Our Identity in Christ: Growing in Christ-likeness - 5/5/21

Tonight we're going to be continuing our study on our identity in Christ. And we're going to really a natural progression from our study of a new nature is growing in Christ likeness. So for a few weeks we want to stop and consider what it means to be growing support of our identity. We have been seeing that there are many things that are common to us as human beings that we share together. There are different types of attributes. And there are different types of identity markers that we have in common that we are all created in God's image that we were created to know. And to enjoy him, we realize because he is our creator that we are accountable to him. But we also recognize that because of rebellion that we all stand, separated from him, that Humanity exists in a fallen state in need of redemption. Until we begin to look at our identity in Christ, we're looking at the identity, which Now, March the life of those who have a place their faith in Christ and have been raised to walk in the newness in his life. In fact, we've seen that image play out throughout several books of the New Testament and it's especially prevalent in the Apostle. Paul's writings, how we are to consider our self dead to our former life dead to trespasses and sins. And we are considered it also to consider myself alive in Christ. And so we mean by that, when we are dead to send that, send no longer has dominating authority over our likes. It doesn't mean that we're free necessarily from its presence in from its pool, but it no longer has authority over our life. We are not enslaved to it. Instead, we find that we are at we are under the authority of Christ. We live in the fullness of his life and really it's that that sums up. The Christian Life. In fact the Apostle Paul said it's so beautifully and when facing his own uncertain circumstances whether he was going to get out of prison or whether he was going to cost him his life in his first imprisonment, he pinned to the people of Philip II for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. So regardless of what happened in his life Christ was going to be magnified. If it got wet on living, he would live glorifying Christ Point. Another stick him walking in Walking in the fullness of his glory. If he died, he would be in the presence of Christ. So whether he lived or died at Christ was going to be glorified and magnified. And so we see that for the believer, our identity is rooted firmly in cry so much so that we are no longer who we once were but we really, really started realizing last week that This is an ongoing process that there is a struggle that is associated with it. That is not an easy process that we're going to have to battle. And that we're going to have to fight against the former desires, and we're going to have to live in the fullness of the grace that has been given to us in Christ Jesus. Our lord will examine this little bit more and look at this growth in Grace growing in Grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ as 2nd, Peter, 3:18 says, now as we previously stated in Christ, we have a new nature created in the likeness of God and true righteousness and Holiness. So we have a new life, a new heart, a new affection until we see that it is life in New Life. We've been born again a new heart we're under a new Authority and then new affections we have new desires that have been given to us in Christ. We no longer simply desire. The More things but our heart longs to walk and fellowship with God. And to know the fullness of relationship with him, it's a better part of the blessings of the new life and show in life are inward character and our outward actions help distinguish us from everyone else knows or what we might say. Our identity marker character an outward actions help distinguish us from everyone else, we who we are inwardly, then is meant to be consistently Express and what we do outwardly. And so we all know what it is to use the term hypocrisy or to think of a hypocrite one who is outwardly different than who they are inwardly or one, who puts on a mask and plays at something in there, much different than what they truly are. As Believers in Christ, we realize that as we are inwardly in Christ that this is meant to be consistently Express. In what we do outwardly and so what he has done on the inside is meant to be expressed more and more in an outward fashion. Now, Grant Osborne puts this wonderful. He says, we have been made completely new person but it takes the rest of our lives to reorient ourselves to the Christ word path. Spiritual growth is a lifelong process in, so there's no easy answers to growing in the Lord. There's no quick path. There is no cheating along the process. We realize that it is going to be a slow and ongoing process within our life. In fact, it will take the rest of our life as we are being rewarded for the glory which shall be revealed here after all along that path are many of life's circumstances that we are learning to navigate, we're learning to navigate the troubles that we Face. The help crisis has trusting God, with the unknown. And so life is full of different circumstances that are that are we learn. And we grow through and God uses within our life to conform us to the image of