Experiencing Our Identity

Sermon from CCM Ladybarn
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LISTEN

This sermon was preached by Andrew Bunt at the Ladybarn site of Christ Church Manchester on Sunday 26th May 2019.

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SERIES

This message was part of the ‘SERIES NAME’ series, preached at Christ Church Manchester’s church in Withington in EARLY/MID/LATE YEAR. The full series included the following sermons:

BIBLE VERSES

This sermon looked at Romans 8:1-17.

Life in The Spirit

1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Heirs with Christ

12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

KEY POINTS

How do We Form Identity

  • External Identity – based on our perception of what others think of us or believe we are and should be. 

  • Internal Identity – based on how we feel. Unreliable because feelings change and because we pick and choose which things we act upon to match what is socially or personally acceptable or appealing.

  • Christian Identity – based on who God says we are. The only reliable option because it comes from outside of us and is given to us freely, regardless of our behaviour.

Christian Identity – Free From Condemnation

  • Because we begin our lives with our hearts turned away from God we deserve condemnation and judgement.

  • However, as those who are ‘in Christ’ our sins are never, ever counted against us. There is no condemnation.

  • When we trust in Jesus the actions of Christ are what identify us. We receive what he has won for us and we are secure in that. Our position can never change but we need to learn how to live in the experience of this daily.
  • Learn Bible verses and remind yourself of them. Sing and speak truth over yourself.

Christian Identity – Free to be Loved by God

  • Freedom from fear. We come to God primarily as a father not as a hard task master.

  • Intimacy with God. As the Spirit lives in us we call on God from a place of intimate relationship.

  • Heirship and inheritance. Co-heirs with Christ inheriting all the fulfilment of God’s promises and the restoration of relationship with God.

  • Suffering. The reality is that God’s children suffer. This is not because things have one wrong or we have lost our place as God’s children. The purpose in suffering is to lead us to Glory. It does not mean that God no longer loves us.

MORE SERMONS

To see more sermons from Christ Church Manchester, you can visit our sermons page, or why not consider subscribing on iTunes.