August 25th, 2025
by Scott Shelton
by Scott Shelton
The Transformative Power of God's Love: Rediscovering Our True Identity
In a world often clouded by misunderstanding and distorted views of God, there's a profound truth waiting to be rediscovered: God is love. Not just any kind of love, but agape love - an other-centered, co-suffering, self-giving, and self-sacrificial love that forms the very essence of His being. This revelation has the power to radically transform our lives and our understanding of what it means to be a Christian.
For too long, many of us have operated under a flawed understanding of sin and our relationship with God. We've seen sin primarily as actions we commit, rather than a fundamental misalignment with our true identity in Christ. This perspective has led countless believers into cycles of striving, guilt, and frustration, always feeling like they're falling short of God's expectations.
But what if we've been looking at it all wrong? What if the core issue isn't about what we do, but about who we believe ourselves to be?
The early church fathers, like Irenaeus and Athanasius, understood something profound that many of us have lost sight of: Christ's incarnation was about restoring humanity's very being by reconnecting it to God's divine nature. Jesus didn't just come to forgive our sins; He came to show us the Father and to invite us into perfect union with the Trinity.
This concept, known as perichoresis, paints a beautiful picture of our relationship with God. Imagine it like this: the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and you, all intertwined in a dance of perfect love and unity. This isn't just a nice metaphor - it's the reality of our existence in Christ. We are truly one with Him, partakers of the divine nature.
Yet, so often we live as if we're separated from God, struggling to earn His approval or fearing His judgment. This mindset is what the Bible refers to as hamartia - missing the mark or falling short of our true identity. It's a state of non-being, existing outside of perfect union with God.
The good news - the true gospel - is that Jesus has already bridged this gap. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He has undone the effects of Adam's fall and restored us to our rightful place in the Father's embrace. As the writer of Hebrews puts it:
"So we conclude that there is still a full and complete rest waiting for believers to experience as we enter into God's faith-rest life. We cease from our own works just as God celebrates his finished work and rests in them." (Hebrews 4:9-10, TPT)
This rest isn't about inactivity, but about ceasing our striving and fully embracing our identity in Christ. It's about allowing His love to transform us from the inside out, rather than trying to change ourselves through sheer willpower.
Consider the story of Peter, the disciple who often epitomized the struggle between striving and resting in God's love. Even after walking with Jesus for years, Peter found himself denying Christ in His hour of need. Yet, in that moment of failure, when their eyes met across the courtyard, Peter didn't see condemnation in Jesus' gaze. He saw love - a love so pure and unconditional that it broke him and began the process of truly transforming him.
Later, in a poignant scene by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. The exchange reveals a profound truth: even when we feel incapable of loving God perfectly (agape), His perfect love for us is enough. It's from this place of receiving His love that we become capable of loving others and fulfilling our calling.
This transformative love is available to all of us. It's not reserved for the spiritually elite or those who have their lives perfectly together. In fact, it's often in our moments of greatest weakness and failure that we're most open to experiencing the depths of God's love.
The Apostle Paul beautifully captures this struggle and triumph in Romans 7 and 8. He describes the internal war between our flesh and spirit, the frustration of wanting to do good but often failing. Yet he concludes with a triumphant declaration:
"So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One." (Romans 8:1, TPT)
This is the freedom Christ offers us - not just forgiveness of sins, but a complete transformation of our identity. We are no longer defined by our failures or our struggles, but by our union with Christ.
So how do we live in light of this truth? It starts with a radical reorientation of our thinking. When we find ourselves falling into old patterns of sin or struggle, instead of beating ourselves up or trying harder, we can pause and ask: "What lie am I believing about God that's causing me to act this way?" Often, our actions stem from a distorted view of God's character or a failure to grasp the depth of His love for us.
As we allow the Holy Spirit to reveal these lies and replace them with the truth of God's word, we'll find ourselves naturally growing in holiness. Not out of obligation or fear, but out of a deep, abiding love for the One who first loved us.
This journey of transformation isn't always easy. It requires vulnerability, honesty, and a willingness to let go of our old ways of thinking. But the reward is beyond compare - a life lived in the fullness of God's love, free from condemnation and filled with His peace.
May we all have the courage to embrace this radical love, to see ourselves as God sees us, and to live from a place of unshakeable identity in Christ. As we do, we'll not only experience personal transformation but will become powerful witnesses of God's love to a world desperately in need of it.
