why is understanding our new identity so important

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why is understanding our new identity so
important? because identity precedes and
affects behavior, attitudes, emotions, and
values what I do will tend to flow from who I
perceive myself to be
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3 Jesus knew that the Father had put him in
complete charge of everything, that he came from
God and was on his way back to God. 4 So he got
up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and
put on an apron. 5 Then he poured water into a
basin and began to wash the feet of the
disciples, drying them with his apron. John 133-5
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1. its important to know who we are in Christ,
so we can have freedom to reveal the Kingdom
life weve been called to live
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17 Now we look inside, and what we see is that
anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh
start, is created new. The old life is gone a
new life burgeons! Look at it! 18 All this comes
from the God who settled the relationship between
us and him, and then called us to settle our
relationships with each other. 19 God put the
world square with himself through the Messiah,
giving the world a fresh start by offering
forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of
telling everyone what he is doing. 2 Corinthians
517-19
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2. there are obstacles along the way (John
1010) 3. most of us are unaware of how
thoroughly Satan has deceived us (Colossians
28-9) 4. weve reached a mark of maturity when
we begin testing the deceitful thoughts of our
mind against the Word of God (Romans 122)
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united with Christ
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By means of his one Spirit, we all said good-bye
to our partial and piecemeal lives. We each used
to independently call our own shots, but then we
entered into a large and integrated life in which
he has the final say in everything. (This is what
we proclaimed in word and action when we were
baptized.) Each of us is now a part of his
resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one
fountainhis Spiritwhere we all come to drink.
The old labels we once used to identify
ourselveslabels like Jew or Greek, slave or
freeare no longer useful. We need something
larger, more comprehensive.1 Corinthians 1213
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1. you in Christ . . . we entered into a large
and integrated life . . . Each of us is now a
part of his resurrection body . . . I am a
part of the body of Christ I am a citizen of
the Kingdom of God this is the basis of my new
identity
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key aspects of our new identity forgiveness
through Jesus' death for sin Because of the
sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on
the altar of the Cross, we're a free peoplefree
of penalties and punishments chalked up by all
our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either.
Abundantly free! Ephesians 17
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- result acceptance apart from performance -
denying destructive reactions to guilt
feelings (defensive, preoccupation with your
wrongs), resentment, bitterness toward others,
unhealthy people-pleasing - lifestyle examples
freely forgiving others, honesty with others
about our own sins
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if you were really a Christian, you wouldnt
have done that (or thought that) that sin
is really bad - God cant forgive that one
you better not tell anyone you did (or
thought) that at least youre not as bad as
that person you deserve not to forgive that
person if you forgive that person, it makes
it OK
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getting there consider the seriousness of
your sin meditate on Jesus forgiveness
understand that Gods forgiveness is perfect
and absolute transfer the forgiveness to others
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