What did you discover in the last conversation that changes how you answer the question, “Who am I?”
What are some aspects of how God sees you that may be difficult for you to accept?
Romans 12:2 explains that there are things that hinder us from embracing God’s truth and allowing it to change our lives. One version of this verse says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Discover: What can hinder us from embracing the truth of who we are in Christ?
Reflect: Why is it difficult to change what we think?
KNOW AND ACCEPT GOD'S TRUTH
Our willingness to embrace the identity God has given to us is essential for our transformation. Rather than relying on our feelings or the opinions of others, we need to know what God says about us, trust Him, and accept it as true.
Ephesians 1 lists many truths about who we are in Christ. They are so incredible that we may struggle with accepting them, especially since what the world says is so ingrained in our minds. We may replay in our minds things people have said, or be tempted to rely on what our experience and feelings say is true rather than believe God’s Word.
Share: Are there any negative views of yourself that you find hard to overcome?
We need to learn how to renew our minds and allow God’s Word to change the way we think. Let’s practice that now by studying a part of Ephesians 1. If possible, use your own Bible to get used to studying this way.
As you read:
• Reflect on whether you truly believe it or not.
• Mark phrases that need to become part of your
thinking and choose verses to memorize later.
• Reflect on how these truths affect your life and
relationship with God.
Before we start, let’s ask God to open our minds and hearts to His truth.
Read Ephesians 1:3-8.
Ephesians 1:3-8
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight . . .
Discover: With what has God chosen to bless us?
A few phrases may be difficult to understand, such as: “chosen before the foundation of the world,” “predestined us,” and “according to the purpose of His will.” These imply that you are a part of God’s great plan.
Discuss: What honor and privilege come from being adopted by God?
Reflect: What does it mean to you personally that God chose you to be his adopted child?
God chose us and predestined us “in love.” We know that “God so loved the world,” but sometimes we may struggle to accept that it is true for us personally.
Reflect: Do you believe that God loves you?
Reflect: Is there anything that keeps you from accepting that the truths in Ephesians apply to you?
If you feel that “holy and blameless” cannot apply to
you, remember how we stand “in Christ.”
Discover: How did God make us holy and blameless “through Jesus Christ”?
Discover: How is grace involved in God doing this for us?
Reflect: How does it bring glory to God that He did this through Christ?
Think about these amazing truths: God chose us as His own before He created the world. Knowing that He would have to make us holy and blameless, He lovingly and graciously planned to provide the sacrifice of His Son in our place. In Christ we are now holy and blameless in His sight. No matter how other people see you or treat you, you are God’s dearly loved child.
Discuss: How could it affect your life if you fail to believe these truths about your identity in Christ?
Reflect: If you struggle with accepting that redemption, forgiveness, and adoption into God’s family is a gift of His grace, what needs to happen for you to let go of trying to be worthy of that gift?
TRUST GOD TO WORK HIS TRUTH IN YOU
One of our greatest challenges is a lack of trust in God. Even though we know what God’s word says, we may doubt His desire or ability to make it true for us because we know we are unworthy or we feel it all depends on us. God has declared us a new creation who benefits from what Christ has accomplished, and shares in His position, privilege, and power. Rather than seeing ourselves in terms of our own abilities, we need to shift our focus to His ability to make every part of our new identity a reality. See Romans 6:4.
Romans 6:4
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Discuss: What do you think it means to “walk in newness of life”?
Reflect: How does Christ’s power to rise from the dead assure us that He has the power to give us this new life?
In Christ we have both a new life and a new way to live. Galatians 2:20 describes how our perspective needs to change.
Galatians 2:20
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.
Discover: How are we to live our daily lives “in the flesh”?
“Live by faith” is not an empty slogan. Perhaps people have told you, “You just have to BELIEVE,” but never explained what you are to believe IN. Galatians 2:20 says we live by faith “in the Son of God.” We put our faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross, and what He promises to continue to do in us daily as we learn to trust Him.
Share: What do you know or have experienced about God that assures you that He is worthy of your trust?
KEEP YOUR MIND ON WHAT IS TRUE
The renewing of our minds also depends on our choice to view ourselves according to what God says about who we are in Christ. We need to let His truth define us. Look at Romans 6:11.
Romans 6:11
So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Discover: How are you to “consider,” or view, yourself?
Reflect: What needs to happen for you to see yourself this way?
Where we choose to keep our thoughts throughout the day affects how we view ourselves.
In Colossians 3:1-3 God tells us to keep our minds fixed on the heavenly reality of who we are in Christ rather than on an earthly perspective.
Colossians 3:1-3
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Reflect: What is an example of an earthly perspective that pulls your mind away from what God has made true about you?
Sometimes we go back to our old ways of thinking about ourselves. When that happens, we should do what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5: “take every thought captive to obey Christ.” We need to reject any wrong thinking and remind ourselves of the truth.
Reflect: What dangers do we face if our thoughts no longer obey Christ?
At times it may seem like a battle between the old way of thinking and God’s truth. God has provided spiritual armor for us, including the “belt of truth” to help us stand strong, “in the strength of His might” (Ephesians 6:10-18). God’s Word and prayer are both defensive and offensive weapons that enable us to move forward.
Ephesians 6:10, 14
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might . . . Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness . . .
Memorizing and meditating on Scripture helps us keep His truth in our minds. Just as Jesus countered temptations by stating what was written in Scripture, we can quote God’s truth when we find ourselves tempted. For example: If you feel overwhelmed by sinful habits that you cannot seem to break, remember Romans 6:11 says that you are dead tosin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Memorize this verse, then speak it out loud to remind yourself of what is true.
Through prayer we can ask God to be at work in our lives and bring our feelings in line with His truth. As we end our time, let’s thank God for the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17-18. Let’s ask Him to confirm in our hearts how He sees us, help us embrace His truth, and renew our minds.
2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation . . .
GOING FORWARD
Clarify: What thoughts or questions do you have
Summarize: What have you learned about renewing your mind?
Action steps: What Scripture could you memorize to help you take your thoughts captive to the truth?
Share: Do you know anyone who would be helped by this topic? What would you share with them?
Reinforce:
As you read these verses, underline the truths that God wants you to believe about who you are in Christ.
Ephesians 2:1-10
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Colossians 3:1-14
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Colossians 2:11-15
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Hebrews 10:19-23
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints . . .
