Identity: A New Creation – “Discipleship: The Simplicity and Purity of Devotion” – Chapter 4

Chapter four of “Discipleship: The Simplicity and Purity of Devotion”, on your new identity in Christ — what it means to be truly made alive, baptized into a new life, and marked by the fruit only the Holy Spirit can produce. Print edition coming soon.

Dead Things Brought to Life

Back in chapter two, we talked about “the fall” in The Garden of Eden as recorded in Genesis 3, discussing how God said that Adam and Eve would die if they ate the fruit from The Tree of Knowledge () and how Satan said that they wouldn’t die (). They ate the fruit and they incurred pain, suffering, hard work, and were kicked out of the garden. But, they didn’t die … well, at least not immediately anyway. In fact, according to , Adam went on to live a total of 930 years!

At first glance, it may seem like Satan was the one telling the truth instead of God. But here’s the thing, when God said “you’ll surely die,” He wasn’t merely talking about their physical bodies shutting down someday far in the future. He was talking about something more immediate and far more devastating: spiritual death.

Many scholars interpret as implying that before the fall, God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. They were fully alive—not just biologically, but relationally and spiritually. The moment they disobeyed though, something died. Not their lungs or their heartbeat, but their hearts’ orientation toward God. Spiritual death is a severing of the life-giving connection between humanity and God. They became spiritually dead while being physically alive. A walking contradiction that every human since has inherited (). However, this life-giving connection is restored in Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

John 15:5–6 ()

[5] [Jesus:] “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. [6] Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.”

This fruitful connection isn’t through our effort or striving. It isn’t through our good behavior or sincere intentions. But, it’s through Him. This is what it means to be “made alive.” You were spiritually dead until God made you alive again, through the power of the Holy Spirit, when You trusted in the blood of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice.

Colossians 2:13–15 ()

[13] You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. [14] He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. [15] In this way, he disarmed§ the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

Colossians 2:15 Or he stripped off.

So, it’s not self-improvement or moral reformation, but it’s going from a dead heart of stone that couldn’t care less about God, to a living heart that not only acknowledges God, but pursues Him.

Ezekiel 36:26–27 ()

[26] And I [God] will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. [27] And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

A Form of Godliness

Here’s the thing though. Just because someone looks spiritually alive, it doesn’t mean that they actually are. You can go to church every Sunday. You can memorize Scripture. You can serve on committees, volunteer in ministries, and check every box on the “good Christian” list. You can use all the right words, perfectly sing all the songs, and even be celebrated by other Christians. … And yet, despite all of that, still be spiritually dead. Jesus gave a very somber warning about this.

Matthew 7:21–23 ()

[21] “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. [22] On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ [23] But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Casting out demons?!? Performing many miracles?!? These sound like things that can only be done by those in alignment with God’s will. Nevertheless, they didn’t know him. THAT is the key. And the Greek word for “know” used here means, “to know intimately.” It’s not about actions performed, but it’s about being intimately acquainted with Him. This deep relationship will organically produce a heart that seeks to do God’s will, not the other way around.

Paul says that people lacking a deep relationship with God “hold to a form of godliness, but have denied its power” (). A “form” is a shape without substance, or a cheap imitation. This is what happens when people try to do Christianity on their own terms, desiring the respectability of faith without the surrender. In other words, they appear godly by acting religious, but they lack that true life-giving connection of the Holy Spirit: the giver of power ().

Matthew 23:25–26, 28 ()

[25] “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! [26] You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish,‡ and then the outside will become clean, too. … [28] Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Matthew 23:26 Some manuscripts do not include and the dish.

This is why being “made alive” matters so much. You can’t fake true resurrection. You might be able to mimic it for a while, but ultimately, dead things decay. They don’t grow. They don’t produce fruit. Dry bones don’t pull themselves together through sheer determination (). They don’t attend a seminar on “How to Be a Better Skeleton.” They need The Breath of God! They need same Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation, who breathed life into Adam’s nostrils, who raised Jesus from the dead.

