Identity is defined as: “the characteristics that determine who a person is”. Paul has already described a non-believers identity in [v.17-19] in very broad terms. Now in [v.25-32] Paul fleshes out what a life with and without Christ looks like in the ebb and flow everyday life. He is explaining to Christians how to live out their new identity.

The Christian life is a life of consistent willful submission.

 It’s consistent because being lax in this will cause us to move away from God.

 It’s willful because it takes a conscience act of our will to do this.

 It’s submissive because we live for the Lord and not ourselves.

Our practice and our theology are tied together. Christians should not only live differently from unbelievers,

but they also should live differently for different reasons.

- God wants His people to replace lying with truth-telling. [Proverbs 6:16 & 19]

- God wants His people to replace selfish anger with godly anger. [Psalm 4:4-5]

These things are the practical application of how Christians should live out their faith day by day. Because of who we are in Christ, we must now live differently.

Think back through biblical history. We see Israel’s enemies attack constantly, we see Israel’s constant idolatry, unholy sacrifices, rampant disobedience, and often times just general chaos. But God, despite Satan’s constant attacks, did not leave His people to fend for themselves. And though it seemed He had fallen silent, things were happening behind the scenes that no human eye could see or mind comprehend, and God’s eternally wise plan was about to be kicked into the next gear.

Jesus’ birth was the demonstration of God launching an all-out war on the Devil and on sin itself. If we see Christmas as a war, then we should look into the manger and see a Warrior.

Two historical events where this war has been plainly seen: Genesis 3:1-7 & Matthew 4:1-11.

The result of Adam and Eve’s actions in the garden set in motion a series of events – planned by the all-knowing Father – that would include a similar stand-off with the Devil. Jesus came as the warrior King to do battle with the enemy and win a victory that we could never win on our own. The first man battled with Satan and lost, so God sent Jesus to battle with Satan and win.

Jesus came to earth to do all of this for us so that when we battle with Satan, we can win too. His victory is our hope in this life and in the one to come. The Gospel message tells us that we are not capable of living the perfect life necessary to be right before God on our own. So we must surrender our own will and our own way for the ways and will of God. So whenever you celebrate, remember that the Christmas story is really a war story, one that was “fought on our turf and for our sake by the hero of the story, the God-man, Jesus" (Paul Tripp)

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing”:

Come, Desire of nations, come - Fix in us Thy humble throne

Rise, the woman’s conquering Seed, bruise in us the serpent’s head

Adam’s likeness now erase, stamp Thine image in its place

Second Adam from above, reinstate us in Thy love

Hark! the herald angels sing "Glory to the new born King"

Think back through biblical history. We see Israel’s enemies attack constantly, we see Israel’s constant idolatry, unholy sacrifices, rampant disobedience, and often times just general chaos. But God, despite Satan’s constant attacks, did not leave His people to fend for themselves. And though it seemed He had fallen silent, things were happening behind the scenes that no human eye could see or mind comprehend, and God’s eternally wise plan was about to be kicked into the next gear.

Jesus’ birth was the demonstration of God launching an all-out war on the Devil and on sin itself. If we see Christmas as a war, then we should look into the manger and see a Warrior.

Two historical events where this war has been plainly seen: Genesis 3:1-7 & Matthew 4:1-11.

The result of Adam and Eve’s actions in the garden set in motion a series of events – planned by the all-knowing Father – that would include a similar stand-off with the Devil. Jesus came as the warrior King to do battle with the enemy and win a victory that we could never win on our own. The first man battled with Satan and lost, so God sent Jesus to battle with Satan and win.

