How People Change Chapter 11 Cross 1: New Identity and New Potential 1. Review Throughout this book, we have slowed down to think deeply about a serious issue of life: change. At times, we as authors were tempted to skip the groundwork and begin the book here! But, if we had done that, we would have set you up for failure and misunderstanding. The grace of Christ and the dynamics of biblical change need to be understood within the framework of our circumstances and our sinful responses. In chapters 9 and 10, we saw that our Thorny responses to life are the fruit of issues rooted in the heart. When our love for something in creation replaces our love for our Creator and Redeemer, we will have Thorny (sinful) responses to both blessing and hardship. 2. Having What It Takes As we face life, we are always addressing whether or not we have the potential to succeed. We tell ourselves, I m better than that person and ask ourselves, Am I better than that person? We not only do this with ourselves; but we also do this with others. When we watch sports, our comments go from, It s over! to We got this! When our friends find new girlfriends or boyfriends, we wonder in the back of our minds, He s/she s a really good person or I don t know about that one. When we hire someone for a job, we ask ourselves, Does this person have what it takes to not only get the job done, but will he or she be a good fit to the team? When we examine our children, we find ourselves categorizing them into the sciences, humanities or athletics. In this world, we live and die by our works and we do our best to hedge our abilities towards success. But, unfortunately this standard of evaluation misses the core of our potential as Christians. It misses how a murderer like Paul can become the greatest evangelist of church history. It misses how King David (known as a man after God s own heart) could fall, yet give glory to amazing grace and mysterious working of God. It misses how God could use a broken family like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the beginnings of an amazing spiritual family. It misses why some of us can admit that we have neither good family models nor a successful track record, yet still have the potential to do genuine good in our circumstances and relationships. It misses why Christians can have hope and courage to face the things they failed at yesterday. In light of this, let s consider the new potential we have because of who we are in Christ. 3. Christ In You The Cross of Christ determines our potential in ways far greater and deeper than the things we usually rely on. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified in Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. What Paul is saying here is not merely the fact that the Cross enables us to be forgiven by God and adopted into His family (the past). It s important to recognize this because many believers tend to think of the Cross only in terms of a doorway into a relationship with God. The Cross is that doorway, but it is so much more. And yes, it is true that the Cross guarantees us an eternity free of sin and suffering with our Lord (the future).
But, what Paul wants us to see specifically in this verse is the new life we have in Christ through the gift of the Spirit (the present). He wants us to know that the Cross defines our identity and potential right here and now purely because we are alive in Christ. We have the very Spirit of Christ living in us. Romans 6:4; 8:9, 11 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life You are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit If 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. According to Paul, Christ indwells us through the person of the Holy Spirit. He gives us a new heart and a new power to live out of an entirely new potential. Let s consider 3 main elements of Paul s statement. A. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live. What Paul is saying here is: when Christ died for him, he died as well. Now, what does that mean? It means that when Jesus died physically, Paul (and all Christians) died spiritually. In this way, Paul sees himself united to the death of Christ (and thus, he no longer lives). From birth, each of us was under the control and dominion of sin (I think every parent can testify to this!). In His physical death, Christ broke the spiritual power and authority sin had over us. The verb tense of I have been crucified points to a definitive action in the past, with a continuing and permanent result. What Christ did then on the Cross permanently alters who you are now and who you will continue to be. Here s an illustration: Imagine you accrued a debt of an enormous sum that would put you and your entire family into financial and earthly ruin. This is our sin. Now, imagine someone selling half they had to pay off your debt. This would be complete forgiveness. But, you still have bad habits and nothing to start with. Then imagine that person to sell the other half of all that he had to bankroll you. Along with this, teaching you and inspiring you to use your gifts for the good of others. This would be like the new spiritual life you have in Christ. To be crucified in Christ and no longer live means that what Christ did for Paul has changed him so much to the point that the old self is gone. Yes, he is still Paul. But because his spiritual self has died with Christ, he is a Paul who is utterly different at his core. Similarly, all the Christians have been forever changed. You are not the same as you once were. You no longer live under the demands of perfection and guilt when you fail; or the enslaving power of sin. Christ s death not only frees you from the guilt of your sins, but from the power of it also. Though it is hard, you do not have to give in to sin. You can live in new ways amid the same old situations, because when Christ died physically, you died spiritually. This constitutional change is permanent.