A New Identity

When God makes you alive, He doesn’t just perform some minor repairs, slap on a fresh coat of paint, and send you back out into the world as a slightly improved version of yourself. No. He makes you a new person (a.k.a., a new creation), giving you something far more profound: a new identity.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ()

[17] This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Not a renovated person. Not a reformed person. A new person! Think about what that really means. When God makes you alive in Christ, you’re not just forgiven for past mistakes while remaining basically the same person, but trying harder to do better. Before salvation, your core identity was “sinner”: someone whose very nature was bent toward rebellion against God. After salvation, however, your core identity is “saint”: someone who belongs to God and is being shaped into the image of Christ through a process called “sanctification.”

Romans 8:29–30 ()

[29] For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn§ among many brothers and sisters. [30] And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

Romans 8:29 Or would be supreme.

Now, does that mean you never sin again? Obviously not. We all still stumble. We still feel the pull of old patterns and desires. But here’s the crucial difference: sin is no longer who you are. It’s what you sometimes do in contradiction to your new nature. It’s like getting your citizenship changed (). You may still sometimes speak with the accent of your old country, you may still have habits from your former home, but your legal status, your allegiance, and your true belonging have all changed.

1 John 3:1–2 ()

[1] See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. [2] Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

Not what we’re trying to become. Not what we hope to be someday. What we ARE. Right now. Already. This truth changes everything about how we approach the Christian life. We’re not trying to earn our way into God’s family through good behavior. We’re not striving to become children of God through perfect obedience. We’re already His children, learning to live like it.

Your new identity also means you’re no longer defined by your past. The things you’ve done, the mistakes you’ve made, the sins you’ve committed … they don’t get to write your name tag anymore. God does!

Revelation 2:17 ()

[17] “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.

So when the enemy comes whispering reminders of who you used to be, when guilt tries to drag you back into old identities, when shame tells you that you’re still defined by your failures … you get to respond with the truth of who God says you are.

Isaiah 43:1 ()

[1] But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.

Baptism and Identity

The biblical Greek word “baptize” literally means “to immerse or overwhelm.” While many believers grow up just hearing about one baptism—usually water baptism—and sometimes the baptism of The Holy Spirit, Scripture describes even more baptisms as immersions into new identities. Here’s a list of baptisms that we’ll briefly discuss in this section:

  1. Into Moses – Identifying with the Old Covenant.
  2. Of Repentance – Identifying with the need for change in preparation for the coming Messiah.
  3. Into Christ – Identifying with the Messiah’s death and resurrection for salvation.
  4. In Fire – Identifying with sanctification through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
  5. In the Holy Spirit – Identifying with empowerment from Heaven and incorporation into God’s Kingdom.
  6. Of Suffering – Identifying with Christ under persecution and martyrdom.

Baptism into Moses

Long before the New Testament church, God was already using baptism-like events to mark transitions of identity. Israel was “baptized into Moses” through the cloud and the sea (), not that Israel was literally water-baptized in the later Christian sense, but that they were immersed into a new covenant and national identity under Moses’ leadership.

The cloud represented God guiding and protecting the nation, as the people followed that guidance through Moses, whom God had appointed as mediator (). Later, the cloud even stood between Israel and Egypt at the sea, representing God’s guiding and protective presence (). Then they passed through the sea while Egypt—representing the old bondage—was destroyed behind them ().

John’s Baptism of Repentance

Shortly before Jesus began His earthly ministry, John the Baptist called people to be baptized, showing a repentant (a.k.a., changed) heart that was ready for what God would do through The Messiah (). John’s baptism didn’t give new life; it simply prepared people to receive it. Once Jesus the Messiah arrived and accomplished His work, that preparatory baptism served its purpose and went away.

Acts 19:1–5 ()

[1] While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers.§ [2] “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them.“No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” [3] “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked.And they replied, “The baptism of John.” [4] Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” [5] As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 19:1 Greek disciples; also in Acts 19:9, 30.

Baptism into Christ

Water baptism isn’t required for salvation, but it’s a physical and public declaration that’s symbolic of our spiritual baptism into Christ Jesus for salvation. Baptism into Christ (not the act of being dunked into water) is the “one baptism” (), because it’s the one that saves us and permanently defines us with a new identity that shares with His death to sin and His resurrection to new life (). We’re no longer defined by Adam, the Law, or our past, but by our union with Christ Himself—accepted, forgiven, and alive to God.

