Our Identity In Christ

[0:00] Take your Bibles and turn to the book of Romans. Romans chapter 5. We'll read verses 12 through 21.

[0:14] ! Romans chapter 5 and verse 12. We'll read through the end of the chapter. Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.

[0:29] For before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

[0:47] But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many.

[1:04] Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin. The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.

[1:17] For if by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

[1:33] Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brought light, that brings life for all men.

[1:48] For just as through the disobedience of the one man, the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man, the many will be made righteous.

[1:58] The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, God, our grace increased all the more, so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[2:21] Well, we have embarked on a study of our identity as Christians, believing that an awareness of who we are drastically affects the way that we live.

[2:39] It's foundational, and so we're coming to God's own word to get the answer to this question, who am I? And the first thing we learned last week is that I am a human being, a descendant of Adam.

[2:53] That's where the Bible starts. That's where your identity starts. And that fact alone is loaded with important information about me and about my life.

[3:08] It sets forth both staggering privileges and corresponding duties. So I'm a dependent creature. That's what I learned as a descendant of Adam.

[3:20] Made to look to God, to be led by Him, to be taught by Him, to be empowered by Him. I'm His creature. Oh, and therefore I'm His to command.

[3:32] And His to serve Him. I'm made in God's own image. All sorts of privileges attached to that. As I was in the yard yesterday, I saw a toad.

[3:44] I can rejoice in the Lord that I'm not a toad or a tree, but a man made in God's own image. A higher creature. And I'm made for relationship with God and others.

[3:59] And I'm given the calling to reflect God's likeness, His moral likeness in my life and relationships. And to take care of and to rule over the whole earth, these other earthly creatures.

[4:13] And all these things and many more are true of you as well as a human being descended from Adam. And for you who are Christians, these things were true of you before you were saved.

[4:25] And these things remain true of you after you have been saved. You still are dependent on God, a creature, His to command, personal, relational, and meant to reflect God's moral likeness and rule over the earth and so on and so forth.

[4:42] What I want to say is that salvation in Jesus Christ does not alter your identity as a human being. As a human being. It does not make you something else other than human.

[4:55] At no point, either here or in heaven, will you become something else. You will not become an angel as taught by the Swedenborgian cult.

[5:06] Nor do you ever or will you ever become a god as taught by the Mormon cult. As a Christian, you are 100% a human being.

[5:16] And you will always be 100% a human being. That's what God made you to be and to glorify Him as. So salvation does not destroy your humanity, but the sin that pollutes and defiles that humanity.

[5:34] It does not destroy your humanity, but all that mars that moral likeness to God, your Creator. So in salvation, God is restoring you to your true humanity, to that which you were meant to be as you came from the hand of your Creator.

[5:51] He's perfecting your humanity. And one day He will even raise it higher than what it was in the Garden of Eden. For Adam was a human being who was sinless and perfect, yet he was capable of sinning, wasn't he?

[6:10] And yet if you were in Christ, one day God is going to make you incapable of ever sinning again. That's even higher than what the first man, Adam, experienced.

[6:24] So even as a Christian, then, your identity is still connected to Adam as a human being in those ways that we have just spoken of.

[6:34] But now we also saw that we are descendants of a fallen Adam, didn't we? And so we have inherited three things from sinful Adam.

[6:46] Romans 5, the passage read, points these out to us. We inherited a sinful human nature, didn't we, from Adam. For by the disobedience of the one man, the many were made sinners.

[7:03] So we're born with a heart that's not neutral toward God, a mind that is at enmity with God, that will not submit to His law. Indeed, it cannot. Where did I get that?

[7:14] Well, I got that from fallen Adam, my first parent. And we inherited Adam's condemnation as well. For chapter 5, verse 18, the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men.

[7:32] So Adam was representing all of his descendants, all of his human descendants. And when he fell, we fell. His sin has sunk the whole human race into condemnation.

[7:44] What does that mean? That means that we come into the batter's box with three strikes against us. We're born condemned in Adam.

[7:57] Romans 5, 18. We are, as Jesus says, condemned already. When we hit the ground, we've been condemned already. And only believing in Jesus will save us from that.

[8:08] So we inherited a sinful nature. We inherited condemnation from Adam. And lastly, we inherited death, didn't we, from Adam. The separation of body and spirit until the day of judgment when those will be reunited.

[8:25] And eternal separation from God. That's the death we inherit from Adam. And that's why we, descendants of Adam, all die. Again, Romans 5, 15.

[8:37] For the many died by the trespass of the one man. And so it was in this way that death came to all men. Because of Adam's sin. Well, these are the results then of Adam's sin.

