Face to Face, Pt. 7: Maturity in Christ
Victory Life Durant, Midweek — Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Colossians 3:1-11 (ESV)
Keeping the Frame
Humans as God’s Image: Representation and Rule in partnership (with God and each other)
Humans turn away from God — sin, transgression, & iniquity — broken relationship, partnership
The whole biblical story is about God’s desire to take crooked people and the twisted world that we’ve created and to make everything right. Through Jesus, God invites us to become whole, new humans (2 Corinthians 5:16-17).
Our “in Christ” identity is the truth of who we are. Living in a “face to face” relationship with God means seeing ourselves as God sees us: loved equally as the Son is loved by the Father.
John 17:22-23 (ESV) “…so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”
What’s true of Jesus becomes true of us.
New Life In Christ
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (ESV) From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Colossians 3:1–3 (ESV) 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Galatians 2:20 (ESV) I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20 (TPT) My old identity has been co-crucified with Messiah and no longer lives; for the nails of his cross crucified me with him. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me— we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, and dispenses his life into mine!
In Christ vs In Adam (Identity) —— In the Spirit vs In the Flesh (How we Live)
Identity and Maturity — transformation of the Character.
Maturity In Christ
Colossians 3:9b-10 (ESV) … 9 …seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Our (day-to-day) Life (in the flesh) comes from our character (made up of our lifetime of habits), which come from our repeated actions (words, choices), which come from our feelings (emotions, senses), which come from our thoughts (imaginations, desires // conscious & sub-conscious) which are shaped by our loves (and in many cases, our fears // conscious & sub-conscious).
James 1:14–15 (NLT) 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
Mark 8:34b–35 (ESV) 34 …“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
“Our brains draw life from our strongest relational attachments to grow our character and develop our identity. Who we love shapes who we are.” ~ Michel Hendricks
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV) And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Beholding his glory (loving Jesus) is how we are transformed in our character into his image.
“Who we love has far more impact on character than what we believe.” Jim Wilder