1 Peter 3:19–21 ()

[19] So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— [20] those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.§ [21] And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from§ a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 3:20 Greek saved through water.
1 Peter 3:21 Or as an appeal to God for.

Baptism in Fire

Some attribute “baptism in fire” to persecution, since we’re identifying with Christ and He was persecuted. However, that is the “baptism of suffering” instead. Since baptism in fire is mentioned alongside Holy Spirit baptism in verses like (and omitted in other verses like ), some others consider it eternal torment of Hell’s fire, which isn’t technically a baptism.

I believe it more clearly aligns with the process of sanctification. “Sanctification” is the refinement process of removing anything that makes you stumble in your walk with God (). This immersion in fire exposes what’s genuine within us by burning away what’s false. In this process, believers may suffer hard loss when worthless works are consumed, yet we’re still preserved in salvation. Ultimately, it’s better to identify with the need to seek God on this refinement now, rather than waiting, both to reduce unnecessary pain and to increase true satisfaction in Him.

1 Corinthians 3:11–15 ()

[11] For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. [12] Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. [13] But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. [14] If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. [15] But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

Baptism in The Holy Spirit

Baptism in The Holy Spirit is probably the most misunderstood of this list. People often blend it with baptism into Christ, or they blend it with the ability to speak in unknown tongues. Instead, baptism in The Holy Spirit is about being immersed into a new identity shaped by the Spirit’s presence and power. It marks a transition from simply stepping onto the path of salvation to fully identifying with God’s Kingdom and yielding to the Holy Spirit’s work within us.

In a lot of ways, the difference between baptism in Christ and baptism in The Holy Spirit is similar to when Israel crossed The Red Sea versus when they crossed The Jordan River. In Exodus 14, all of Israel was rescued as they left Egypt (the old sinful life), passed through The Red Sea (baptism into Christ) into covenant identity, and eventually formed a new nation that belonged to God (The Church). Crossing the Jordan River was God’s next commanded movement into the land He intended for them to inherit and live in (baptism in the Holy Spirit). But, in Numbers 32, we see that some tribes deliberately chose to remain on the eastern side of the river instead. The tribes that didn’t cross over didn’t “stop being Israel” and, ultimately, God permitted them to stay in their place of lesser participation.

In the same way, Holy Spirit baptism doesn’t divide God’s people into saved and unsaved, but it does distinguish between those who remain at the edge of promise and those who cross into fuller participation of empowerment and engagement with God and each other. It’s not a “second salvation,” but a willing movement into God’s intended calling. Baptism in The Holy Spirit is a choice, but it isn’t administered by humans. When we choose “more of God,” He immerses and overwhelms us with even more of The Holy Spirit. It makes us one with Christ and His Body, The Church, through spiritual fruit, spiritual gifts, and spiritual unity. These will be discussed further in the next section and upcoming chapters.

Acts 2:1–4 ()

[1] On the day of Pentecostⓘ all the believers were meeting together in one place. [2] Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. [3] Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. [4] And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,§ as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Acts 2:1 The Festival of Pentecost came 50 days after Passover (when Jesus was crucified).
Acts 2:4 Or in other tongues.

Baptism of Suffering

You won’t likely find the “baptism of suffering” talked about in most Christian circles. The concept comes from a couple of obscure statements from Jesus, the first of which is when He was talking about the fact that following Him causes division.

Luke 12:50–52 ()

[50] I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. [51] Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! [52] From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against—or two in favor and three against.

The other time this baptism was mentioned was in Jesus’ response to the apostles, James and John, when they asked to sit beside Him at His throne. They, along with Peter, were the three closest people to Jesus in the world. They weren’t just closer than the crowds and hundreds of disciples, but they were the closest of the twelve apostles. He took them to be part of special moments like reviving a young girl (), His transfiguration on the mountain (), and His soul-crushing prayer in Gethsemane (). With special treatment like this throughout His ministry, I’m sure it seemed to be a reasonable request in their minds.

Mark 10:38–39 ()

[38] But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?” [39] “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering.

