Grace Walk 3

We Must Know Who We Are To Change What We Do

Brokenness - A condition that exists when a person gives up all confidence in their own ability to manage life.

2 Corinthians 5:17a

This week’s truth forces us away from the legalistic self-improvement route, where we focus on ourselves, and directs our attention to Christ

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Spirit, Soul (personality *life*), Body

The word is used of life itself, as the seat of internal thoughts, desires, and emotions, or of that aspect of life that survives physical death.

“Spirit” (pneuma) refers to the “breath” characteristic of life and thus also to the immaterial aspect of life. It is roughly synonymous with “soul,” and like soul it sometimes is paired with “flesh” or “body” to sum up the entirety of a living being.

In one Pauline context, however, adjectives related to the nouns “spirit” and “soul” do seem to draw a distinction between the two concepts (1 Cor 2:14–15). The “spiritual” (pneumatikos) person is one enabled to commune with the divine. The “natural” (psuchikos) person lives apart from the knowledge and power of God (cf. 1 Cor 15:42–46).

The key distinction here is relational, not ontological. Paul was not describing the human person as a three-part conglomerate but as a being with material and nonmaterial existence who may or may not be spiritually enlivened in relation to God.

The three terms used in v. 23, “spirit, soul and body,” occur in a context stressing wholeness. Paul was not emphasizing the threefold nature of humanity but the deliverance of the “whole” (holoklēron) person. The adjective “whole” is first in the clause. The term is qualitative, indicating something that has integrity, is intact, complete, and undamaged.

Identity apart from Christ: Sinners

Sinners build their identity through what they do.

What accomplishments do you depend on to give you a sense of identity?

Sinners build their identity through their relationships apart from God

You are who God says you are:

As believers, we are saints.

The word “saint” comes from the Greek word hagios, which means “consecrated to God, holy, sacred, pious."

There are three references referring to godly character of saints:

"that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints …" (Romans 16:2).

"For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12).

"But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints" (Ephesians 5:3).

Therefore, scripturally speaking, the “saints” are the body of Christ, Christians, the church.

All Christians are considered saints.

All Christians are saints—and at the same time are called to be saints. 1 Corinthians 1:2 states it clearly: “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy…” The words “sanctified” and “holy” come from the same Greek root as the word that is commonly translated “saints.” Christians are saints by virtue of their connection with Jesus Christ.

Birth, not behavior, that determines our identity.

1 Cor 3:16-17; 1 Cor 1:2

Eph 4:17-24 a

Embrace the truth of who you are in Jesus Christ, 1 Cor 6:17