Christ. We know that from Romans 8, 28, and 29, that God is working all things or in all things for good or to conform us to the image of Christ. Until we we we realize that more and more. It's going to be a lifelong process and so scientific. Patient has been is what we were talking about when we're talkin about growing in Christ is the word sanctification. It is an ongoing working of God's grace, in our life that is enabling us to reflect the character of Christ, both in our inward dispositions, in our outward actions show who we are is who were slowly becoming. So when we stopped and we think about this, we are who we are in Christ, we are slowly becoming each and every day with in the circumstances that we face. So by God's grace, we are positionally is who we are growing to become practically until the day, when we shall stand in his presence and we shall see him as he is now, with that in mind, we want to take for just a moment. And begin to look at 2nd Corinthians chapter number three in verse number 12, through first number 18, where the Apostle Paul. Speaking in a Ministry context, especially of his men Free of the Gospel, uses some beautiful, some beautiful Illusions and refers back to some passages in the older Testament to realize that what what exactly the Lord has done for us and why he continues to share the gospel, even though there's going to be some that don't believe there's going to be some that don't reject it. Even if his own Kindred in Brotherhood who failed to see their need for Christ until inverse number 12, he says seen them that we have such hope we use Great Plain, this a speech we speak clearly plainly and not as Moses which put a veil over his face. That the children of Israel could not steadfastly. Look to the end of that which is abolish but their minds were blinded front of this day. Remains the Same Bell on taken away in the reading of the Old Testament which whale is done away in Christ, but even unto this day, When Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Never the last, when one shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now, the Lord is that spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty, but we all with open face beholding as in a glass, the glory of the Lord are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord, is it when we stopped. And we think about the beauty of these verses specifically inverse number 18, the Apostle Paul shares with us. These wonderful truth concerning the beauty of the Gospel message that, not everyone. Not even his own Kindred in Brotherhood. See Clearly Bet the Old Testament pointing to the hope that we have in Christ alone. Paul said, in in, in sharing these verses with the people of Coruscant, the Apostle Paul is relating it to Moses who was covered with a veil so much so that the Israelites could not stand to look upon his face and hear you being a minister of the old Covenant, which was to pass away in 2.2 something all the more glorious at the beginning of chapter. Number 3, we find that in the fullness of this understanding, the veil that is taken away in Christ. So that we might be. Holed the foot, not the fullness of his glory, but the beauty, the reflection of his glory. And as we Behold, The Glory of Christ, the more we Wolf come to reflect his glory. So, let's go back and look at those verses again and verse number 18, But we all with open face beholding as in a glass, the glory of the Lord are being changed into the same image from glory to glory. Even as by the spirit of the answer, we see that there are two keys within this verse. There is beholding and there is becoming, and we see the word beholding mentioned explicitly, but we all with a open face or a where it is, there's no Veil covering. There is nothing to hinder us from seeing his glory. Now we don't see the fullness of his glory, and we will not do. So until the moment that we see him face-to-face, but in the message of the Gospel, we see the glory of God revealed. We see the person in the work of Christ, and his Redemptive, and is Redemptive and saving actions. Displaying the love in the goodness of God. So in an indirect way we're not just simply we're not just seeing ourselves, we're seeing the glory of the Lord. So we're seeing a full what, we're seeing that beautiful image of his glory, but as we behold it, notice that we are being changed into the same image that we're beholding. Until we find the word beholding and then the word being changed is becoming. So as we behold the glory of the Lord, we are becoming or being changed into the same image and this is a beautiful. I love this phrase from glory to glory or from one degree of Glory to another enjoy. As we behold his glory, we are being transformed from one degree of Glory to another even as by the spirit of the Lord is in this, we should beautiful work of progressive. Sanctification. That as we behold, the glory of the Lord, we are slowly being transformed to bear or to reflect his glory more and more each and each and every one of our lives. So as we are beholding, we are becoming now we that leads us to These beautiful truth that in Christ, we find the fullness of God and we are complete in him. And so Christ in the New Testament, shown to be sufficient, not just for our salvation but also for our sanctification