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A Study of Romans

Last Week How does faith grow?

Conclusions Faith is based on evidence & drawing conclusions. Faith grows through reflecting upon God’s truth and promises. Faith grows through acting on God’s truth and promises. Faith grows when the goodness of acting on God’s truth and promises is confirmed (internally & externally).

Our Need for a New Identity Today’s Theme Our Need for a New Identity

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How are identity’s formed? What do you see when you look in the mirror? “That’s me, the athlete.” “That’s me, the wife of _________.” “That’s me, (too much of me) the fat one.” “That’s me, the teacher/banker/entrepreneur.” “That’s me, the one with the toenail fungus.”

How are identity’s formed? What do you see when you look in the mirror? “That’s me, the athlete.” “That’s me, the wife of _________.” “That’s me, (too much of me) the fat one.” “That’s me, the teacher/banker/entrepreneur.” “That’s me, the one with the toenail fungus.” Why do we consider some things important, and allow them to define our identities, while we view other things as insignificant?

The Lonely Nightmare

The Lonely Nightmare Is this person tall? Thin? Smart? Fast? Beautiful? Kind? Generous?

The Lonely Nightmare Identity is fundamentally dependent upon definitions and values that originate outside ourselves.

Identity (limited comparison)

Identity (limited comparison) “I’m bigger than this person. I’m also smarter than this person. This person is faster than me and kinder than me though.”

Identity (limited comparison) “So am I smart? Am I big?”

Identity (limited comparison) “I need more information and people to compare myself to.”

Identity (limited comparison) All you really get with more people/data is percentages and more detailed rankings.

Identity (limited comparison) But, how do you know if any of the things you are measuring really matter?

Identity (limited comparison) But, how do you know if any of the things you are measuring really matter? Our sense of what is important is our value system.

Identity (limited comparison) But, how do you know if any of the things you are measuring really matter? Without an infinite or absolute reference point, our values and identities are totally arbitrary.

Identity (limited comparison) But, how do you know if any of the things you are measuring really matter? How does the world try to deal with this reality?

Identity (limited comparison) But, how do you know if any of the things you are measuring really matter? “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me!”

Identity (limited comparison) But, how do you know if any of the things you are measuring really matter? “You just need to spend time with people who affirm you and make you feel important.”

Identity (limited comparison) But, how do you know if any of the things you are measuring really matter? There is nothing reliable and unchanging lying behind the world’s value system.

Identity (limited comparison) But, how do you know if any of the things you are measuring really matter? Does the Bible have anything different to offer?

Identity (limited comparison) 2 Cor. 10:12 -- For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding.  But, how do you know if any of the things you are measuring really matter?

Identity (limited comparison) But, how do you know if any of the things you are measuring really matter? “I am who I am.” (Exodus 3:14)

Romans 5 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned.

Romans 5 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned. “Wait, what???”

Romans 5 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned. We didn’t commit the same sin that Adam and Eve did, but we have been deeply impacted by it.

Romans 5 13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a prototype of the Coming One.

Romans 5 17 Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man . . . 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners . . .

Romans 5 17 Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man . . . 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners . . . We not only do bad things, but at our very core we want to sin (deny God and live for self).

We were born into this reality. We are sinners by our very nature. Romans 5 17 Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man . . . 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners . . . We were born into this reality. We are sinners by our very nature.

Romans 5 17 Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man . . . 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners . . . Psalm 51:5 -- Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

Romans 5 Eph. 2:1-3 -- And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.  17 Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man . . . 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners . . .

All of this came from Adam, our “federal head.” Romans 5 Eph. 2:1-3 -- And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.  17 Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man . . . 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners . . . All of this came from Adam, our “federal head.”

Is this fair? We were not in the garden with Adam. We did not decide to eat the forbidden fruit. We did not sense Adam eating the fruit. We have no memory or experience of our relationship to Adam. We actually are impacted by things like this all the time (WWII; parents; point in history in which we are born). If we believe the Bible, we must accept that our identity comes from Adam.

Do we really have trouble living a consistently self-centered life? Is this fair? We were not in the garden with Adam. We did not decide to eat the forbidden fruit. We did not sense Adam eating the fruit. We have no memory or experience of our relationship to Adam. We actually are impacted by things like this all the time (WWII; parents; point in history in which we are born). If we believe the Bible, we must accept that our identity comes from Adam. Do we really have trouble living a consistently self-centered life?

Religion = treating the common cold Is this fair? We were not in the garden with Adam. We did not decide to eat the forbidden fruit. We did not sense Adam eating the fruit. We have no memory or experience of our relationship to Adam. We actually are impacted by things like this all the time (WWII; parents; point in history in which we are born). If we believe the Bible, we must accept that our identity comes from Adam. Religion = treating the common cold Do we really have trouble living a consistently self-centered life?

Do we really have trouble living a consistently self-centered life? Is this fair? We were not in the garden with Adam. We did not decide to eat the forbidden fruit. We did not sense Adam eating the fruit. We have no memory or experience of our relationship to Adam. We actually are impacted by things like this all the time (WWII; parents; point in history in which we are born). If we believe the Bible, we must accept that our identity comes from Adam. Matt. 23:25-26 -- 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so the outside of it may also become clean. Do we really have trouble living a consistently self-centered life?

Romans 5 17 Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man . . . 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners . . . To get our sin nature all we had to do was be born. To get rid of it, all we have to do is die!

Romans 5 He is a prototype of the Coming One. 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift overflowed to the many by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. 

Romans 5 17 Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone. 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Romans 5 17 Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone. 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Jesus Christ can become your new “federal head” (source of a new identity).

Romans 6 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.

Romans 6 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.

Romans 6 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.

Baptizo = “to put into” Romans 6 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. Baptizo = “to put into”

Romans 6 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.

Spiritual Baptism Romans 6 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. Spiritual Baptism

Romans 6 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.

Being “put into” Christ results in a new identity Romans 6 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life. Being “put into” Christ results in a new identity

Conclusions Our search for an identity is universal. Our natural identity only ends in death. Doing arises out of being. Trying to change ourselves by dealing with external “symptoms” is a dead end. Accepting Christ leads to a new identity. Our new identity brings real change now (from the inside out). Our new identity secures eternal life.

How to apply the new identity Next Week How to apply the new identity

Questions? Comments?

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