(This blog was created from Scott Shelton's original sermon using pulpit.ai)
In a world often clouded by misunderstanding and distorted views of God, there's a profound truth waiting to be rediscovered: God is love. Not just any kind of love, but agape love - an other-centered, co-suffering, self-giving, and self-sacrificial love that forms the very essence of His being. This revelation has the power to radically transform our lives and our understanding of what it means to be a Christian.
For too long, many of us have operated under a flawed understanding of sin and our relationship with God. We've seen sin primarily as actions we commit, rather than a fundamental misalignment with our true identity in Christ. This perspective has led countless believers into cycles of striving, guilt, and frustration, always feeling like they're falling short of God's expectations.
But what if we've been looking at it all wrong? What if the core issue isn't about what we do, but about who we believe ourselves to be?
The early church fathers, like Irenaeus and Athanasius, understood something profound that many of us have lost sight of: Christ's incarnation was about restoring humanity's very being by reconnecting it to God's divine nature. Jesus didn't just come to forgive our sins; He came to show us the Father and to invite us into perfect union with the Trinity.
This concept, known as perichoresis, paints a beautiful picture of our relationship with God. Imagine it like this: the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and you, all intertwined in a dance of perfect love and unity. This isn't just a nice metaphor - it's the reality of our existence in Christ. We are truly one with Him, partakers of the divine nature.
Yet, so often we live as if we're separated from God, struggling to earn His approval or fearing His judgment. This mindset is what the Bible refers to as hamartia - missing the mark or falling short of our true identity. It's a state of non-being, existing outside of perfect union with God.
The good news - the true gospel - is that Jesus has already bridged this gap. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He has undone the effects of Adam's fall and restored us to our rightful place in the Father's embrace. As the writer of Hebrews puts it:
"So we conclude that there is still a full and complete rest waiting for believers to experience as we enter into God's faith-rest life. We cease from our own works just as God celebrates his finished work and rests in them." (Hebrews 4:9-10, TPT)
This rest isn't about inactivity, but about ceasing our striving and fully embracing our identity in Christ. It's about allowing His love to transform us from the inside out, rather than trying to change ourselves through sheer willpower.
Consider the story of Peter, the disciple who often epitomized the struggle between striving and resting in God's love. Even after walking with Jesus for years, Peter found himself denying Christ in His hour of need. Yet, in that moment of failure, when their eyes met across the courtyard, Peter didn't see condemnation in Jesus' gaze. He saw love - a love so pure and unconditional that it broke him and began the process of truly transforming him.
Later, in a poignant scene by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. The exchange reveals a profound truth: even when we feel incapable of loving God perfectly (agape), His perfect love for us is enough. It's from this place of receiving His love that we become capable of loving others and fulfilling our calling.
This transformative love is available to all of us. It's not reserved for the spiritually elite or those who have their lives perfectly together. In fact, it's often in our moments of greatest weakness and failure that we're most open to experiencing the depths of God's love.
The Apostle Paul beautifully captures this struggle and triumph in Romans 7 and 8. He describes the internal war between our flesh and spirit, the frustration of wanting to do good but often failing. Yet he concludes with a triumphant declaration:
"So now the case is closed. There remains no accusing voice of condemnation against those who are joined in life-union with Jesus, the Anointed One." (Romans 8:1, TPT)
This is the freedom Christ offers us - not just forgiveness of sins, but a complete transformation of our identity. We are no longer defined by our failures or our struggles, but by our union with Christ.
So how do we live in light of this truth? It starts with a radical reorientation of our thinking. When we find ourselves falling into old patterns of sin or struggle, instead of beating ourselves up or trying harder, we can pause and ask: "What lie am I believing about God that's causing me to act this way?" Often, our actions stem from a distorted view of God's character or a failure to grasp the depth of His love for us.
As we allow the Holy Spirit to reveal these lies and replace them with the truth of God's word, we'll find ourselves naturally growing in holiness. Not out of obligation or fear, but out of a deep, abiding love for the One who first loved us.
This journey of transformation isn't always easy. It requires vulnerability, honesty, and a willingness to let go of our old ways of thinking. But the reward is beyond compare - a life lived in the fullness of God's love, free from condemnation and filled with His peace.
May we all have the courage to embrace this radical love, to see ourselves as God sees us, and to live from a place of unshakeable identity in Christ. As we do, we'll not only experience personal transformation but will become powerful witnesses of God's love to a world desperately in need of it.
(This blog was created from Scott Shelton's original sermon using pulpit.ai)
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