Slides that accompany a sermon preached May 8, 2016 at Plymouth Meeting E C Church by Pastor Bob Brown

1. Your New Identity
“in Christ”

3. CARPENTER
ATTORNEY NURSE
PLUMBER

5. I. Our sense of
identity and where
it comes from

6. A. Others/culture- self-
love based on social
status, financial
worth and
accomplishment.

7. 2 People will be lovers of
themselves, lovers of
money, boastful, proud,
abusive, disobedient to
their parents, ungrateful,
unholy,

8. 3 without love, unforgiving,
slanderous, without self-
control, brutal, not lovers
of the good,

9. 4 treacherous, rash,
conceited, lovers of
pleasure rather than lovers
of God—

10. B. Self-
often exaggerated
positively or negatively

11. C. God

13. C. God
1. I am a sinner

14. C. God
2. I am an new person “in
Christ.” By his power, I can
change.

15. C. God
3. I have value as His
creation, in His image,
redeemed by His grace,
and given a divine purpose
in life.

16. II. Why is understanding
our (new) identity
important

17. III. The right and wrong
way to change your
identity beliefs

20. Old Identity
Beliefs
Results New Identity Beliefs Results
Powerless to change;
I’m not perfect!
Continue to sin and feel guilty;
defeated
Delivered from sin nature’s power Free from sin’s control
Try to please people
Trying to impress
Fear of rejection Adopted as God Child You belong; you are accepted and
loved
Guilty; no release Defensiveness, guilt, bitterness,
withdrawal,
Forgiveness for sin thru Jesus’
Death
Acceptance apart from
performance
Looking to work, wealth, family
for significance & meaning
Unhealthy comparison to others;
Fear of criticism, failing to meet
expectations
Unique role in God’s purpose Significance; valued part of a
family/team
Wealth can be lost or lose value
or be stolen
Struggle to survive; fear death Promised an inheritance Security now and in the next life
Vulnerable to temptation Oppression; fear; superstition Delivered from Satan’s authority Free from demonic control

21. How to Appropriate your new
spiritual Identity “in Christ”
•KNOW that your old self was
crucified with Him. (6:6)
•CONSIDER yourself dead to
sin. (6:11)
•PRESENT yourself to God, not
to sin. (6:13)

22. IV. Mature believers will
live by faith,
• Acting on the truth of their
identity in Christ
• Jesus Christ is our standard
and goal,
• Not men

23. IV. Mature believers will
live by faith,
•B. Acting on the fact of their
God-given abilities
•All we have is because of
God’s grace.

24. 2. What counts with God is
faithfulness

25. Effectiveness is always a
product of God’s activity,
regardless of our methods
or wisdom!

26. IV. Mature believers will
live by faith,
•Seeking to discover and
correct weaknesses that can
be corrected.