[8:49] And do you see how critical it is then to begin with your identity in Adam? If you don't understand that connection that you have to Adam, then you'll never understand why you and your children have these sinful hearts.

[9:06] And why you need to be born again. You won't understand why you and everyone else is dying. Or why you are under God's condemnation. And have, as your greatest need, a Savior to rescue you from everlasting condemnation.

[9:23] So you see, the bad news in Adam prepares us and points to the good news in Christ Jesus, our Savior.

[9:34] So we've looked at the bad news. Who am I? I'm a descendant of Adam. I'm a human being. That's got bad news and good news, doesn't it?

[9:45] We've seen that. We need to keep those distinguished. But this brings us to the next statement of the Christian's identity. And so if you have been converted, that is, if you are repenting and are trusting in Christ alone for your salvation, what does the Bible call you?

[10:06] How does it describe you? Well, there are many such descriptions. And we're going to be looking at those various descriptions over the spring and summer months, God willing, to understand our identity, what God calls us.

[10:20] For instance, you're called a believer. And God willing, we'll study that. That's what you are. And probably more than anything else today, we refer to such people as what? As Christians, don't we?

[10:33] And there's nothing wrong with that name and description. We'll study that as well. But did you know that the Apostle Paul never called anyone a Christian in the Scriptures?

[10:46] He talks about them all the time, doesn't he? Writes letters to them, churches full of them. But he never calls them Christians. How interesting. So it's so common today that it might surprise you that it's only used three times in the whole Bible, the whole New Testament.

[11:03] Rather, the New Testament's most favorite term for a believer is one who is in Christ, in Christ Jesus, in him.

[11:14] And Paul uses this description of being in Christ at an average of two to three times in every chapter that he writes.

[11:26] He speaks of himself as a man in Christ. He says that Andronicus and Junius, my relatives, were in Christ before I was.

[11:39] He calls Aquila and Priscilla his fellow workers in Christ. And then he greets, repeatedly greets, the members of the various churches as those who are in Christ.

[11:56] And if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation. And so on and so forth. Now, that's not just a Pauline thing either. It's something that the Apostle Peter uses.

[12:09] The same identity of the Christian. He writes his first letter to God's elect scattered throughout the Roman Empire. And he signs off that first letter with these last words.

[12:22] Peace to all of you who are in Christ Jesus. You see, there are a people who can be described as being in Christ.

[12:34] And what we're going to see is they are the most blessed people of all the earth. Blessed beyond imagination. Now, that for Paul and Peter in the New Testament then best sums up what you are.

[12:51] Christian, if you're a believer, here's your most significant identity. You are in Christ. Would you say that with me? I am in Christ if you're a Christian.

[13:03] I am in Christ. Last week we said, I am a human being, a descendant of Adam. This week we're seeing, I am in Christ.

[13:14] Now, what does that mean? To be in Christ? Well, theologians have called this union with Christ. Because as scriptures teach, saving faith unites you to Jesus Christ in a personal relationship in which everything is shared.

[13:32] In which what is ours becomes his and what is his becomes ours. We are joined to Jesus Christ. So to be in Christ is likened in scripture to the union, the joining of two into one in the marriage covenant.

[13:53] Where the one says, I take you to be mine. And the other says, and I forsake all others and take you to be mine.

[14:03] And now the two become one. And when that happens, thereafter, everything is shared, isn't it, between the two.

[14:17] So when Joss and I were united in marriage, it changed the whole idea of ownership for us. The moment we said, I do, her blue and white Mustang became mine as well.

[14:32] And not to be outdone, my old three-speed red bicycle became hers as well. We shared equally, you see.

[14:42] It's very obvious in this relationship that I'm the one that is married up. But Christian, when by faith in Jesus Christ, you were united to him, you married up big, big, big time.

[15:01] Infinitely married up. Because what is yours became his. And what is his became yours.

[15:12] So he got your sins and you got his righteousness. Now, if you came into marriage with debts, those two are shared, aren't they?

[15:24] And so some husbands, upon saying I do, wake up the next morning and realize they suddenly owe $100,000 of school debt that used to belong to the fiancé, but is now his, you see.

[15:42] Why? Because in the union, in that relationship in which the two are joined together, they share everything. But that is nothing compared to the debt Jesus assumed in being united to us.

[15:56] We had debts that reached to heaven. Our sin debt. The debt that we owed. We'd have been paying forever and ever and never been able to pay the last farthing, the last penny on it.