B. Christ Lives in Me It is not enough for Paul to say that his old self of sin and guilt died when Christ died. But, the old self was replaced with Christ Himself! Paul s not saying that the new Paul is better at controlling the sin in his heart. He is saying that where sin once controlled, Christ now dwells. Our hearts, once under the dominion of sin are now the dwelling place of Christ the ultimate source of love, grace, wisdom, goodness and power. Here is the GOOD NEWS (GOSPEL) of our potential. When I placed my faith and trust in Christ for my sins, my old sinful self died. And Christ is now forever in my heart. My heart is new because Christ is now lives there. My heart is alive because Christ lives there to give me life. My heart can respond to life in new ways because my old sinful spirit has died and Christ s Spirit now lives in me. This is the GOOD NEWS (GOSPEL) for amazing change and growth in our hearts and lives. C. The life I live in the body, I live by the faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. To live out the two truths above takes faith. When we daily place our faith and trust in the fact that we no longer live with our old hearts for the things of this world (money, pleasure, control, pride), or by our own power to follow Christ, but by the love, death and power of Christ; by this faith, we start to tap into the power of the Cross accessing our true potential as children of God. What Paul lays out here is intensely practically. It has the potential to radically alter the way we live and respond every day. 4. 4 Practical Applications A. Remember Throughout Scripture, God calls us to remember His promises, His grace, His forgiveness, and His power. Without remembering, we are left to our own efforts. And to our own efforts, we will always be fluctuating from self- righteous judgment of other failures and despair when we fail (Heb 10:17; Luke 24:6; 2 Peter 3:2). Memorize Galatians 2:20. Remember the 3 truths above. Remember that Christ has died for your sins. Everyday, remember this. Remember that no one is righteous and all fall short of judgment; and only God is just and holy. Remember that through faith in Jesus, you are forgiven and the Holy Spirit enters into your heart on a daily basis to make that forgiveness a reality in your heart, and a changing grace in your life. God s grace and forgiveness for you are new, ripe, ready and waiting every morning. Remember. B. Repentance Dying to self, and living in Christ is objectively a powerful one- time thing in the cosmic spiritual realm. Yet, it is also subjectively a daily thing for Christians who are not automatically warped into heaven after conversion. Satan wants to continually enslave you though you have been freed. Thus, you must fight it off and kill it daily. You must continually seek to live a life of daily repentance. Meaning, never feel like you have arrived at a complacent faith. Do not look over little sins of lust, hypocrisy, anger, selfishness, greed and pride. Bring your sins daily to God for grace. In this way, you can receive a reminding and renewing forgiveness. Additionally, compelled by this amazing love, you are given power, joy and hope for a persevering victory.
C. Prayer Dying to the old self, and living in the new Christ takes a desperate, humble and prayerful attitude of dependence on the only one who can give you the truth, grace and power for an explosive love for Him. D. Meditating on God s Word There is no such things as the power of God s grace without His truth. Seeking the power of God s grace without His truth is like seeking a car engine without the driving manual. The Spirit and His Word are never pinned against each other. Rather, they are to be used in tandem to effectively produce faith. We love to memorize motivational and inspirational quotes. Where are you finding your ultimate motivation and inspiration? 5. 3 Practical Implications A. You live with conviction by the Word of God. You will be willing to examine yourself not by what people say about you, or how you compare to your spouse, but by examining yourself in the mirror of God s Word seeking practical and accurate self- knowledge. Where we once trimmed and twisted the truth to get what we wanted, we now lovingly speak the truth. Do you truly know yourself biblically? B. You will live in and with a committed body of Christ. You will embrace the fact that change is a community project. You will be honest with your struggles. You will live with a sense of need and thankfulness for your brothers and sisters in Christ living an open, humble and approachable life. Your faith in Christ will allow you to express godly emotions, including anguish, pain, fear, anxiety, jealous, anger, happiness, gratitude, and anticipation. Are there places where you are putting on a front, afraid to admit and appropriately express what you are feeling? Are there places where you are still hiding, closing and bypassing the spiritual two way street with the people of God? C. You will create a climate of grace in your relationships. Your responses will be more shaped by the Savior s will than by your own selfish desires, the expectations of others, or the pressures of the situation. By God s grace, we now want our lives to reflect what God is doing in us. We want our lives to be part of what God is doing in others, here and around the world. This results in surprising new Fruit in our actions, choices, and words. Where we once made war, we now make peace. You will forgive as you have been forgiven. You will show grace to others based on the grace you yourself have received from Christ (Mark 11:25). Are you carrying around the wrongs of another against you? You will be ready to ask for forgiveness, freed by Christ from defensiveness, rationalizing, blame- shifting and other types of self- justification. In pride, are you resisting admitting your sin against others? You will seek to give and serve in tangible ways (Romans 12:14-21). Where once we used our God- given gifts for our own benefit and glory, we now use them for God s glory and the benefit of others. Where, right now, is God inviting you to serve others? You will persevere even when you are tempted to quit. Endurance, forbearance, longsuffering, patience, and perseverance are on every biblical list of the character traits of a new heart. They all involve in persevering when the Heat remains. Are there any places in your life where you are tempted to give up, run away, or quit? 6. What If You Fail?
Never a day goes by when we do not fail to do what Christ has enabled us to do. Despite all of the gifts flowing from our union with Christ, sin still remains in us. This is why it is so important to differentiate between the power of sin and the presence of sin. We have been freed, changed and empowered, but we have not yet been perfected. What do you do when you sin and fail? Do you excuse and rationalize? Do you wallow in self- defeating guilt and regret? The Cross calls you away from both responses. It gives you the freedom to admit your sin and repent. It is impossible for your sin to shock the One who died for it. The Cross also gives you the hope to seek and receive forgiveness each time you fall. We do not have to carry around the guilt and regretful effects sin has on us because Christ took them on himself. When you fail, keep Jesus and his work in view. Run to your Lord, not away form him. Receive his forgiveness, get back up, and follow him once more, knowing that each time you fail, it is an opportunity to grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus amazing love for you powerfully again. Each failure reminds us of why he had to die because we need it everyday. Each confession reminds us of the hope for change that only the Cross could provide. This is your identity. And as you are reminded of who you are and how much God loves, you will be empowered by that love to love and live for him. Remember.