1. Becoming in Christ: Living in Hope
Cathy Deddo

2. Introduction A. Review on Christian Identity:
Have our being and belonging in Christ
He gives us new identity that relativizes all other sources of identity
B. Focus on talk – we are who we are becoming in Christ. This is part of the re-heading up of all things in Christ.
We become truly human in our reconciliation and union with Christ

3. Already but Not Yet A. The Hiddenness of this New Identity
Jesus’ work is complete and real, but it is not yet fully manifest.
Col. 3:3
1 Corinthians 13:12
Hebrews 2:8
We are not yet ourselves.
B. Growing Up in Christ
God is more interested in what He is doing in us than through us.
Our maturity is always connected to our relationship with Jesus

4. Implications A. We live in Jesus who is our living hope
God is sanctifying us in Christ
Where we are going and who we are becoming is so much more than what we have now
Our hope in Christ is what we long for
B. We look at ourselves now, and all of our present lives, through the lens of this sure and certain future
Some of what this enables us to do:
-to grieve, but not as those who have no hope
-to come to love my own sanctification
-to remain agnostic about ourselves and others
-to deal with longsuffering
-to keep all of our relationships in His hands

5. Implications
C. We participate in God’s transforming work by looking at or attending to Jesus
Involves Repentance
Thanksgiving

6. Conclusion: Fighting the Fight of Faith