In this moment, Jesus wasn’t giving them some sort of bait-and-switch for a hard life without eternal payoff. Instead, He was preparing their hearts for the hardships they would face in the future. You see, despite being Jesus’ closest companions, James was likely beheaded (), and early church fathers (Origen and Eusebius) say that Peter was crucified upside-down (). The apostle John’s baptism of suffering took the form of severe persecution, rather than martyrdom. He was exiled to Patmos () and, according to early Christian tradition, survived attempted execution of being boiled alive.

Christians are called to “know the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings” and “be conformed to His death” (, LSB), but not everyone is called to endure harsh persecution or martyrdom. So, it’s not about trying to get yourself tortured and killed, but understanding that the potential for torture and death is the cost of discipleship (). That being said, Scripture consistently shows that those who suffer for faithfulness to Christ hold a special place in God’s heart (). Also, if He calls you to endure suffering, He will give you the grace to endure it and be right there with you through it.

For example, despite the horrible persecution the apostle John endured, he didn’t retaliate, he just grew closer to God’s heart. Early Christian tradition says that when he was very old and no longer had the physical and mental ability to teach at length, he simply repeated the phrase, “Little children, love one another,” before eventually dying of natural causes.

Matthew 5:10–12 ()

[10] Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. [12] Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Fruit of the Spirit

Since we have this new identity, we’ve been made alive spiritually, and the Holy Spirit now dwells within us … what does that actually look like? Anyone can say that they’re “willing to die for the cause,” but how do we know the difference between someone with a form of godliness and someone who’s truly a new creation? Jesus gave a simple test: look at the fruit.

Matthew 7:16–20 ()

[16] You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? [17] A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. [18] A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. [19] So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. [20] Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

An apple tree produces apples, because that’s what God created them to do. But, that assumes the tree is alive and healthy. Disease, fungus, insects, poor root systems, and more can cause deformed and rotting fruit. This is why the Christian life isn’t about trying harder to be good, but about having that life-giving connection to God through the Holy Spirit that makes you become a different kind of tree that produces a very specific kind of fruit.

Galatians 5:16, 22–25 ()

[16] So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. … [22] But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. [25] Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Notice the language here. The Holy Spirit produces this fruit. Not “you must manufacture these qualities through willpower and discipline.” Not “here’s a list of virtues for you to achieve.” No. The Holy Spirit produces it in our lives as we remain connected to the Vine (Jesus), as we walk in relationship with God. It is evidence of identity, not effort. This is what marks the difference between religion and resurrection. Religion says, “Here’s the standard, now try harder to meet it.” Resurrection says, “You’ve been given a new nature, now learn to live out of it.” This fruit is a reflection of God’s nature overflowing from a changed heart ().

While everything listed as fruit in the verses above sounds positive and honorable, they’re clarified throughout the Bible as God’s escalated standards for these terms, not how people typically use them in the secular world. So, next we’ll walk through them individually to show how the Bible defines them.

Love

The English language has done much damage to conflate the word “love” into being nearly meaningless. You can love a taco and you can love your child. In New Testament Greek, it wasn’t this way. If you’ve been around church very long, you’ve probably heard the term “agape” (ah-GAH-pay), which means “to love unconditionally, cherish.” THIS is the love listed here (). It’s an unending and sacrificial love for God, Christians, family, friends, and even strangers (). While the world may think it loves well, this kind of love only unlocks when we draw close to God.

1 John 4:7–8, 19 ()

[7] Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. [8] But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. … [19] We love each other‡ because he loved us first.

1 John 4:19 Greek We love. Other manuscripts read We love God; still others read We love him.

Joy

Joy isn’t merely “happiness,” but a joy beyond what the world can even hope to offer. It’s shown as an overflow of the Holy Spirit (), and when combined with peace, it becomes a foundation for hope (). It isn’t the modern “toxic positivity” that refuses to feel sorrow, but it’s a steadfast joy that goes beyond circumstances. It sees the troubles of this world as a grievance, for sure, yet one that lasts only a brief period in comparison to eternity.

