Living Out Our Identity: Practicing Righteousness in Christ
Summary
Today’s focus is on the call to “practice” our faith—not as a dry obligation, but as the living out of our new identity in Christ. Drawing from 1 John 3:4-10, the challenge is to move beyond theory and put into action the truth of who we are as God’s children. Just as a doctor or lawyer “practices” their profession by applying what they know, so too are we called to enact the reality of our new life in Christ. This isn’t about perfection or never stumbling, but about a continual, intentional pursuit of righteousness, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The distinction between practicing sin and practicing righteousness is not about never failing, but about which “team” we’re on and which “plays” we’re running. We’ve been transferred from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son. Our lives should reflect that transfer—not just on “game day” (Sunday mornings), but in the everyday, unseen moments. The evidence of our faith is not in flawless performance, but in the ongoing battle against sin, the conviction we feel, and the desire to grow.
God’s strategy for us is a winning one. Jesus has already secured victory over sin and death, and we are invited to live out that victory now. We are not slaves to sin; we have the Holy Spirit’s power and the promise of a way out of every temptation. Practicing righteousness is not a losing battle—it’s the path to real transformation and joy. And as we practice, others are watching. Our conduct in the ordinary, pressured, or private moments is what truly reveals the work of Christ in us.
The encouragement is to be intentional: identify the areas where more practice is needed, write them down, and invite accountability and help from the church community. If you’ve never confessed Christ, the first step isn’t behavior modification, but joining the new team—receiving the new identity that makes true transformation possible. For all of us, the call is to put into practice what we know to be true, trusting that God’s strategy is not only victorious, but also visible to a watching world.
Key Takeaways
- Practice is the Outworking of Identity
Practicing righteousness is not about earning God’s favor, but about living out the reality of being God’s child. The evidence of our new identity is seen in the habits and patterns we cultivate, not in flawless performance. The ongoing battle with sin is itself a sign of spiritual life, as the Holy Spirit convicts and empowers us to grow. [35:52]
- We Have Switched Teams—So Run the New Plays
In Christ, we have been transferred from darkness to light, from the old team to the new. This means adopting new priorities, responses, and values that reflect our new allegiance. The surest sign of this change is not perfection, but a genuine desire to practice righteousness and a discomfort with sin. [41:40]
- Victory Over Sin Is Already Won—Live Like It
Jesus’ victory over sin is not just a future hope, but a present reality. We are no longer slaves to sin, and God always provides a way out of temptation. Practicing righteousness is not a losing battle; it is participation in a strategy that has already been proven victorious by Christ. [45:26]
- What We Practice in Private Reveals Our True Faith
The truest measure of our faith is not how we appear on Sundays, but how we live in the quiet, pressured, or unseen moments. Our conduct in daily life—at home, at work, online—shows whether we are truly putting our faith into practice. Others notice not just our strengths, but also our humility, repentance, and servant-heartedness in weakness. [51:04]
- Intentional Practice Requires a Plan and Community
Growth in Christlikeness doesn’t happen by accident. We need to identify specific areas for growth, write them down, and seek help from the Holy Spirit and the church. We are not meant to practice alone; God has given us both His Spirit and His people to help us persevere and mature. [55:07]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[27:38] - Praying for Our Missionaries in Haiti
[29:01] - Allen Iverson and “Practice”
[31:52] - Reading 1 John 3:4-10
[32:41] - The Purpose of Christ’s Appearing
[34:19] - How to Interpret Scripture
[35:02] - Do Christians Still Sin?
[36:44] - What Does “Practice” Mean?
[37:46] - Practice: Not Just Repetition
[38:55] - Putting Truth into Practice
[39:49] - Practicing Your New Team’s Plays
[41:10] - The Distinction Between Teams
[43:38] - Practicing a Winning Strategy
[45:26] - Jesus’ Victory Over Sin
[48:41] - God Provides a Way Out
[49:55] - Practice Reveals True Character
[51:04] - Faith in the Everyday
[52:35] - Putting Faith into Practice
[54:30] - The Need for a Practice Plan
[56:01] - The Invitation to Join the New Team
[58:09] - Next Steps: Baptism and Communion
[01:09:37] - Final Prayer and Dismissal
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: “Practice Makes Progress”
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### Bible Reading
- 1 John 3:4-10 (main text)
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### Observation Questions
1. In 1 John 3:4-10, what does John say is the difference between someone who “practices sin” and someone who “practices righteousness”?
