Grace Given Identity

Building upon the previous teaching, “Sons by Grace, Disciples by Formation,” this lesson, “Grace Given Identity,” takes us deeper into the relationship between sonship, identity, and discipleship. Jesus did not simply call us to believe certain truths about Him. He called us to follow Him. First Peter 2:21 reminds us that Christ left us an example so that we would follow in His steps, while 1 John 2:6 teaches that whoever claims to abide in Him should walk as Jesus walked.

Grace gives us our identity, but discipleship forms us into maturity. We are not discipled merely by attending services, accumulating biblical information, or being inspired by powerful messages. Discipleship is the intentional formation of our lives into the likeness of Christ. It affects how we think, how we love, how we respond, how we serve, how we obey, and how we represent the Father in the world.

We do not follow Jesus in order to earn sonship. We follow Him because, by grace, we have already been made sons and daughters. Now the invitation is to grow, mature, take responsibility, embrace His mission, and increasingly reflect the character of the Father whose house we have been welcomed into.