1 Peter 1:6–8 ()

[6] So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. [7] These trials will show that your faith is genuine. … [8] You love [Christ] even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

Peace

Peace isn’t merely the absence of conflict or a tranquil state to strive for. In one of Jesus’ sermons, often called “The Beatitudes” (Latin for “blessings”), He said that the peacemakers are blessed (). Notice that it says peacemakers, not peacekeepers. A peacekeeper avoids conflict at any cost, often suppressing tension, rather than resolving it. Whereas a peacemaker engages conflict to bring true reconciliation, enduring discomfort for the sake of seeking healed relationships, not just quiet ones. A peacemaker understands that it isn’t always possible to make amends (). Nevertheless, they’re filled with God’s peace, which goes beyond human understanding, protecting their emotions and thought life.

Philippians 4:6–7 ()

[6] Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Patience

Patience in biblical Greek can be literally translated as “long suffering,” giving the picture of a patient endurance with people and circumstances, restraining anger and retaliation while waiting on God’s perfect timing. A sign of this kind of patience being in someone is their instinct of Christ-like forgiveness (). This patience sees the coming reward worth more than anything they must give up now ().

Ecclesiastes 7:8–9 ()

[8] Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride.
[9] Control your temper,
for anger labels you a fool.

Kindness

Kindness isn’t just “doing nice things for someone,” it’s a graciousness with others and a compassion for others. The overflow of this is often kind acts, but that isn’t the true source. It’s ultimately God’s kindness that led us to turn the throne of our hearts back over to Him (). This type of kindness is the basis for grace (i.e., blessing people with favor that they don’t deserve) and mercy (i.e., blessing people by withholding punishment they do deserve).

Luke 6:35–36 ()

[35] “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. [36] You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Goodness

Goodness isn’t “trying to be a good person,” as we’ve already established that isn’t the point. Instead, it’s about living upright lives in humility, behaving in a way that’s beneficial to others, and being full of generosity. It’s about being prepared and led by God to bless others, whether with wealth or sharing what God’s taught you (). Simply put, it’s about doing the right thing, but where “rightness” is determined by God’s standard and direction.

Micah 6:6–8 ()

[6] What can we bring to the Lord?
Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God Most High
with offerings of yearling calves?
[7] Should we offer him thousands of rams
and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children
to pay for our sins?
[8] No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.

Faithfulness

Faithfulness is about reliability and integrity, being true to who you are in Christ and doing what you say you’ll do, even when no one is watching. It’s being honest and loyal to God, your spouse, and your work. Faithfulness is a principle that operates at scale, meaning that people are usually either faithful or not, whether it’s cheating on a test or cheating on their spouse (). That’s why this faithfulness is the foundation for abounding with blessings (), because as you show yourself to be trustworthy with what God’s given you (a.k.a., stewardship), God often entrusts you with even more responsibility, not to build your own kingdom but to demonstrate His.

Matthew 25:21 ()

[21] “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!§’

Matthew 25:21 Greek Enter into the joy of your master [or your Lord]; also in Matthew 25:23.

Gentleness

Gentleness isn’t weakness or timidity, but the disciplined restraint of power. It’s like a police canine unit that’s trained to acknowledge the slightest command and respond with action, and yet able to be pet by a child. Also often paired with humility, it’s someone who protects the heart of those who need correction () by having the courage to tell them the truth but with gentle love () instead of trying to stir up arguments.

Proverbs 15:1, 4 ()

[1] A gentle answer deflects anger,
but harsh words make tempers flare.
… [4] Gentle words are a tree of life;
a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Self-Control

Finally, self-control is an interesting one to include in this list. It’s surrounded by “Spirit, Spirit, Spirit,” then, all of the sudden, there’s a “self” thrown in there. The Greek word behind “self-control” is a compound word that you could literally translate as “inner strength.” So, while it can mean “discipline,” it points to the fact that our strength comes from the inside … from the core of our innermost being. It’s not a self-driven temperance we muster up, but it’s from a spirit and heart made alive and empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit (). It’s a “self-control” that requires a self-denial that submits all “self” and “control” to God in order to represent Him well to others.

