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Identity, Unity, Activity

 (ID: 3013)

Our culture encourages us to look inside ourselves to discover our identities. In contrast, Alistair Begg reminds Christians that who we are is actually found by looking outward toward God. Once we have put our faith in Christ, we are identified by His work in our lives, our unity with others in His love, and our actions in His name. It is by these countercultural distinctives in believers that the Gospel is made attractive to the world.


Put On the New Self

1bIf then you have been raised with Christ, seek cthe things that are above, where Christ is, dseated at the right hand of God. 2eSet your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For fyou have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ gwho is your1 life happears, then you also will appear with him iin glory.

5jPut to death therefore kwhat is earthly in you:2 lsexual immorality, impurity, mpassion, evil desire, and covetousness, nwhich is idolatry. 6oOn account of these the wrath of God is coming.3 7pIn these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now qyou must put them all away: ranger, wrath, malice, sslander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9tDo not lie to one another, seeing that uyou have put off vthe old self4 with its practices 10and whave put on xthe new self, ywhich is being renewed in knowledge zafter the image of aits creator. 11bHere there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,5 free; but Christ is call, and in all.

12dPut on then, as eGod's chosen ones, holy and beloved, fcompassionate hearts, gkindness, hhumility, meekness, and patience, 13hbearing with one another and, iif one has a complaint against another, gforgiving each other; gas the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on jlove, which kbinds everything together in lperfect harmony. 15And let mthe peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called nin one body. And obe thankful. 16Let pthe word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, qsinging psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, rwith thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And swhatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, tgiving thanks to God the Father through him.

Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

Alistair Begg
Alistair Begg is Senior Pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Bible teacher on Truth For Life, which is heard on the radio and online around the world.