Your New Identity (Victory Series Book #2): A Transforming Union with God

© 2014 by Neil T. Anderson

Published by Bethany House Publishers

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

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.
bakerpublishinggroup
.
com

Ebook edition created 2014

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4412-6568-5

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified
ESV
are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007

Scripture quotations identified
NASB
are from the New American Standard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations identified
NKJV
are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified
NLT
are from the
Holy Bible
, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Inside Out Design

Cover    
1

Title Page    
3

Copyright Page    
4

Introduction: The Victory Series    
7

Session One: A New Life “in Christ”    
11

1. A New Identity “in Christ” (Genesis 32:1–32)    
13

2. A New Position “in Christ” (Colossians 2:1–10)    
18

3. Crucified “in Christ” (Galatians 2:11–20)    
22

4. A New Person “in Christ” (Colossians 3:1–10)    
26

5. We Are Now Saints “in Christ” (1 Timothy 1:12–17)    
30

Session Two: A New Understanding of God’s Character    
35

1. God Is Loving and Compassionate (Nehemiah 9:16–21)    
37

2. God Is Merciful and Good (Psalm 100:1–5)    
41

3. God Is Gracious and Kind (Hebrews 4:14–16)    
45

4. God Is Faithful (Psalm 89:1–52)    
49

5. God Is Immutable (Numbers 23:13–20)    
53

Session Three: A New Understanding of God’s Nature    
59

1. The Trinity (Acts 2:32–36)    
61

2. I A
M
Who I A
M
(Exodus 3:1–15)    
65

3. The Last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45–54)    
69

4. The Deity of Christ (Philippians 2:1–11)    
73

5. The Holy Spirit (Acts 1:2–11)    
77

Session Four: A New Relationship With God    
83

1. Adopted (Galatians 4:1–7)    
87

2. A Right Standing (Jeremiah 52:31–34)    
91

3. Peace With God (Judges 6:1–24)    
95

4. Access to God (Hebrews 10:19–25)    
99

5. The Coming of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28–32)    
103

Session Five: A New Humanity    
109

1. A New Family (Ephesians 4:1–16)    
111

2. A New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:23–34)    
115

3. A New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:11–21)    
119

4. A New Heart (Proverbs 4:20–27)    
123

5. A New Spirit (John 3:1–15)    
127

Session Six: A New Beginning    
133

1. Overcoming Guilt (Romans 8:1–8)    
135

2. Overcoming Shame (Micah 7:7–10)    
139

3. Conviction of Sin (2 Corinthians 7:2–12)    
143

4. Our Inheritance in Christ (Hebrews 1:1–4)    
147

5. The Love of Christ (Ephesians 3:14–21)    
151

Leader’s Tips    
155

Notes    
159

Victory Series Scope and Sequence Overview    
161

Books and Resources    
165

Index    
169

Back Ad    
174

Back Cover    
175

The Victory Series

I
t’s the beginning of another busy day. We want to look nice and make a good impression, so we spend some time showering, combing our hair, putting on makeup, and all the other grooming routines. Those who are more physically disciplined will find time to exercise. We have a quick bite to eat and it’s off to work, school, or play.

Natural disciplines such as these are important. If we didn’t do these things, we would suffer the consequences—whether that would be getting in trouble with our boss, or being tardy for school, or angering a friend because we didn’t show up for an appointment. The same is true of spiritual disciplines, though it is easier for us to overlook their value, because we don’t always see the immediate benefits. Wondering what’s in it for us seems so unrighteous, but there are no sure commitments with no sure rewards.

The apostle Paul addresses this issue when he instructs us, “Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7–8). In other words, spiritual disciplines are more profitable than physical disciplines. Our lives will be more fruitful if we spend time with the Lord and seek to be transformed by the renewing of our minds to the truth of His Word.

What you are holding in your hands is the second study in the V
ICTORY
S
ERIES
on how you can discover your new identity in Christ and become the
person God created you to be. As you work through the six sessions in this Bible study, you will learn about the new life Christ has given to you, about God’s nature and character, and about the relationship He wants to form with you. You will discover the new heart and new spirit God has placed within you and about the assurance of salvation you have received. There are seven more studies in the V
ICTORY
S
ERIES
that will provide a practical systematic theology by which to live. All eight studies cover the subjects listed in the following tables.

As a believer in Christ, you must first be rooted “in Him” so that you can be built up “in Him.” Just as you encounter challenges as you grow physically, so too you will encounter hurdles as you grow spiritually. The following chart illustrates what obstacles you need to overcome and lessons you need to learn at various stages of growth spiritually, rationally, emotionally, volitionally, and relationally.

Levels of Conflict

This V
ICTORY
S
ERIES
will address these obstacles and hurdles and help you understand what it means to be firmly rooted in Christ, grow in Christ, live free in Christ, and overcome in Christ. The goal of the course is to help you attain greater levels of spiritual growth, as the following diagram illustrates:

Levels of Growth

Before starting each daily reading, review the portion of Scripture listed for that day, then complete the Bible study and application questions at the end of each day’s reading. These questions have been written to allow you to reflect on the material and apply to your life the ideas presented in the reading. At the end of each study, I have included a quote from a Church father illustrating the continuity of the Christian faith. Featured articles will appear in the text throughout the series, which are for the edification of the reader and not necessarily meant for discussion.

If you are part of a small group, be prepared to share your thoughts and insights with your group. You may also want to set up an accountability partnership with someone in your group to encourage you to take on the challenge at the end of each session. For those of you who are leading a small group, there are leader tips at the end of this book that will help you guide your participants through the material.

As with any spiritual discipline, you will be tempted at times not to finish this study. There is a “sure reward” for those who make a “sure commitment.” The V
ICTORY
S
ERIES
is far more than an intellectual exercise. The
truth will not set you free if you only acknowledge it and discuss it on an intellectual level. For the truth to transform your life, you must believe it personally and allow it to sink deep into your heart. Trust the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth and to enable you to be the person God has created you to be. Decide to live what you have chosen to believe.

Dr. Neil T. Anderson

W
ho our heavenly Father is and who we are in Christ are the two most important beliefs that every Christian should possess. The following testimony illustrates why these beliefs are so critical:

My husband and I are missionaries
. Even though I have been a Christian for 21 years
, I never understood God’s forgiveness and my spiritual heritage
. I have been a bulimic for years. I began this
horrible practice in Bible college. I never thought this living
hell would ever end, and I would have killed myself
had I not thought that it was a sin. I
felt God had turned His back on me and I
was doomed to hell because I couldn’t overcome this
sin. I felt like a failure, and I hated myself
.

When I read
Victory Over the Darkness
and began to
understand who I was in Christ
,
it opened my eyes
to God’s truth and love. Today I feel like
a new Christian. I can finally say I am free
—free of Satan’s bondage and aware of the lies
with which he has been filling me. Before, I would
confess to God
and beg His forgiveness when I binged
and purged. Yet the next time I fell deeper into
Satan’s grasp, because I couldn’t forgive myself and
I couldn’t accept God’s forgiveness. I always thought
the answer was to draw closer to God, but I
went to Him in fear and confusion.

No more! I
don’t consider myself a bulimic. I consider myself Christ
’s friend and a forgiven child of God. Food has
no power over me. Satan has lost his grip on
me!

Daily Readings