2. According to the passage, what was the purpose of Jesus’ appearing? ([32:41])
3. The sermon compared “practicing” our faith to how a doctor or lawyer “practices” their profession. What does this comparison help us understand about the word “practice” in this context? ([37:46])
4. What does John say is “evident” or obvious about the children of God? ([51:04])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon said that practicing righteousness is not about being perfect, but about which “team” we’re on and which “plays” we’re running. What does it mean to be on God’s team, and how does that change our daily choices? ([41:40])
2. John says that “no one born of God makes a practice of sinning.” How should we understand this, especially since Christians still struggle with sin? ([35:02])
3. The pastor mentioned that the ongoing battle with sin is actually a sign of spiritual life. Why is feeling conviction or discomfort about sin a good thing? ([42:30])
4. The sermon emphasized that what we do in private or under pressure reveals our true faith. Why do you think our “practice” in unseen moments matters so much? ([51:04])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenged us to identify specific areas where we need more “practice” in living out our faith. If you looked at the “game tape” of your life, what is one area where you want to grow in practicing righteousness? ([55:07])
- What would it look like to write this down and ask someone to help you with it?
2. The pastor said that we have “switched teams” and now have new plays to run. Are there any “old team” habits or responses that you still find yourself practicing? What is one practical step you could take this week to run a “new play” instead? ([41:40])
3. The sermon reminded us that Jesus has already won the victory over sin, and we are not slaves to it. Is there a temptation or struggle where you feel stuck? How can you look for the “way out” God promises to provide? ([45:26])
4. Think about your “practice” in private—at home, at work, online, or when no one is watching. Is there a gap between your Sunday faith and your everyday actions? What is one small change you could make to close that gap? ([51:04])
5. The pastor encouraged us not to “practice alone” but to invite help from the church community. Who is someone you could invite to pray for you or hold you accountable in your area of growth? ([55:07])
6. If you have never confessed Christ, the sermon said the first step is not behavior modification, but joining the new team—receiving a new identity in Christ. If you haven’t taken that step, what questions or hesitations do you have? ([56:01])
7. For those who have been following Jesus for a while, is there a “practice plan” you need to update or refresh? What would it look like to be more intentional about your spiritual growth this season? ([54:30])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to show each person where they need to put faith into practice, to give courage to write it down, and to provide the help of the Holy Spirit and the church community as they grow.
Devotional
Day 1: Practicing Righteousness: Living Out What We Know to Be True
To practice as a Christian is not merely to endure repetitive spiritual exercises, but to actively bring into reality the truth of our new identity in Christ. This means that our daily lives should reflect the transformation that has taken place within us, as we intentionally choose to put into practice the ways of our new team—God’s family—rather than falling back into old patterns of sin. The evidence of our faith is not in perfection, but in the ongoing battle against sin and the desire to live righteously, empowered by the Holy Spirit. As we practice righteousness, we are not just preparing for eternity, but allowing heaven to break into our present reality, showing the world the difference Christ makes in us. [38:55]
1 John 3:4-10 (ESV)
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to intentionally put into practice what you know to be true about your identity in Christ today?
Day 2: Changing Teams: Living as Children of Light
When we confess Christ, we are transferred from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of God’s beloved Son, given a new name and a new identity as children of God. This change is not just theoretical; it calls us to live differently, to practice the plays of our new team, and to let the Holy Spirit guide us away from old habits. The surest sign of this transformation is not that we never sin, but that we no longer want to make a practice of it, and that we are convicted and desire to grow. Our new allegiance is visible in the way we live, love, and respond to the world around us, showing that we belong to Christ. [41:40]
Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV)
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Reflection: In what practical way can you demonstrate today that you are living as a member of God’s team and not your old life?
Day 3: Practicing a Winning Strategy: Victory Over Sin
Jesus has already won the victory over sin and death, and as His followers, we are no longer slaves to sin but are set free to live for God. The enemy may try to convince us that we have no choice but to keep sinning, but Scripture assures us that we have been given a new power and a new strategy—a winning one. Every temptation comes with a way out, and the Holy Spirit is present to help us endure and overcome. Practicing righteousness is not a losing battle; it is living out the victory Christ has secured for us, both now and forever. [46:29]
Romans 6:6-7, 22 (ESV)
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.
But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Reflection: The next time you face temptation, will you look for and take the way out God provides, trusting in the victory Jesus has already won for you?
Day 4: Letting Others See: Practicing Faith in Everyday Life
The true evidence of our faith is not found in our Sunday best or public displays, but in the quiet, everyday moments when no one else is watching. It is in these moments—at home, at work, in our conversations and reactions—that our practice of righteousness is most visible to others. People notice how we handle frustration, how we treat others, and how we respond to challenges. Our conduct can either point others to Christ or turn them away, so we are called to let our good deeds shine, that God may be glorified through us. [51:38]
1 Peter 2:12 (ESV)
Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Reflection: Where in your daily routine can you intentionally let others see the difference Christ is making in you through your actions and attitudes?