[16:10] And that debt, Jesus took. My infinite sin debt. He got it. And I got his infinite riches in Christ Jesus.

[16:23] So he took your debt. He counted it his. And he went to the cross and made the full payment there for it. He paid it all, leaving nothing left to pay for you who are in Christ Jesus.

[16:37] Since you're in Christ, he did all this and all that he did is now counted yours. So your sin has been paid for in full and can never be charged against you again.

[16:51] But even more, his perfect obedience to the law of God is now counted yours as well. And so you are justified.

[17:03] Declared as righteous before God as Jesus is righteous before God. And all because you are in Christ. In Christ. Some of you saw that the horse name Justified won the Kentucky Derby yesterday.

[17:17] Made a lot of people happy. There are millions of people who are rejoicing in the Lord today.

[17:29] Because they've been justified. Simply by being joined to Jesus. They've been declared righteous. As righteous as Jesus himself.

[17:41] Because in Christ all is shared. It's why he became a man for us. That in him we might share in his triumphs. And that's what Paul is anxious to tell us here in Romans chapter 5.

[17:54] The text that we had read again to us. Paul holds before us two men. Adam and Christ. And says to us these are the two great representative men in all human history.

[18:09] These men not only acted as individuals as they lived. But they acted on behalf of their people. Adam for his people. Jesus for his people.

[18:21] Now this week we're going to vote on representatives to Congress. Aren't we? And once those representatives have been selected.

[18:31] They are now our representatives. When they go to Congress. And vote on a bill that's brought before them. Their vote is our vote. Their decision is our decision.

[18:43] The laws they pass are the laws we've passed and live under. They are our representatives. And what they do is counted ours.

[18:53] Now we've seen Adam is the first representative man. He's referred to throughout this passage as the one man. And he's named as Adam. A couple of times.

[19:05] And what he did affected all his people. All his descendants. Remember we just saw. He gave to every one of them. A sinful nature. Condemnation. And death.

[19:17] But Paul draws our attention to another man. The perfect man. Jesus Christ. As he calls him. And he too represents his people.

[19:29] And in 1 Corinthians 15. He's called the last Adam. And he's called the second Adam. To distinguish him from the first Adam. Here's the two great representative men.

[19:43] The first Adam. And the last Adam. And God deals with all people. Based on. Who their head is. Are they part of Adam. And his.

[19:55] Covenant. Or are they part of Christ. In his covenant. Well. Jesus Christ. The last Adam. Succeeded at every point.

[20:05] Where the first Adam failed. And so he gained for all of his people. What Adam had lost. For all of his people. And all the trouble. That Adam got a sin by sin. Is undone.

[20:16] For those who are in Christ. And so he too represents. His people. Just as much. As Adam. Represented him. That's why it says. In verse 14.

[20:27] That Adam. Was a pattern. Of the one to come. Christ. They're both representative men. Now this representative idea. Is illustrated for us.

[20:39] In different ways in scripture. But. One way that I find most helpful. Is to. To think of what happened. In the valley of Elah. Three thousand years ago. When you had the Philistine army.

[20:50] On one hillside. And the Israelite army. On the other hillside. And instead of everyone. Descending down into the valley. And having at it.

[21:01] And fighting this battle. Rather. A challenge was made. To have just two men fight. One man from each side. Locked in a fight to the death.

[21:12] David. And Goliath. And the destinies. Of their entire armies. Depended on the actions. Of these two men. If their champion.

[21:25] Goliath wins. Then the whole Philistine army wins. But if their champion loses. Then they've all lost. Everything hangs. On their representative.

[21:38] And kids. As you remember. Goliath lost. And so did all the Philistines. And David won. And so did all. The Israelites.

[21:50] Now it's this same representative. Principle that is in operation. In the whole. Human race. The whole human race. Is divided. Into two peoples.

[22:01] Those in Adam. And those. In Christ. These are the two heads. And they represent. Two covenants. The covenant of works.

[22:12] In Adam. If you're in Adam. This is the covenant of works. That you're a part of. And you need to know this. From Galatians 3. In verse 10. This is what's expected of you.

[22:23] Cursed is everyone. Who does not continue. To do everything. Written in the book of the law. If you're in Adam. That's what you need. Perpetual. Perfect obedience.

[22:33] To God's law. And we just saw. You've got three strikes. Against you. Just because you're in Adam. And you. Add. Thousandfold. To that sin load.

[22:44] As you've lived your life out. But then there's the covenant. Of grace in Christ. Galatians 3. 13. That Christ redeemed us. From the curse of the law. How? By becoming a curse for us.

