†ough חesed - Christian Identity

Romans 7:14-25

When it comes to the matter of who we are in Christ, I believe a common question that’ll often come up is, “If I have this new identity in Christ, why do I still sin?”

And maybe you struggled with that question.

To answer this, I need to ask you,

(zoom in) Have you ever considered maybe just stop sinning?

*The more you know star*

You don’t have to be a Christian for very long to figure out that’s not how it works.

This is actually something that many Christains legitimately wrestle with. Like, if we’re supposed to have this new identity in Christ, *translation: through faith in Christ we are transformed into a completely new person, Romans 6:4-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17*, why do we still sin?

I want to begin by saying that this is such an important observation for the Christian to make, because you don’t have to read far into the Bible to realize that the life of a Christian does in fact look a certain way.

Romans 6:12

Ephesians 4:24

James 1:22

So what gives? If God gives His people new hearts *Ezekiel 36:26*, why do Christians struggle with sin?

Looking at what the Apostle Paul tells his audience in Romans 7:14-20

We are told...

What’s important to note is that we’re given this distinction between two realities within the Christian, the spirit and the flesh *also check Romans 8:10. I believe in you.*

The spirit has to do with the core of who we are in Christ *Romans 8:14-16* whereas the flesh deals moreso with that corrupt outer layer *body and mind* of who we are that currently hinders our ability to live out our new life in glorious perfection.

Now to put this all in perspective, earlier in this letter Paul had just clarified our relationship surrounding the expectations of what it means to follow God, in that we’re shielded from carrying the impossibly, rigorous weight of perfect obedience to God by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Now if you’re thinking, “Great. Does that mean we can go ahead sin because we’re covered by grace?”

*Michael Jordan stop it, go get help*

*Shake head*

It means that under this grace, not only do we transition from spiritual death into spiritual life, but with that transition we receive new desires inherit to this new identity, in that we find in ourselves a new want to no longer live for ourselves, but for God.

Now all of that said, despite the fact that we have this new spiritual identity given to us by God, Christians still have to deal with the corrupt desires of flesh *body and mind* and this is what we call indwelling sin.

*Dun, du-n, duuuuun *gopher, but cut it off*

When we look closer at what Paul says in v. 17 and v. 20,

No longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. *Oh would you look at that, repitition…*

*cousin vinny foot stomp*

When it comes to the matter of Christian identity, it’s important that we understand that indwelling sin is not your sin nature; Christians don’t have a sin nature.

*i said what i said song with sunglasses “deal with it”*

In Colossians 2:13-14, the Apostle Paul says,

Everything about our old nature was cut off and removed from our flesh and nailed to the cross of Christ.

And like a physical circumcision, it don’t grow back.

*cat ooooo*

In Romans 6:6-8, after explaining how we were buried into the death of Christ and united with Him in His life *Romans 6:4-5*,

Paul goes on to explain that our old self, that sin nature, was cruficified with Christ, making us not only cleansed from sin, but also alive with Him.

2 Cor 5:21 puts it like this:

So God doesn’t define who you are by the sins you struggle with, but by the perfect faithful obedience of Jesus Christ by which you have through faith *Romans 10:9-10* *also check Philippians 3:9*

*make separate video from editing room* Now to be clear, this isn’t saying that Christians aren’t responsible for the sins they commit.

We have plenty of guidance on what we are to do when we do sin *Proverbs 28:13; Matthew 5:23-24, 18:15-17, 21-35; James 5:16*

It’s just that if you’re a Christian, there is no sin, no brokenness, no imperfection in your life that competes with, or overrides, or distorts that identity. Ok now back to the video*

So when Paul is talking about

Romans 7:21-23

He’s describing our situation that as Christians we’ve responded to this call of salvation to live in a way that is completely unnatural to the distorted identity we all came from.

The reality is that while we are saved from sin and have new life in Christ, thereby giving us this identity of righteous perfection, when it’s all fleshed out *mexican man laughing “why”*, we’re no where near where we will be after Christ returns.

The fact that we wrestle in our desires between living for God and for ourselves will be an ongoing tension until the day we die or when Christ comes back for His Church.

Now you might be thinking,

K... but doesn’t God know this really sucks?

Well, I mean, He isn’t surprised.

*put Romans 7:24 on screen, wait two seconds and then: *:(*

So if Christians are essentially stuck with this internal war until the day the Christ returns, how are we supposed to follow God?

Well the answer is never going to be found in trying harder.

In looking at Romans 7:25, we are pointed to our hope in Romans 8:1, in which we’re to understand that despite the ongoing tension that we will continue to experience, we can trust in the faithfulness of God to sustain us through the hard times of our weakness.

Remember, there is more grace in Christ than there is sin in you, Christian.

If you missed that previous video on identity *you’re better off just reading your Bible.*, go ahead and click on the video here, but in the meantime

Stay on the alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous and strong, and let everything you do be done in love.

*†ough חesed out*