STUDY 3: YOUR NEW IDENTITY IN CHRIST (Part A)

AIM: To highlight the blessings and benefits that accompany our new life in Christ.

MEMORY VERSE 5: “But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God,” (Jn. 1:12)

How the Bible Explains How You Changed When You Surrendered to Christ:

1. YOU WERE LOST AND WITHOUT HOPE: 1 You were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind … 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Eph.2:1-3, 12-13).

   QUESTION:
   What changes has God brought about through Christ’s death on the cross?

    

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2. YOU ARE GOD’S AMAZING CREATION: 13 For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your Book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (Ps.139:13-17).

   QUESTION:
   Who plans the length of your days? How does this keep believers safe in a hostile world?

    

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3. WHAT JESUS TOLD NICODEMUS ABOUT THE NEW BIRTH: 3 … “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” … 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (Jn.3:3-8, 16)

   QUESTION:

   What did Jesus mean by the new birth? Why is it crucial to be born again?

    

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4. YOU ARE A FRIEND OF JESUS: 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you (Jn.15:13-15).

   QUESTION:

   What makes a person a friend of Jesus? How did Jesus prove He is your friend?

    

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5. YOU ARE AN ADOPTED CHILD OF ALMIGHTY GOD: 11 Jesus came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. 12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God (Jn.1:11-13).

   QUESTION:

   What two responses must you make to become part of the family of God?

    

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6. YOU ARE ACCEPTED AS AN ADOPTED SON OF THE LIVING GOD: 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God (Gal.4:4-7).

   QUESTION:

   How do you know that your adoption as God’s child was no after-thought?

    

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7. AS AN ADOPTED CHILD OF GOD YOU HAVE AN INHERITANCE: 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For 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!” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and 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 (Rom.8:14-17).

   QUESTION:

   How do you know you are a child of God? As an heir, what is your inheritance?

    

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8. YOUR IDENTITY IS IN CHRIST: 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise (Gal.3:26-29).

   QUESTION:

   Does Jesus change your gender or race at conversion? In what way then are we all equal?

    

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   So, who are you? Where is your identity?

    

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9. YOU ARE PART OF HIS BODY THE CHURCH: 24 Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Heb.10:24-25).

   “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s generous and diverse grace: (1 Pet.4:10).

   QUESTION:

   Where should you go for encouragement? How can you be an encouragement to others?

    

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MORE:

Why should we put Jesus first in all things? – Mt.6:33 …

What provision has God made for your growth? – Eph.4:11-16 …

You Belong (Pastor Jeremy Wright)

Imagine being adopted.

It must be so awkward for a kid to become part of a whole new family. You’ve got to get used to a new family style. You’re not sure where you fit in. You’re not sure how you should relate to your new parents. You’re not sure what belongs to you. You’re not sure of the house rules. You’d be second-guessing a lot, I think.

When you put your trust in Jesus, God adopts you into His family. And He doesn’t want it to be awkward! In fact, He has spelled out the benefits for you so that you don’t have to second guess things.

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba¹, Father.” For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering. (Rom.8:14-17)

¹ Abba was the Aramaic word for “father”. Aramaic was the language Jesus spoke.

God has made you His own child!  When you are adopted by God:

1. You get a huge inheritance!
2. You get really close to God!
3. You start to look like family.

1. You get a huge inheritance: It says there that we are “heirs with Christ of God’s glory”. That means that we get to share in God’s glory. That might not mean much or make a lot of sense now. But imagine finally seeing Jesus face-to-face when He comes again. And everything good about that we get to share in! This is way more than any inheritance we could get from our human families! It’s way bigger and lasts forever.
2. You get really close to God: God loves us. Jesus died for us to make us safe. The Holy Spirit lives in us. He’s really close to us. But He also wants us to feel close to Him. So He says, “Call Me Father.” He’s the most loving and caring father imaginable (well beyond what our own dads could be). And He wants you to enjoy being close to Him.
3. You start to look like a family: This is a big one! God the Father hasn’t just adopted you into a little family with Him as Dad and Jesus as your brother. It’s a massive family! Every other person who trusts in Jesus is part of it. Get to know His family. He hasn’t saved you to be a lonely Christian. He’s saved you to be part of something way bigger and better than that! Because you need it…

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” (Heb.10:24-25)

Christians do this by meeting together in church – or in youth groups – or in school Bible groups. God has made us to help each other. And He wants us to motivate each other and learn from each other and grow the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace etc) together. Together we become more like Jesus. We look more like a family.

Which one of those benefits of adoption excites you most? (huge inheritance, close to God, family) Why?

How are you going to meet regularly with God’s family?