Day 5: Making a Practice Plan: Intentional Growth Together
Spiritual growth does not happen by accident; it requires intentionality, honesty, and community. Just as athletes need a practice plan to improve, we need to identify the areas where God is calling us to grow and write them down, seeking the help of the Holy Spirit and the support of the church. Whether it’s a struggle you’ve faced for years or a new area God is highlighting, don’t try to wing it alone. God has given us each other to encourage, challenge, and walk alongside as we put into practice what we know to be true. [55:07]
Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV)
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Reflection: What is one specific area you need to write down and commit to practicing this week, and who can you invite to help you grow in it?
Quotes
So the simple message that John is trying to give us is that practice for the Christian is about bringing into reality what we know to be true. To relate to Allen Iverson, many Christians believe the game to be heaven and we just endure here while we wait for there. John is making the case that God's desire for us is actually to take heaven and bring it to here. To put into practice here what we know to be true. Let me break it down for you further. What it's telling us to put into practice is telling us to practice your new team's plays. [00:39:08] (41 seconds)
Paul and Peter both covered how people who have confessed Christ have made a transition from one team to another. Colossians 1, he has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son. We have changed teams. First Peter, but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness and into marvelous light. We have changed teams. And the distinction is in the practice. [00:41:38] (41 seconds)
The idea isn't that you never sin, but that you don't want to if you're a follower of Jesus. That you don't make a practice of it. The surest sign that you are on a new team is what jersey you wear. And if you get traded, ESPN will use some Photoshop and put that new jersey on you immediately. The surest sign that you are a believer is that you've got a new name on your life too. Child of God. And with it comes the Holy Spirit that convicts us of our sin and helps us in the midst of our temptation. [00:42:48] (34 seconds)
I tell people all the time that if you are battling with sin, it's a good thing. Not the sin itself, but it's good that you're battling. The problem is when you're not battling. It's a scary thing when there is no battle, when there is no conviction, when there is no concern for doing what God wants us to do. But make no mistake, God does want us to put into practice our new team's plays. If you find yourself in a constant cycle of conviction and frustration with some sin pattern that you wish wasn't there, it won't just like magically go away. You won't just wake up and poof, it's gone. You probably know that by now. [00:42:58] (42 seconds)
God has forgiven you, absolutely. You are a child of God if you have confessed Christ as Lord. But His work to grow and change you requires practice. Because you've got a whole life of practicing the other team's plays. We've got to work out our salvation. We've got to be transformed by the renewal of our mind. We have to practice our new team's plays. And good news, we are practicing a winning strategy. It's a winning strategy. [00:43:50] (30 seconds)
John points out that what we're putting into practice is a winning strategy. The game plan works. It says, he, Jesus, appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. He succeeded. He won. No one who abides in him keeps on continually sinning. He cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. It's a winning strategy, and here's the thing with Jesus. He already won, not just over the cross, not just over death like we've celebrated in recent weeks, but he won over sin in your life. [00:45:18] (35 seconds)
Scripture tells us something different for a blood -bought follower of Jesus, that the victory has been won, not just for eternity in heaven, but in reality today. Here's what Romans 6 says, we know that our old self, past tense, was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing so that we would currently no longer be enslaved to sin. We're not slaves to it anymore. Verse 22 says, but now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification. He's going to keep growing you, and it's end eternal life. [00:46:00] (42 seconds)
We have a winning strategy. Jesus never loses. He's already won now and forever. And I don't know about you, but every time that I fall or trip up or sin, I know the feeling of loss, of losing. But when I worship, when I'm close to Jesus, when I'm obedient to Him, I get a sense of His victory. I get a sense of His win. What would you rather practice? A winning strategy or a losing one? And make no mistake, we do have an option. 1 Corinthians says, no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. In other words, you're not alone. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. But with the temptation, He will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure it. [00:48:12] (49 seconds)
See, the true measure of our faith is the fruit of our lives in the quiet, alone moments. In the frustrating moments, under pressure, where who we are, who we really are, get squeezed out. John said, it is evident. It's obvious. Everybody can see who are the children of God. In other words, people notice. They don't notice as much as what we do on Sunday mornings, but who we are in the stands. They notice who we are in the car pickup line and at the park when you've told your kids to go to the car five times and they still haven't gone. They notice how you react. [00:50:58] (40 seconds)
We're not just waiting for game day. We're on a new team. We've got new plays, new ways to respond to offense, new ways to respond when people talk about us, new ways to respond when we could otherwise have blown up, new ways to respond whenever we could be a victim, new ways to respond. We've got new plays, new priorities, new standards, new purpose. We have new goals, new perspective that is eternal, not temporal. We have a new leader. We have a new Lord. We have a new team. Do you put into practice things that show that? [00:53:13] (38 seconds)
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