From the beginning, we were designed for work. The Gospel message is not just a ticket out of hell, but a call to redeem the work that He has planned for us ahead of time. Our inherent identity in Christ is born out of our knowledge of Him, transformed from the inside out, and propelled to do good works.

Our identity isn't displayed in outward appearances but the depths of who we are is found in the heart. We know, however, that the heart is deceitful above all things. Graciously, Jesus came so that our hard, lying hearts would be replaced by one that only He could change. Our behaviour is then transformed by what bubbles out of us.

Whatever you put in your head, is what you're going to get out. Transformation starts in our minds and it's important to consider the bulk of what we feast on in our minds. Freedom starts with what we know about Jesus. Our identity revolves around what's in our head.

We begin our identity series discussing the importance of telling our story. When we leave our dreams in God's hands, he weaves a testimony of His glory and power. It is that testimony and the blood of the Lamb that will overcome the enemy. So dream big and watch God create a masterpiece.

We recap our journey through Romans and the work that Christ has DONE on our behalf. The knowledge of the gospel is what does a work in us and changes our hearts. Jesus has completed the work of our righteousness and it is our job to believe.

Learning how to lay down our arguments for the good of another in Christ is where we find ourselves in Romans this week. Jesus' sacrificial love in which he laid down his liberties for us is the model for our evangelism. The people God has placed in our lives will be changed by the Holy Spirit and not by our lists of holiness.

In a world fraught with arguments and cancel culture, our visit in Romans this morning challenges us to mind our own business while trusting the Holy Spirit to continue His work in others. Being in relationship with others will inevitably bump us up against those we don't agree with or with whom we wish would have a behavior transformation, but we must recognize that we too are in need of behavior modification. It's why Jesus came to lay down his life. So our response naturally becomes one of a life laid down for Him and for others.

Today is the heart of the indicative shift in Romans. Paul outlines that it is only when we are truly transformed and embrace the love of Christ that we will then be able to love others. It is Christ's work that enables our transformation.

We enter an idicative imperitive shift this week, which basically means we have established truth and now comes the response. The truth of God's grace that has been conveyed now requires a life change. The difference between the behavioral list Paul presents and what religion would require of us is that outward displayed evidence of true conversion is only accomplished through a complete heart change that only the Holy Spirit can complete.

In the Holy Place, the items used for worship were intended to remind the priest of the past, present, and future of Israel. As we continue our study in Romans following the progression of worship in the tabernacle, Paul points out that our contemplation must remain rooted in the fact that we are not the main character in the story. This is God's.