[22:56] So he takes the curse. And he gives us. The blessing of eternal life. And every blessing in him. So these two. Representative heads. Represent two covenants.

[23:07] The covenant of works in Adam. And the covenant of grace in Christ. Now we're all born over here. We're born in Adam. Aren't we? We're born into this covenant of works.

[23:18] Do this and live. Break. Break one commandment. You've broken them all. You're under condemnation. Well when Adam lost.

[23:29] We all lost. We lost. Our perfect nature. We lost a righteous status. Before God. And we lost eternal life. Instead. We inherited sinful nature. Condemnation and death.

[23:40] Now some people complain. About their representative Adam. I didn't choose him. I didn't vote for him. Now that's right.

[23:51] God sovereignly made. The first human being. To be the head. Of all. His descendants. After him. That was God's decision. Unless you become too critical.

[24:04] Of God's way of working. Remember. That salvation. Is only possible. By the same principle. By what Jesus Christ.

[24:15] As a representative head. Does for all his people. All his believing people. You'll never get into heaven. By what you do. But you might get into heaven. You will get into heaven.

[24:26] If you come into Christ. Because what he has done. It's what he has done. That has brought life. To all. Of his people. It's why he became a man.

[24:41] Bone of our bones. Flesh of our flesh. That he might act on our behalf. On behalf of all his believing people. So the most important thing is.

[24:51] Is to get into Christ. Where all that he has accomplished. Is counted ours as well. And the Bible says. As we get into Christ. By faith. Just by trusting.

[25:02] In him. Ephesians 1. 13. You also were included. In Christ. When you heard. The word of truth. The gospel of your salvation.

[25:13] Having believed. You were marked with him. And as you were sealed. Marked with him. With a seal. It was when you heard. And believe the gospel. That you were included.

[25:25] In Christ. No longer in the covenant. Of works in Adam. You are now. Included in Christ. You weren't always there. You were excluded.

[25:36] Separate from Christ. Without hope. In this world. But when you believed. You were put into Christ. That's why Paul can say. That my relatives here. They were in Christ.

[25:48] Before I was. They trusted in Christ. Before Paul did. But once in Christ. All that he has done. Is now counted years. Notice what happens.

[25:58] To my condemnation. In Adam. Remember. Adam sinned. And condemnation. Came to us all. What happens. To that condemnation. Romans 5. 18. Just as the result. Of one trespass.

[26:09] Was condemnation. For all men. So also. The result. Of one act. Of righteousness. Was justification. That brings life. For all men. For justice.

[26:20] Through the disobedience. Of the one man. The many were made sinners. So also. Through the obedience. Of the one man. The many will be. Made righteous. So though in Adam.

[26:32] I was under condemnation. The sentence was passed. He's guilty. In Adam. He deserves. Everlasting punishment. Now in Christ.

[26:44] I'm justified. I'm declared righteous. Before God. Not guilty. But righteous. Not condemned. But forgiven.

[26:58] Why? Because Christ. Bore. My wrath. My sin. My condemnation. He. He bore that. On the cross. For me. And that's now. Counted mine. So there's. There's no more.

[27:09] Of that. Indeed. That's what Paul. Will tell us. When you come to Romans. Eight. In verse one. There is therefore. Now. No. Condemnation. For those. Who are in Christ. Jesus. For those.

[27:20] Who are. Did you get it? In Christ. Jesus. Because he took. The condemnation. That's what happened. To the condemnation. In Christ. He bore it.

[27:30] So there's none. For me to bear. Well. What happened. To. The. Not only. The condemnation. But the death. That I inherited. From Adam.

[27:41] Remember. Just as sin. Reigned in death. Verse. 21. So also. Grace might reign. Through righteousness. To bring eternal life. Through Jesus Christ. Our Lord.

[27:53] For since death. First Corinthians. 15. 21. And 22. Since death. Came through a man. The resurrection. Of the dead. Comes also. Through a man. For as in Adam.

[28:05] All die. So in Christ. All will be made alive. It is in Christ. You see. That there is victory. Over the grave. It is in Christ.

[28:15] That we share. In that victory. And can look death. In the face. And say. Where oh grave. Is your victory. Thanks be to God. He gives us the victory. Through. Our Lord.

[28:26] Jesus Christ. So death is gone. Death has lost. Its sting. It cannot hold. Its prisoner. We will rise. To everlasting life. In Christ. Well.

[28:36] What about that sinful nature. I inherited from Adam. Remember. Three things. Condemnation. Death. And that sinful nature. What about that. Well chapter six. And seven.