Jesus came to earth to do all of this for us so that when we battle with Satan, we can win too. His victory is our hope in this life and in the one to come. The Gospel message tells us that we are not capable of living the perfect life necessary to be right before God on our own. So we must surrender our own will and our own way for the ways and will of God. So whenever you celebrate, remember that the Christmas story is really a war story, one that was “fought on our turf and for our sake by the hero of the story, the God-man, Jesus" (Paul Tripp)

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing”:

Come, Desire of nations, come - Fix in us Thy humble throne

Rise, the woman’s conquering Seed, bruise in us the serpent’s head

Adam’s likeness now erase, stamp Thine image in its place

Second Adam from above, reinstate us in Thy love

Hark! the herald angels sing "Glory to the new born King"

Think back through biblical history. We see Israel’s enemies attack constantly, we see Israel’s constant idolatry, unholy sacrifices, rampant disobedience, and often times just general chaos. But God, despite Satan’s constant attacks, did not leave His people to fend for themselves. And though it seemed He had fallen silent, things were happening behind the scenes that no human eye could see or mind comprehend, and God’s eternally wise plan was about to be kicked into the next gear.

Jesus’ birth was the demonstration of God launching an all-out war on the Devil and on sin itself. If we see Christmas as a war, then we should look into the manger and see a Warrior.

Two historical events where this war has been plainly seen: Genesis 3:1-7 & Matthew 4:1-11.

The result of Adam and Eve’s actions in the garden set in motion a series of events – planned by the all-knowing Father – that would include a similar stand-off with the Devil. Jesus came as the warrior King to do battle with the enemy and win a victory that we could never win on our own. The first man battled with Satan and lost, so God sent Jesus to battle with Satan and win.

Jesus came to earth to do all of this for us so that when we battle with Satan, we can win too. His victory is our hope in this life and in the one to come. The Gospel message tells us that we are not capable of living the perfect life necessary to be right before God on our own. So we must surrender our own will and our own way for the ways and will of God. So whenever you celebrate, remember that the Christmas story is really a war story, one that was “fought on our turf and for our sake by the hero of the story, the God-man, Jesus" (Paul Tripp)

“Hark the Herald Angels Sing”:

Come, Desire of nations, come - Fix in us Thy humble throne

Rise, the woman’s conquering Seed, bruise in us the serpent’s head

Adam’s likeness now erase, stamp Thine image in its place

Second Adam from above, reinstate us in Thy love

Hark! the herald angels sing "Glory to the new born King"

Be sure of this - the Gospel doesn’t just promote change in a sinner, by its very nature the Gospel will change a sinner. A changeless gospel that leaves you living for yourself and not for the glory and honor of God, isn’t the Gospel. Something has change. A saved person thirsts for the exaltation of cross.

A calloused or hardened life is proven in the giving over to sensual (lustful desires, not limited to sexual desires) and greed - an “I want” and an “I must” lifestyle. Sadly, this kind of lifestyle can be maintained if what we believe is a false gospel. A false gospel wants to leave you just like you are.

Christianity entails following Christ. Followers or disciples are people who adhere to the teaching and lifestyle of the teacher. Our teacher is unique because we have His Spirit. This means that He, the risen Christ, dwells in us. In other words His life will be lived out through His followers. Paul has pleaded with us and is now commanding us to follow by putting off and putting on.

Be sure of this - the Gospel doesn’t just promote change in a sinner, by its very nature the Gospel will change a sinner. A changeless gospel that leaves you living for yourself and not for the glory and honor of God, isn’t the Gospel. Something has change. A saved person thirsts for the exaltation of cross.

A calloused or hardened life is proven in the giving over to sensual (lustful desires, not limited to sexual desires) and greed - an “I want” and an “I must” lifestyle. Sadly, this kind of lifestyle can be maintained if what we believe is a false gospel. A false gospel wants to leave you just like you are.

Christianity entails following Christ. Followers or disciples are people who adhere to the teaching and lifestyle of the teacher. Our teacher is unique because we have His Spirit. This means that He, the risen Christ, dwells in us. In other words His life will be lived out through His followers. Paul has pleaded with us and is now commanding us to follow by putting off and putting on.

Be sure of this - the Gospel doesn’t just promote change in a sinner, by its very nature the Gospel will change a sinner. A changeless gospel that leaves you living for yourself and not for the glory and honor of God, isn’t the Gospel. Something has change. A saved person thirsts for the exaltation of cross.

A calloused or hardened life is proven in the giving over to sensual (lustful desires, not limited to sexual desires) and greed - an “I want” and an “I must” lifestyle. Sadly, this kind of lifestyle can be maintained if what we believe is a false gospel. A false gospel wants to leave you just like you are.

