Embracing Our True Identity in Christ
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound concept of identity in Christ, drawing from Galatians 2. We began by acknowledging the importance of understanding our true identity, much like a light bulb that only fulfills its purpose when connected to a power source. Similarly, we must connect with our Creator to understand our purpose and identity. Our identity is not defined by our roles, achievements, or failures but by who God has created and saved us to be. This identity is further clarified when we receive Christ as our Savior, transforming us from sinners to saints, from lost to found, and from death to life.
Paul's words in Galatians 2 emphasize that our justification comes not from the works of the law but through faith in Christ. This faith leads to a transformative experience where we are crucified with Christ, meaning our old sinful nature is put to death, and we are reborn with a new identity and purpose. This transformation is not just a change in status but a call to live out our new identity, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
We also discussed the struggle between our flesh and spirit, highlighting the importance of living an "exchanged life" where we trade our sin for God's grace and our will for His mission. This requires daily commitment and surrender, recognizing that we cannot live the Christian life in our strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit. The abiding life, where we remain connected to God, is essential for living out our true identity and experiencing victory over sin.
Ultimately, our identity in Christ means we are no longer slaves to sin but children of God, free, forgiven, and loved. This identity is secure, and we are called to live as kingdom kids, reflecting God's glory in our lives. To embrace this identity, we must believe and receive it by faith, allowing God to transform our lives and empower us to live according to His purpose.
Key Takeaways:
1. True Identity in Christ: Our identity is not defined by our roles or achievements but by who God has created and saved us to be. This identity is clarified when we receive Christ, transforming us from sinners to saints and giving us a divine purpose. [38:22]
2. Justification by Faith: Our acceptance by God is not based on our works but through faith in Christ. This faith leads to a transformative experience where our old sinful nature is put to death, and we are reborn with a new identity. [39:27]
3. The Exchanged Life: Living the Christian life requires trading our sin for God's grace and our will for His mission. This involves daily commitment and surrender, recognizing that we cannot live the Christian life in our strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit. [52:11]
4. Abiding in Christ: The abiding life, where we remain connected to God, is essential for living out our true identity and experiencing victory over sin. This connection empowers us to live according to God's purpose and reflect His glory. [58:38]
5. Secure Identity as Children of God: Our identity in Christ means we are no longer slaves to sin but children of God, free, forgiven, and loved. This identity is secure, and we are called to live as kingdom kids, reflecting God's glory in our lives. [48:53]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [32:50] - Opening Prayer
- [35:41] - The Light Bulb Analogy
- [36:25] - Discovering Our Purpose
- [37:18] - Who Are We?
- [38:22] - Identity in Christ
- [39:27] - Justification by Faith
- [40:43] - Peter's Identity Crisis
- [42:11] - The Fall and Our Need for a Savior
- [43:13] - Jesus Changes Everything
- [44:57] - The Necessity of the Cross
- [45:47] - Crucified with Christ
- [47:32] - The Exchanged Life
- [48:53] - Secure Identity as God's Children
- [50:24] - Living the Abiding Life
- [56:01] - Living in God's Power
- [58:00] - The Importance of Abiding
- [59:29] - Stages of the Christian Life
- [01:02:15] - Embracing Our Identity in Christ
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Identity in Christ
Bible Reading:
- Galatians 2:15-21
- John 1:12
- 1 Peter 2:9
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Observation Questions:
1. What analogy did the pastor use to explain the concept of identity, and how does it relate to our understanding of purpose? [35:41]
2. According to Galatians 2:20, what does it mean to be "crucified with Christ," and how does this affect a believer's life? [45:47]
3. How did the pastor describe the struggle between the flesh and the spirit, and what role does the Holy Spirit play in this struggle? [54:18]
4. What was the significance of Peter's behavior in Antioch, and how did Paul address it? [40:43]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being "crucified with Christ" redefine a believer's identity and purpose according to the sermon? [45:47]
2. In what ways does the pastor suggest that our identity in Christ is secure, and how does this security impact our daily lives? [48:53]
3. How does the pastor explain the "exchanged life," and what practical steps are involved in living this way? [52:11]
4. What does it mean to live an "abiding life," and why is it essential for experiencing victory over sin? [58:38]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the analogy of the light bulb. In what ways do you feel disconnected from your "power source," and how can you reconnect with God this week? [35:41]
2. The pastor mentioned the struggle between the flesh and the spirit. Identify a specific area in your life where this struggle is evident. How can you rely more on the Holy Spirit to overcome it? [54:18]
3. Consider the idea of the "exchanged life." What is one sin or personal ambition you need to trade for God's grace and mission? How will you make this exchange? [52:11]
4. How can you practice living an "abiding life" this week? What daily habits or practices can help you stay connected to God? [58:38]
5. The pastor spoke about our secure identity as children of God. How does this truth affect your view of yourself and your actions? What steps can you take to live more confidently in this identity? [48:53]
6. Reflect on the story of Peter's identity crisis. Are there areas in your life where you feel torn between cultural expectations and your faith? How can you address these conflicts? [40:43]
7. The pastor emphasized the importance of surrender in the Christian life. What is one area where you need to surrender control to God, and what will that look like practically? [01:00:52]
Devotional
Day 1: Our Identity is Rooted in God's Creation
Our true identity is not defined by our roles, achievements, or failures but by who God has created and saved us to be. This identity becomes clear when we receive Christ as our Savior, transforming us from sinners to saints and giving us a divine purpose. Just as a light bulb only fulfills its purpose when connected to a power source, we must connect with our Creator to understand our purpose and identity. This connection is essential for living out our true identity and experiencing the fullness of life that God intends for us. [38:22]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you have been defining yourself by your achievements or failures. How can you begin to see yourself through the lens of who God has created you to be?