[28:46] And eight. Of Romans. Go on to say. That in Christ. I get a new nature. Indeed. He will tell us. In second Corinthians. Five. Seventeen. If anyone is in Christ. He's a new creation.

[28:58] The old is gone. The new has come. And in Christ. His death to sin. Is counted. My death to sin. And his resurrection. To a new life.

[29:09] Is my resurrection. To a new life. In which sin. No longer reigns. Over me. In Adam. Sin reigned over me. I could no more. Obey God's commands.

[29:20] Than I could create a son. But in Christ. I get a new heart. That loves him. And loves his commands. And wants to please him. And so.

[29:32] Six. Seven. And eight of Romans. Talk to us. About the change. You see. What we get. From being in Christ. We get his resurrection power. To live the Christian life with. And so being in Christ.

[29:45] That sinful nature. Has been. Changed. I get a new nature. And one day. My new nature. Will become perfected. And you will not be able.

[29:58] To find one sin. In myself. Or in you. That's what Jesus. Won for us. So. All this is ours. If we're in Christ. The second and last Adam.

[30:09] He undid. For his people. Those three things. That we got from Adam. Sin. Nature. Condemnation. And death. And he gives us.

[30:19] A new nature. And justifies us. And gives us. Eternal life. Can you see. How important it is. Is for us. To break ranks. With the Philistine army. So.

[30:30] I don't want to put my hopes. On this Goliath. This. This first Adam. I don't want my destiny. My eternal destiny. Right. Writing on. What he has done. I want to get out of that camp.

[30:42] And get into the Israel of God. And trust. In the Savior. And let my eternal destiny. Be determined. By what he has done. Well.

[30:54] That's. Conversion. You see. That's. Faith. Putting our. Our hope. For heaven. Upon what Jesus has done. For his people. What an offer.

[31:04] Is given in the gospel. To get out. Of the covenant. Of works in Adam. And to get into the covenant. Of grace. In Jesus Christ. Simply by. Taking him at his word.

[31:16] Believing his promise. Putting all the weight. Of your soul on him. But then. Also. You can see. How important it is.

[31:27] For the Christian. To know. Their identity. In Christ. So when Satan. The accuser. Of the brethren. Would whisper. In our ear. Condemnation. For our sins. Or even.

[31:38] Your own conscience. Would misspeak. And threaten. Condemnation. Against you. Because of your sin. Well. We come back to this. Our most basic. Identity. Is that.

[31:48] I am in Christ. And there is. Now. No. Condemnation. For those. Who were in Christ. Jesus. And I find. Rest. At the very. Center.

[31:58] Of my being. In Christ. And when death. Threatens. We remember. Our identity. Of being. In Christ. And his. Resurrection. Victory. Over death.

[32:09] Is now. My resurrection. Victory. Over death. And when the battle. With remaining sin. Is relentless. And discouraging. We come back. To our identity. Of being in Christ. We.

[32:20] We've died. With Jesus. To sin. And risen. With Jesus. To a new life. And though. The flesh. Still. Would dog us. Every step. Of the way home. Yet. The death blow.

[32:31] Has been given. To it. And in Christ. We find power. To live a new life. And one day. It will be. Sin will be. Completely obliterated. All this.

[32:42] And more. Is ours. In Christ. Now turn over. To Ephesians. Chapter 1. And just. Want you to get a flavor. Of how full. This term. In Christ.

[32:53] Is. In Ephesians. Chapter 1. Notice. How Paul. Describes. The recipients. Of his letter. In chapter. Chapter 1. Verse 1.

[33:05] Paul. An apostle. Of Christ. Jesus. By the will. Of God. To the saints. In Ephesus. The faithful. In. Christ. Jesus. That's what they are.

[33:17] They're in Christ. Now notice. What is. Theirs. Because they are in Christ. Verse 3. Praise. Be to the God and Father. Of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[33:27] Who has blessed us. In the heavenly realms. With every spiritual blessing. In Christ. Every spiritual blessing. Is ours.

[33:38] If we are in Christ. They're ours. Because they're his. And we are in him. Joined together. And he enumerates some of them. He chose us. In him.

[33:49] Before the creation of the world. What a blessing. To have God. In love. Choose us. In Christ. He went on. And predestined us. To be adopted. As his sons. To the praise.

[34:00] Of his glorious grace. Which he has freely given us. In the one he. In the beloved. In the one he loves. And in him. We have redemption. Verse 7. In him.

