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Romans 8:1-8

Who am I?

Lately I’ve been thinking about who I am and how that affects me; my thinking, my behaviour and my mood. It’s not such a simple question to answer. I’m a husband, father, son, brother, pastor and friend. Sometimes I might say that I’m tired, upset, angry, happy, crazy, depressed, distant, excited, affectionate, caring.

Clash of the Toddlers

But with all my different roles and moods there is both good and bad. There is failure and victory, there is what is right and what makes me feel guilty. It is easy to allow how I feel define who I am and then dominate my outlook and my life. If I feel depressed then all that I see and do is depressing.

But who am I in Christ? I’m not a sinner, I’m not a failure. There is no condemnation over me. It is as though I’ve never yelled at my kids, nor have I been emotionally distant to my wife. Guilt, shame and fear need not be what dominates my thinking and my life because Christ has taken my guilt, shame, rejection and punishment upon himself when he died on the cross.

Though those closest to me may hurt me God never will leave me, or reject me. When I think about God’s love for me, in and through his Son, it changes the way I think about my wife, kids, ministry and life. I don’t have to protect myself; my reputation, my comfort, my career, my happiness. Whether I’m treated well or not doesn’t matter because my identity is not based on my circumstances nor how people treat me.

People can call me a loser, they can treat me like I’m a loser but I’m not a loser in Christ. Not now and not forever. This means I can love people who treat me as though I’m a loser because nothing they do or say defines who I am. What matters is my identity in Christ, what matters is who Jesus says I am.  the Rev

Romans 8:1-8 Live the Gospel = Walk in the Spirit

Bible Reading: Psalm 51 and Romans 8:1-8

Exercises

• Discuss the practical implications of v1-2.

• Why is v3 essential for us to understand and apply daily, be specific?

• Share in what way you have been carnally minded, including the consequences v5-7

• How can we help you become more spiritually minded, enjoying life and peace v5-7.

Prayer: Heavenly Father I praise you for freeing me from the law of sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ. I’m grateful that he fulfilled the requirement of the law for me and that now there is no condemnation for me because of my faith in Christ. Teach me to understand my new identity and relationship with you in Christ. May your grace be evidenced in the way I relate to my family, friends and community. Amen