellectual agreement, but a confident trust—like sitting in a chair, taking the weight off ourselves and resting fully in Christ. Salvation is a transaction that requires our response: believing in our heart and confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. Once received, this salvation is sealed by the Spirit, unbreakable and eternal, and nothing can snatch us from God’s hand. [74:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[12:05] - Opening Prayer and Greeting
[15:37] - The Gift of Presence: “I’m Here”
[17:20] - Responding to God’s Invitation
[19:33] - Generosity and the Sincerity of Our Hearts
[22:35] - Offering Prayer: Giving as Evidence of Growth
[25:25] - Introduction to “Be Holy” Series
[26:29] - The Call to Holiness: Identity Over Behavior
[27:53] - Peter’s Story: Inconsistency and Restoration
[30:07] - Historical Context: Persecution and Hope
[35:35] - The Power of a Guaranteed Future
[41:18] - Scattered to Sow: Living as Exiles
[44:17] - Salvation: From Death to Life
[52:21] - New Birth and Living Hope
[55:30] - Our Inheritance: Never Perishing
[59:26] - Restoration After Failure
[64:00] - The Joy of Unseen Faith
[69:07] - Salvation: A Present and Ongoing Reality
[74:35] - Faith: Resting in Christ
[75:23] - Invitation to Respond and Closing Prayer
[78:42] - Next Steps: Baptism and Blessing
[82:23] - Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: “Be Holy: Identity, Hope, and Living as God’s People”

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Bible Reading

1 Peter 1:13-21 (ESV)
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

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Observation Questions

According to 1 Peter 1:15-16, what is the reason given for why believers are called to be holy?
In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the difference between “doing holy” and “being holy”? [[26:29]]
What does Peter say about the inheritance believers have in Christ? How is it described in the passage and in the sermon? [[54:44]]
How does the sermon describe Peter’s personal experience with failure and restoration? [[59:26]]

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Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that holiness is about identity, not performance. What does it mean for someone’s identity to be “holy” because of God’s character, rather than because of their own actions? [[26:29]]
The pastor mentions that our hope is “anchored in what God has already accomplished and what He has promised.” How might this kind of hope change the way someone faces suffering or uncertainty? [[35:35]]
Peter’s story is used as an example of failure not being final with God. Why do you think God chooses to restore people who have failed, and how does that shape the way we see ourselves after we mess up? [[59:26]]
The sermon says, “Salvation is resurrection, not rehabilitation.” What is the difference between these two ideas, and why does it matter for how we understand what it means to be saved? [[44:17]]

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Application Questions

The sermon talked about the simple but powerful act of saying to God, “I’m here.” When was the last time you honestly presented yourself to God, just as you are? What would it look like for you to do that this week? [[17:20]]
If holiness is about identity and not a checklist, how does that change the way you think about your daily habits or struggles? Is there an area where you’ve been trying to “do holy” instead of living from your identity as someone God has already made holy? [[26:29]]
The pastor said our future inheritance is “kept in heaven” and “shielded by God Himself.” How might believing this truth help you deal with fear, anxiety, or the chaos of the world around you? [[54:44]]
Peter’s failure was not the end of his story. Is there a failure in your own life that you feel is holding you back? What would it look like to let God restore you and move forward in faith? [[59:26]]
The sermon described salvation as a gift that is received by faith, not something we earn. Have you ever struggled to believe that God’s grace is really enough for you? What helps you rest in Christ’s finished work instead of trying to prove yourself? [[14:35]]
For those who have received salvation, baptism is described as the next step—a public declaration of what God has done inside you. If you’ve been baptized, how did that experience impact your faith? If you haven’t, what questions or hesitations do you have about taking that step? [[18:42]]
The sermon says we are “scattered to sow seeds of grace wherever we go.” Who is someone in your life right now who needs to experience God’s grace through you? What is one practical way you can show them that grace this week? [[41:18]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for courage to live out of their identity in Christ, for hope in the midst of trials, and for opportunities to share God’s grace with others.

Sermon Clips

Christ didn't come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people alive. And the truth is, you're going to be blatantly inconsistent at times, just as Peter is. But that blatant inconsistency has no effect upon your eternal relationship with God Almighty. And that truth, Peter believes, should be the most transformative reality in your life. [00:44:26] (20 seconds) #AliveNotJustGood

And this hope is alive for one reason, because it's through the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the fact that he knowed he has conquered death. He'll never know it, see it or taste it. He's overcome it. Its sting has been removed. If he were to die, your hope would die. But he's now alive and forevermore. And so is your hope. There's no way your hope can die. Your hope is everlasting life. [00:53:36] (26 seconds) #EverlastingHope

And the good news is, is that you've been given an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fail. Never. On the count of three, with everything you've got, so that they hear you all over south central Kentucky say this word. One, two, three. Never. Never. And I've got a doctorate in hermeneutics, which is the science of interpretation. You don't even need a second grade education to know what never means. Never means never. Never. It'll never perish. It'll never spoil, It'll never fade. What won't? Your inheritance like Never means never. [00:54:51] (49 seconds) #InheritanceNeverFails

You had more than enough content all your life about what chairs are and what chairs do. When you came in this room. You didn't ask a single question about these chairs because you already knew enough. And when I said, take a seat, you took a seat with faith. You sat down and took your body, your weight off of everything. You're. You're relying solely on a chair that you don't know where it came from. You don't know who made it. You don't know what it's made of. You don't know what it cost and you don't care. You got enough confidence in seats and chairs to hold you up, right? That's the content of the gospel. But now you got to rest in it. You got to take your weight off your own feet. You rest in Christ knowing is that chair will never let you down. Nor shall Christ, because your security is in him, not you. It's in his hands and he's in heaven, and you ain't losing it. [01:14:01] (50 seconds) #RestInFaith

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Embracing Our Identity: Living in God's Grace

Devotional

Day 1: Called to Be Holy, Not Just to Do Holy

Day 2: Your Inheritance Is Secure—Kept in Heaven for You

Day 3: Trials Refine Your Faith, Not Define Your Worth

Day 4: Faith Is Trusting and Resting in Christ’s Finished Work

Day 5: The Spirit Makes You Alive—You Are God’s Child Forever

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Embracing Our Identity: Living in God's Grace

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