[34:10] We have redemption. Through his blood. The forgiveness of sins. What's it worth. To have all your sins forgiven. We just. Rejoiced in that. In the Sunday school hour. And in our worship. In the day of judgment.

[34:21] When just one sin. Would sink you. Into an eternal hell. What is it going to be worth. To know that all our sins. Were on Jesus laid. And he bore them all. To the tree. And so. There is no more condemnation.

[34:33] Or guilt for me. Well that's. Yours. We have redemption. Through his blood. In him. And on and on. He goes. You were included.

[34:44] In Christ. When you heard the gospel. And believed. In some. He just says. Every spiritual blessing. Whatever you want to think. That is a spiritual blessing. It is yours.

[34:54] If you are in Christ. There are no spiritual blessings. That are given to us. Outside of Christ. So here's the blessings. In Christ. And here's some extra blessings. No. There are none.

[35:05] They're all ours. In Christ Jesus. So he's the gift. And in him. Are all these other gifts.

[35:16] Kids. Have you ever received. A gift. And upon opening. The big box. You find out. That there are many. Other gifts. Inside. That's the way it is.

[35:28] In Christ. He is the. The gift. Of gifts. The indescribable gift. And in him. Are all these other gifts.

[35:39] These blessings. And good things. And it's impossible. For us. Even to unwrap them. All. In this message. The Puritan. Theologian. John Owen. John Owen. Wrote. That one of the greatest. Problems.

[35:49] Christians have. Is just not living up. To their glorious. Privileges. That are theirs. In Christ. We've got this wonderful. Glorious. Gift. Of Christ.

[36:00] And in him. Are all these blessings. And one of our problems. Our greatest problem. We don't live up. To those blessings. That are ours. The privileges. That are ours. And so we can be like.

[36:11] Paupers. Milking a few. A few cows. And scratching out an existence. By farming a few acres. With bad. Earth.

[36:21] And bad dirt. And all the while. Underneath our little farm. Is a reservoir of oil. That we couldn't spend all the money. If we would draw out. The resources.

[36:32] That are ours. There are inexhaustible resources. And wealth. For you. In Christ. Jesus. But to live upon these riches.

[36:44] You need to know. Your identity. In Christ. I'm in Christ. What does that mean? What all is included in that? Oh. Make it your life. Study. To learn.

[36:54] All that is yours. In Christ. And then to draw. Upon it. It's all yours. If you're united to him. And it's accessed. By faith.

[37:05] According to your faith. Be it unto you. So how much can you believe him for? Out of all that he is for you. So important is this.

[37:17] That Paul prayed for his Christian friend. Philemon. To have a full understanding. Of every good thing. That we have. In Christ. I want to pray that for you.

[37:31] That you would have a full understanding. Even as I would pray it for myself. That we would have a fuller understanding. And full understanding. Of all that we have. In Christ.

[37:43] Every good thing. So. Marriage. The two becoming one. And sharing everything thereof. That's one picture. Of what it means to be.

[37:53] In Christ. United. Another biblical picture. Of union with Christ. Is the vine and the branches. Isn't it? In John chapter 15. We. Believers. We are in Christ.

[38:05] As branches. Are. In the vine. Remain in me. And I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit. By itself. It must remain. In the vine.

[38:15] Neither can you bear fruit. Unless. You remain. In me. I am the vine. You're the branches. If a man remains. In me. And I in him.

[38:26] He will bear much fruit. Apart from me. You can do nothing. Ever pick up branches. That were broken off. The night before. In a storm.

[38:37] From the tree. And there they are. Just lying on the ground. Where do they get their life. And energy. They get it. By being. Attached to the tree. Don't they?

[38:47] But. But here they are now. They're broken off. And so. What are they good for? They will not bear fruit. They will not live. They're just gathered up. To be burned.

[38:59] And that's what. Jesus goes on to say. Here in John chapter 15. No longer in the tree. No longer united. To the tree. They can't live.

[39:11] And be fruitful. Gather them. And burn them. Even so. Apart from Christ. The vine. We can do nothing. Apart from Christ.

[39:22] The vine. When you will be gathered up. And cast into everlasting fire. But believers. We are not apart from Christ. We are in Christ. Like the branch.

[39:33] Is in the vine. That's the good news. Of the gospel. That's the good news. Of John 15. We are not branches. Lying on the ground. Separated from the vine.

[39:44] We're in him. We are in Christ. And once in Christ. Always in Christ. And that's meant. To encourage us. Therefore we live.

[39:54] And bear fruit. Because the sap of life. In the vine. Is flowing. On into the branches. Same life. The life. The power. The grace.