Day 2: Faith Transforms Our Identity
Our acceptance by God is not based on our works but through faith in Christ. This faith leads to a transformative experience where our old sinful nature is put to death, and we are reborn with a new identity. In Galatians 2, Paul emphasizes that our justification comes not from the works of the law but through faith in Christ. This transformation is not just a change in status but a call to live out our new identity, empowered by the Holy Spirit. As we embrace this new identity, we are called to live according to God's purpose and reflect His glory in our lives. [39:27]
"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, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a specific area of your life where you struggle to accept your new identity in Christ. What steps can you take to embrace this transformation fully?
Day 3: Embracing the Exchanged Life
Living the Christian life requires trading our sin for God's grace and our will for His mission. This involves daily commitment and surrender, recognizing that we cannot live the Christian life in our strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit. The struggle between our flesh and spirit is real, but by living an "exchanged life," we can experience the fullness of God's grace and purpose. This daily surrender allows us to live out our true identity and experience victory over sin. [52:11]
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you are holding onto your own will. How can you begin to surrender this area to God's mission today?
Day 4: The Power of Abiding in Christ
The abiding life, where we remain connected to God, is essential for living out our true identity and experiencing victory over sin. This connection empowers us to live according to God's purpose and reflect His glory. By abiding in Christ, we are able to draw strength from the Holy Spirit and live a life that is pleasing to God. This daily connection is vital for experiencing the fullness of life that God intends for us and for living out our true identity as His children. [58:38]
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." (John 15:4, ESV)
Reflection: What practical steps can you take to ensure you are abiding in Christ daily? How can this connection impact your daily life and decisions?
Day 5: Secure Identity as Children of God
Our identity in Christ means we are no longer slaves to sin but children of God, free, forgiven, and loved. This identity is secure, and we are called to live as kingdom kids, reflecting God's glory in our lives. To embrace this identity, we must believe and receive it by faith, allowing God to transform our lives and empower us to live according to His purpose. As children of God, we have the assurance of His love and the freedom to live out our true identity in Him. [48:53]
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12, ESV)
Reflection: How does knowing you are a child of God change the way you view yourself and your purpose? What steps can you take to live out this identity more fully in your daily life?
Quotes
And so when we receive him as our Savior, he transforms our lives. We go from sinners to saints. We go from lost to found. We go from death to life. And God sets us apart for a divine purpose. [00:38:50] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
We too have put our faith in Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law. In other words, it's not what I do that gets God's approval; it's who I am because of what he has done that I'm accepted by God. [00:39:36] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
For through the law I died in the law so that I might live for God. Why? Because I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. [00:40:15] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Because of the cross, you can be who God designed and desires for you to be. And that is a child of God. No longer one who is stuck in sin. The power of sin, but one who's been set free from sin and can live in the power of God. [00:43:44] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
It means in salvation we experience the executed life. See, to be crucified means that by some mysterious divine supernatural means we have been co-crucified with Christ and united with him in his resurrection. [00:46:20] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
It also speaks to the reality of our old nature, our old flesh, that it's been put to death freeing us from the power and the bondage of sin. What does that mean? It means that even though we live in a fallen world and even though we have an adversary in the devil and the demonic and even though we have a world that's trying to stuff us into its mold and we have flesh that still craves and desires sin, that we do not have to give into it. [00:47:03] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
In essence, it means to be crucified with Christ, it means to, it speaks to the experience of being crucified with Christ. It speaks to the experience of dying to one's old sinful nature to be reborn and energized by the atoning satisfactory sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. And that gives me a new identity and a new purpose. [00:47:47] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And the result of that is, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old is gone. Behold, all things become new. All things. And now this is where the struggle begins. This is where on this side of heaven it gets tough. [00:53:12] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And so to live the exchange life, I have to live the empowered life. And the empowered life is the abiding life. In other words, every day I have to get up and I have to plug in to God. And all through my day, the world, the flesh, the devil, the demonic, everything's trying to get me to unplug from God and to live in my ability instead of in His ability. [00:55:07] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
We are no longer slaves to sin, but children of God. We are free, we are forgiven, and we are loved. That's who you are because of what Jesus has done for you. [01:02:19] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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