Christianity entails following Christ. Followers or disciples are people who adhere to the teaching and lifestyle of the teacher. Our teacher is unique because we have His Spirit. This means that He, the risen Christ, dwells in us. In other words His life will be lived out through His followers. Paul has pleaded with us and is now commanding us to follow by putting off and putting on.

In v.7 we see that every believer is gifted by Christ with varied grace, and in v.11 we see that the church is gifted by Christ with people in varied offices. God has given gifted leaders to the church to equip the saints for the work of ministry, not to do it all themselves. This is an “every-member ministry” mindset that we - the church - need to keep in front of ourselves.

The result of this kind of mindset is unity and maturity [v.13]. Every believer enters the Christian life as a little child, but no believer should be content to remain that way. Believers should be pursuing maturity, standing firm on believing the Bible, and eagerly speaking truth in a way that shows love and care.

Christian maturity involves loving the truth, speaking the truth, and living the truth. The church is able to grow as we should because Jesus took on human flesh, lived a perfect life, died in our place, rose victorious over the grave, and is now exalted at God’s right hand forevermore!

* Do you care about being mature in Christ?

-Or are you content to stay in spiritual diapers, only eating what other people feed you?

* Are you working for unity in the body?

-Or do you spend your time thinking of ways to exalt yourself or tear someone else down?

* Are you passionate about using your God-given gifts to serve & build up the church?

-Or would you rather just watch other people do the work of ministry?

As we grow into Christ and as we use our gifts in love, our body becomes healthier. The King has come back in victory, and He gives gifts to His people for their benefit & for His glory.

In v.7 we see that every believer is gifted by Christ with varied grace, and in v.11 we see that the church is gifted by Christ with people in varied offices. God has given gifted leaders to the church to equip the saints for the work of ministry, not to do it all themselves. This is an “every-member ministry” mindset that we - the church - need to keep in front of ourselves.

The result of this kind of mindset is unity and maturity [v.13]. Every believer enters the Christian life as a little child, but no believer should be content to remain that way. Believers should be pursuing maturity, standing firm on believing the Bible, and eagerly speaking truth in a way that shows love and care.

Christian maturity involves loving the truth, speaking the truth, and living the truth. The church is able to grow as we should because Jesus took on human flesh, lived a perfect life, died in our place, rose victorious over the grave, and is now exalted at God’s right hand forevermore!

* Do you care about being mature in Christ?

-Or are you content to stay in spiritual diapers, only eating what other people feed you?

* Are you working for unity in the body?

-Or do you spend your time thinking of ways to exalt yourself or tear someone else down?

* Are you passionate about using your God-given gifts to serve & build up the church?

-Or would you rather just watch other people do the work of ministry?

As we grow into Christ and as we use our gifts in love, our body becomes healthier. The King has come back in victory, and He gives gifts to His people for their benefit & for His glory.

In v.7 we see that every believer is gifted by Christ with varied grace, and in v.11 we see that the church is gifted by Christ with people in varied offices. God has given gifted leaders to the church to equip the saints for the work of ministry, not to do it all themselves. This is an “every-member ministry” mindset that we - the church - need to keep in front of ourselves.

The result of this kind of mindset is unity and maturity [v.13]. Every believer enters the Christian life as a little child, but no believer should be content to remain that way. Believers should be pursuing maturity, standing firm on believing the Bible, and eagerly speaking truth in a way that shows love and care.

Christian maturity involves loving the truth, speaking the truth, and living the truth. The church is able to grow as we should because Jesus took on human flesh, lived a perfect life, died in our place, rose victorious over the grave, and is now exalted at God’s right hand forevermore!

* Do you care about being mature in Christ?

-Or are you content to stay in spiritual diapers, only eating what other people feed you?

* Are you working for unity in the body?

-Or do you spend your time thinking of ways to exalt yourself or tear someone else down?

* Are you passionate about using your God-given gifts to serve & build up the church?

-Or would you rather just watch other people do the work of ministry?

As we grow into Christ and as we use our gifts in love, our body becomes healthier. The King has come back in victory, and He gives gifts to His people for their benefit & for His glory.