[40:04] Of Christ. Reaching. Into. His branches. So. So all the resources. That are found in Christ. Are. Are then. You see.

[40:15] Available. To the branches. Is. And that's why. Our lives are different. He has love. He has wisdom. He has power. He has patience. He has humility. And all of this.

[40:26] You see. Because I'm joined to him. It's. It's mine. So. To draw. It. From. Your vine. Make use of your vine.

[40:36] Draw from him. All you need for life. And godliness. By believing prayer. Lord. I need more love. Lord. I need more patience. And life. Is yours.

[40:48] According to your faith. Be it unto you. So being united. To such a fruitful vine. You could never. Be left without. Something you need. How could you ever be in need.

[40:59] When you're. Attached. To such. A vine. Colossians tells us. So then. Just as you receive. Christ Jesus. The Lord. Continue to live. In him.

[41:11] Rooted and built up. In him. Strengthen. And in the faith. As you were taught. And overflowing. With thanksgiving. For in Christ. All the fullness. Of the Godhead. Dwells in bodily form.

[41:22] What's in Christ. All. Deity. In Christ. He's not a smidgen. Less than the father. All deity. In Christ. And. You have been.

[41:33] Given fullness. In Christ. Or you have been. Complete. In him. Are you. In him. Who is. God. Then how could you be anything.

[41:43] Other than complete. In him. How could you have anything. Other than fullness. In him. For the fullness. Of the Godhead. Dwells in him. And you dwell.

[41:54] In him. So we sing that song. All. He's all I need. He's all I need. Jesus is all I need. That's right. Branch. Keep singing. Keep singing. It's a simple truth.

[42:05] Because you're. In Christ. As a branch. In the vine. Jesus is all you need. And it's all there for you. But it's one thing. To know the simple truth. And another thing.

[42:16] To draw upon it. By faith. Isn't there. To make use. Of our vine. To make use. Of the full resources. That are. Ours in Christ. Jesus. So.

[42:26] Let me just. Wrap this up. With some application. Let me encourage you. To wake up. Every day this week. Interviewing yourself. Before your feet.

[42:38] Hit the deck. You ask yourself. Just this one question. Who am I? Who am I? I'm ready to go into this day. Who am I?

[42:51] And answer it. I am in Christ. If you are. I am in Christ. Remind yourself. Of your most. Basic identity.

[43:01] As a Christian. I'm in Christ. And then get up. And never think of yourself. As anything. Other than. In Christ.

[43:13] Join to him. And see what a difference. It makes. In your day. Let the identity. Of Christ. Your identity. In Christ. Shape the way. Then that. That you live.

[43:24] By thinking. And remembering. That you're in him. Who has all deity. And shares. Every grace. That you need. So to be in Christ.

[43:36] Means that you'll never. Find me alone. In all my troubles. And trials. And temptations. Of life. They will always. Find me. In Christ. Always in Christ.

[43:47] I'm his. And he is mine. Forever and forever. So when the trial. Trial arrives. On Tuesday afternoon. It will meet me. In Christ. With all the resources.

[43:58] That are mine. In the vine. That's how it meets me. So I look outside. Of myself. And my little branch. Life. And existence. And I say no. I'm not. One of those branches. I am in Christ.

[44:10] Jesus. There is more grace. In you. Than there is sin. In me. Now. From your fullness. Grant to me. Grace. Grace upon grace. This is the kind of grace.

[44:20] I need. I don't feel like. I can. Take another day of it. I need grace. To go to the same job. And to glorify you there. I need grace. To face the same people.

[44:32] The same problems. The same temptations. I'm in you. Grant me grace. So the important thing. Is to let your identity.

[44:43] Then shape. Your response. To the trial. Trials. Make us feel. Our ignorance. And that's why. We turn to him. Who's made a promise.

[44:54] That if you lack wisdom. In your trials. Ask. And he will give it. Liberally. Without. Chiding you. Upbraiding you. You feel. Your weakness.

[45:06] Be strong. In the grace. That is. In Christ. Jesus. It's. It's in him. And it's in him. For you. You. Who are united. To him. So you bring your doubts.

[45:18] And fears. And emptiness. To him. Who is full of grace. And he gives more grace. Doesn't he. Not what James says. He gives more grace. More grace.

[45:29] Than the sin. That is in you. More grace. Than the temptation. Around you. More grace. He gives it.

[45:39] To the humble. To those who know. What they are. Apart from Christ. And come and ask. From him who says. My grace is sufficient. For you. Well.

