Discipleship Studies
Life in Christ
Understanding Our Identity, Growth, Service, Vocation, and Witness in Christ
Paul's letters repeatedly return to one deceptively simple expression: "in Christ." For Paul, this is not merely another way of saying that someone believes in Jesus. It describes the believer's new identity and position before God. Those who belong to Christ have been joined to Him in His death and resurrection, placed within a new sphere of existence, and given realities that are true of them because they are His.
Yet the New Testament also recognizes that our present experience does not always correspond perfectly to that position. Christians who are already accepted in Christ must still grow. Those who have been declared righteous must learn to live righteously. Those who have been made new must increasingly walk in newness of life.
Life in Christ explores that relationship between position and condition. The series begins with union with Christ and then follows its implications through the indwelling Spirit, sanctification, the Church, spiritual gifts, vocation, and Christian witness.
“We do not behave our way into an identity in Christ. Our lives are progressively transformed because God has already established our identity in Christ.”
“My goal is simple: to take serious biblical study and make it understandable without making it shallow.”
The Theological Movement
Position
The believer receives a new identity and standing in Christ.
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The Indwelling Spirit
God takes up residence within those who belong to Christ.
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Sanctification
The believer's present condition is progressively transformed toward the reality of that position.
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The Church
Those united to Christ are united to His people.
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Spiritual Gifts
The Spirit equips the members of Christ's body to serve one another.
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Christian Vocation
Life in Christ moves into work, family, responsibility, stewardship, and ordinary life.
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Christian Witness
Life in Christ becomes visible and verbal before the world.
The Seven Modules
Module 1
In Christ: The Foundation of Christian Identity
Paul's "in Christ" motif and the distinction between position and condition
Paul's repeated description of believers as being "in Christ" provides the theological foundation for understanding Christian identity. This module examines union with Christ, the believer's new position before God, and why Christian growth begins with what God has already accomplished rather than with an attempt to earn acceptance through performance.
Module 2
The Indwelling Spirit
The Holy Spirit's presence as the reality, assurance, and power of Life in Christ
Those who are in Christ are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This module examines the Spirit's presence as the seal and assurance of belonging to God, His role in Christian transformation, and the difference between attempting to produce spiritual life through human effort and living from the divine life already present within the believer.
Module 3
Sanctification: Becoming in Practice What We Already Are in Christ
The believer's present condition progressively coming into conformity with the believer's position in Christ
Sanctification is not an attempt to earn the identity God has withheld until we become sufficiently holy. It is the Spirit's continuing work of bringing our present experience into increasing conformity with the position already given to us in Christ.
Module 4
The Church: The People of God in Christ
Union with Christ necessarily creates union with His people
Life in Christ is never merely private. Those joined to Christ are joined to His body. This module explores the Church through the New Testament images of body, household, temple, priesthood, and bride and demonstrates why Christian identity necessarily includes belonging to the people of God.
Module 5
Spiritual Gifts: Grace Given for the Common Good
The Spirit equips members of Christ's body to serve one another
Spiritual gifts are expressions of God's grace entrusted to believers for service rather than badges of spiritual rank. This module examines the diversity, purpose, development, and responsible use of spiritual gifts while emphasizing that giftedness is not the same thing as spiritual maturity.
Module 6
Christian Vocation: Living in Christ in the Ordinary Places of Life
Life in Christ extends into work, family, stewardship, responsibility, retirement, and ordinary life
Christian vocation is larger than employment. Because believers belong to Christ, work, family responsibilities, leadership, service, creativity, money, retirement, and everyday relationships become arenas of Christian faithfulness. We work from our identity in Christ rather than attempting to create an identity through achievement.
Module 7
Christian Witness: Living as Lights in a Watching World
Life in Christ becoming visible and verbal before the world
Christian witness is more than an evangelistic program. People observe how believers work, suffer, speak, love, fail, repent, forgive, and hope. This concluding module examines how identity in Christ becomes public testimony through both faithful conduct and clear proclamation of the gospel.