and ultimately our glorification. So the work that Christ did on the cross is enough to deliver us all the way to the fullness and the completeness of God's promise of redemption. In fact, there's no secret knowledge There's no secret path. You must walk. In fact, really, there is no secret to the Christian Life. It is beholding Christ and be holding him more and more. When we see that in Christ, we are being transformed from one degree of Glory to another. We see that in his sufficiency, he is opening our eyes that we made. Clearly see that in Christ. As you look back on the verses that we read tonight in Christ, The Veil is taken away. Then it's a picture of Salvation that the that our eyes are better that we are able to see that that, which was hindered or kept us from seeing has been removed so that we may clearly see in Christ. Our Eyes Are Open so that we may clearly see. But we also see that Christ, liberates us, so that we may truly live. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty and when the Bible speaks of Liberty is not just autonomy of self or deciding for myself, how I should look live. Because often we can faint weak, inflate, American liberties. No one can tell me what to do. I have the right to do what I want and we think about our rights. It's not the same as spiritual Liberty, spiritual Liberty is the greatest of all Liberty is not just the freedom to live as I want. It is the liberty and it is the strengthen the power to live as I ought, or as I should do it liberates us so that we may live truly, or truely live and thirdly and empowers us to Bear the likeness of his glory showing Christ. We find our eyes are open for the first time so that we may see her need and that we can trust in him and ultimately finding him. The hope of our Redemption and the Forgiveness of our sins. The righteousness of Christ is given to us in him. That we are liberated so that we may truly live and not only were liberated or empowered so that we might bear or reflect his glory more and more it. So, when you think about it is you have been saved by God's grace, it's not of works. You did not earn it, you did not deserve it. Got in essence, open your eyes so that you may see your need in Christ and ultimately be forgiven and set free from sin and doing. So he is liberated you to walk in the newness of life that which is dominated our study. As of life is liberated us, we are no longer under the authority of since, but he also has empowered us By his strength by his grace. To live for his glory and to reflect it more and more know that comes with some beautiful troops. In fact, the Apostle Paul a lose back into a time when the children of Israel under the old Covenant, after they had received the test after they had entered into a covenant with God, and then received the as Moses was receiving, the two tablets of the law, they had violated the very come that they had entered into with God, and they had made an idol to Divine the way or just speak on the behalf of God, because Moses have been on the mount for 40 days. Moses coming down here in the noise, throws the tablets now and is it rain at the actions that he sees the following these moments, we see that he returns back unto God and he pleads with God, to continue with them for God. Angry at his people who had violated the Covenant. Now in this Moses becomes an interceder or he begins to, if he begins to seek the Lord that he might that he might, his presence might continue with him and that he might know him more and more. Now than Exodus 33, we find this going through chapter number 34 and so on and so forth. But here in verse number 12 into reverse number 14, Moses said unto the Lord. See you said unto me, bring up this people and you have to let me you has not. Let me know whom we will spend with me. Get you a sad. I know you by name and you passed also found Grace in my sight. Now therefore I pray, if I have found Grace in your sight, show me your way that I might know you that I might find Grace in your sight. And consider that this nation is your people. And the Lord said to him, my presence shall go with you and I will give you rest. So we begin to think at the imagery that surrounds this passage of scripture, it is a time when Moses is pleading with the Lord, to show. In fact, in the previous versus he wants to know the Lord. So completely, and he does. So by knowing his ways. In fact, he asked that the request that he makes of the Lord, I want to know you, I want to know your ways. So that I might know you more and more and the Lord even goes on in the next versus to ask of the Lord Show Me Your Glory in the Lord, declares into him, his name, who he is, friend is named. You find his ways but he says upon my glory, you cannot bear to see the full side of it. So we hide them in the cleft of The Rock and he's Glory passes by and he sees the hunger parts of God's glory. But you should go on into chapter number 34, as Moses comes back down from the mountain, having been in the presence of God and having been, where his glory was Moses face shine, door, reflected, his glory, so much. So in Exodus chapter number 34 that the children of Israel, couldn't hardly bear to look at it. And so they cover his face with a veil. The Apostle Paul says that Veil is still there in some degree for when