[45:50] The demands and duties. Of my calling. In life. I've got to do this. This and this. And this and this. And this and this. And this. This week. And I've just got this much time. To do it. Oh. We feel so pressured.

[46:00] Don't we? Those demands. Of my. My calling. Will find me. In Christ. In him. Who has everything. That I need.

[46:11] For my job. My calling. My duties. In life. As a husband. As a father. As a child. A student. A worker. Those demands. And duties.

[46:21] Of your calling. Always find you. In Christ. Who is. More than enough. And every time. I come to the throne. Of grace. With my burdens. My petitions. My thanksgiving.

[46:32] And praises. I'm always found. In Christ. Isn't that a wonderful thing. To know that on that throne. Where God reigns. At his right hand. Is one. Who is a man.

[46:44] Every bit of man. As I am man. And I'm in him. And I'm accepted there. In the beloved. I'm accepted. At the throne of grace. Because I'm in Christ.

[46:55] Christ. And so. The scepter. Is raised to me. Not because of who I. But because I'm in Christ. And I have his attention.

[47:06] The attention of the almighty. Because I'm in. Christ. And that's why we pray. In. Jesus name. We. We come. In. Jesus.

[47:16] We come. In Christ. To the father. And then one day. Death will come knocking. At my door. And how will death find me. It will find me in Christ. So David can say.

[47:29] Though I. Walk through the valley. Of the shadow of death. I'll fear no evil. Why? Because thou. Art with me. In Christ.

[47:40] His victory over death. Is mine. And so the Bible says. That the dead. In Christ. Will rise first. Have you ever thought about that? There are people. Who are described.

[47:50] As being dead. In Christ. They're still in Christ. Their body. And. They're dead. Their body and soul. Are separated. But. But. Their body and soul. Is still in Christ.

[48:02] And one day. They're going to rise. And body and soul. Be raised from the dead. You see. Nothing can separate us. From. The. The Lord Jesus.

[48:12] In whom we are. In his love. Not even death. Or life. And then beyond that. When I stand before God. On judgment day. For it is appointed unto man. Once to die. And then the judgment.

[48:23] How will judgment day find me? In Christ. In Christ. Edward Mote put it well. In his hymn. On Christ. The solid rock. I stand.

[48:34] When I shall launch. In worlds unknown. Oh may I then. In him be found. Dressed in his righteousness alone. Faultless to stand.

[48:45] Before the throne. You see. Judgment will find me. In Christ. Faultless. Dressed in his righteousness. To be found in Christ. Is to be found faultless.

[48:56] Before the throne. What will that be worth? To be found in Christ. In that day. When the difference will be. Heaven and hell. In Christ.

[49:09] Or in Adam. My friend. Which are you? If you haven't. Repented and trusted. In Jesus Christ. To save you. Then. Then you're still in Adam.

[49:20] And you just need to know. What's expected of you. In the covenant with Adam. Perfect. Perpetual. Obedience. Or everlasting curse. But why?

[49:32] Why stay in Adam? Why stay on the Philistine side? When we have a champion Christ. Who has perfectly obeyed the law. For his people. And then has taken the condemnation.

[49:43] That we deserve. For his people. The death we should have died. And by trusting in him. It becomes ours. So I welcome you.

[49:54] Over to the other side. Get into Christ. You get into him by faith. Sound too simple? Well. You're saved by what he does.

[50:05] Not by what you do. You see. And that's why it is by faith. Because faith. Leans all its weight. On what Jesus has done. For a poor sinner. Well.

[50:16] Throw yourself into his arms. Today. And though you came in Adam. You will leave in Christ. And you will be united to him. In every trial you have.

[50:27] For the remainder of your life. In the day of death. And on that day of judgment. And forever and ever. You will be found in Christ. With every blessing. Just unfolding.

[50:38] With surprise after surprise. For all eternity. Let's pray. Father. Father. The Bible teaches us. Who are believers.

[50:48] That it is. Because of you. That we are in Christ Jesus. Who has been made to us. Wisdom. Righteousness. Justification.�ledness. Holiness. Redemption.

[50:59] Every spiritual blessing. And so we thank you. For putting us into Christ. By faith. And we thank you Jesus. For all that you accomplished. On our behalf.

[51:10] And we. Pray that others. This day. Would come to rest. Their eternal destiny. On what Jesus has done. For sinners. And come into the joy.

[51:21] Of sins forgiven. Of being justified. Of having eternal life. And no condemnation. And a new nature. That one day will be made. Completely like Christ.

[51:33] Send us then. Rejoicing in what is ours. In Christ. We pray in his name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Yes. Yes. Thank you.