the Old Testament red, they don't see that it's pointing to the glory of God, that is revealed in Christ Jesus, but the attitude of Moses is what is to dominate the hearts and life of every believer to know the Lord. And to know his ways to behold his glory. And then to walk in his paths. In fact, every one of us should desire the same desires, Moses unless you go with me. I dare not even go board. I long to know you. And I long to know your ways. I long for you to go with me and I long to see your glory Into reflected in this world as I go and you see Moses as he beheld, the glory of God transformed his countenance. It was reflected in fact when he came down from the mountains and they place the veil upon his face that because his face Shone so brightly. They knew that he had been with God. It said that imagery is underlying this passage of scripture that in Christ. We see the glory of God revealed Now, it's not the fullness of it as of yet. One day we shall see him face-to-face and we shall be known even as we are known. But until that moment, we are meant to live. Our lives be holding the glory of God, that is found in the gospel and what is found in the gospel, Jesus saving work, his his transforming power, his liberating presence in his empowering Glory that is enabling us to live in to walk. Each moment in this life, Sandstorm said it beautifully. When he said, God began a work of Grace in us at regeneration or the New Birth that consisted of the experience of his glory. That is building momentum and progressively moving toward the final experience of the fullness of that Glory at the return of Jesus Christ. So the moment that we were born again, the moment that we were quickened or Made Alive regenerated that God did a work of glory and caused us to experience his glory. And each and every day, there is a building that momentum now is it as quick as we like it to know. In fact, often it is discouraging Because we think that we should be further along than what we are, and honestly we probably should be. But regardless of how little it may seem the promise of scripture, hold true that what God has started in us. He is continuing to accomplish in us until the moment that we experience the fullness of it that promises that sustain us. So what does that mean? How then are we to grow in Grace and knowledge of Our Lord in Jesus at board and Savior Jesus Christ. Why is our verses that we've looked at this evening? Our lives are meant to be spent beholding. His glory to keep looking to Jesus, to continue Plumbing, the depths of his word that we don't move beyond the beauty of the Gospel. Instead we go deeper and deeper and further and further in To its depth and more and more. We begin to wrap our minds around and we begin to appreciate the fullness of what God has done and it begins to it. Begins to transform every fiber of our being. We begin to, we begin to understand it more and more. And we begin to live in light of who we now our instead of who we once were Until the very moment, we draw that last breath. We stand in the presence of our Lord and in that moment, we will have been fitted. For the ultimate Laurie. It's a what this life is. Is a life of being feted. For the presence of God, it is growing in Grace or it. Is, it is reflecting. His will be holding his glory, and being transformed, more and more to bear his glory until the moment, we stand in the fullness of his glory. So that encourages us to do with several things this evening. And this is the challenge of the Christian Life. This is not a list of things that are eat that are easy to do. If you do these things, you'll you'll be sanctified These are this is not a, a check off list something that you do. When you move Beyond, in fact, this becomes the entirety of our life until the moment that we stand in his presence, we keep the holding the glory of Jesus, we keep trusting in his transforming power. And we keep resting in his unfailing promises. If you will, that is a summary of what the Christian Life is and this is why it's so hard because we won't often to look at lesser glories. We tried to replace Jesus with other things and sometimes other good things.

But we were instructed for challenge were encouraged to remember that. We are to keep me holding the glory of Jesus.

And doing so we are meant to do so with faith and trust and confidence. In his transforming power that the work he started. He's going to continue and he is going to complete. That means ultimately that our life is live by faith and that each moment of our life, we rest in the unfailing promises of the scriptures that's why sometimes we struggle with what it means to live out the Christian life because we wanted easier thing to do. We want that check list. If I do the same things, I'm on the right path but the challenge in the fight of everyday life is to keep looking to Christ, keep trusting in Christ and keep resting in his promises until we're going to have to battle every single day because we live in a society and culture that says you can find shortcuts and it offers differing things and it offers pale companions to the reality that exists in the promises of God. To my friends, I would encourage you to be closed tonight to ask the Lord to help you in these areas.

To help you keep the holding the glory of G.