1 Corinthians 9:25–27 ()

[25] All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. [26] So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. [27] I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

Pruning the Fruit-Bearer

A list of evidence like this begs the question: What about people that claim to be Christian, but don’t demonstrate this fruit? Does that mean they’re not truly saved? Does that mean the Spirit isn’t in them? Not necessarily. Remember, we’re talking about fruit, and fruit takes time to grow. You don’t plant an apple seed today and get apples tomorrow. There’s a process. Seasons. Growth. Sometimes it’s slow. Sometimes it’s painful. Sometimes it’s frustratingly gradual.

John 15:1–4 ()

[1] [Jesus:] “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. [2] He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. [3] You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. [4] Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”

If you look closely at this passage, you’ll see that God doesn’t prune the unfruitful, as that would be a waste of time. Pruning is a result of growth, to produce even more growth. See, pruning isn’t punishment, but refinement. This growth comes through hearing and accepting God’s word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 4:20 ()

[20] And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

An Unfair Advantage

If you belong to Christ, you have an unfair advantage in life. I don’t mean you’ll be richer, healthier, or more successful by the world’s standards. Nor do I mean everything will go your way or that you’ll avoid suffering. Jesus made it pretty clear that His followers would face trials and persecution (). So, I like to say that you’re “Divinely augmented.”

First of all, through prayer, you have the ear of the King of all creation. But more importantly, He can speak into your ear as well. As much as we may have ideas about how to approach things, He knows infinitely better (). Not only that, but God “declares the end from the beginning” (), meaning that He can tell you things before they even happen. When God speaks ahead of time, it’s to prepare us, guide us, and deepen our dependence on Him. It’s not to inflate our pride or satisfy curiosity, but to faithfully lead us step by step.

Secondly, you have access to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Living inside you. Right now.

Ephesians 1:19–22 ()

[19] I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power [20] that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. [21] Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. [22] God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.

That power was never meant to be a spiritual novelty or an emergency switch we only flip when life falls apart. It was given to bring new life, new desires, and new obedience into everyday living. This is what Paul meant when he said that he could “do all things through Christ who strengthens him” (). Now, this verse gets misquoted a lot. People slap it on coffee mugs and t-shirts as if it means “I can achieve anything I set my mind to!” That’s not what Paul’s saying at all. In context, Paul is saying he’s learned to be content in any circumstance, because Christ gives him the strength to endure, to remain faithful, to keep loving God and others no matter what.

This is the unfair advantage. It’s about supernatural enablement. Not that you’ll never struggle, but that you don’t struggle alone. Not that you’ll never face temptation, but that you have real power to resist it. Not that you’ll never feel weak, but that God’s power is made perfect in your weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:8–10 ()

[8] Three different times I begged the Lord to take [my sickness] away. [9] Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. [10] That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

You see, when we operate out of our own strength, we just slow things down. God uses the weak to confound the strong (), because the “weak” interrupt Him less. This is why it’s so hard for intelligent people to draw close to God. They try to “figure out” what He’s saying instead of just listening to Him. This is comparable to why it’s hard for the rich to enter The Kingdom (), because they’re used to surviving by their own power and resources instead of trusting God.

Proverbs 3:5–10 ()

[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
[6] Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
[7] Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
[8] Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.
[9] Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
[10] Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.

New Wine

In Jesus’ day, wine was stored in leather pouches made from animal hides called “wineskins.” When wine was fresh and still fermenting, it would expand and produce gases. New wineskins were flexible enough to stretch and accommodate this process. But old wineskins had already been stretched to their limit, becoming rigid, brittle, and cracked.

Luke 5:37–39 ()

[37] “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. [38] New wine must be stored in new wineskins. [39] But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the new wine. ‘The old is just fine,’ they say.”

Jesus was saying something radical in this parable. What He offers isn’t a patch job. It’s not a religious upgrade to your existing life. You can’t take resurrection power and try to manage it with dead, self-reliant systems of religious performance. You can’t take a new identity in Christ and keep living according to your old identity. New wine requires new wineskins.

This is why so many people struggle with Christianity. They want the benefits—forgiveness, peace, purpose, eternal life—but they want to keep the old wineskin. They want salvation without transformation. They want the benefits of the cross without the death to self. They want resurrection without first being buried.

This leads to the scariest statement in this parable, “The old way is just fine.” Our old way of doing things is familiar. Comfortable. Predictable. Self-reliance feels safer than dependence on God. Performance-based religion gives us something to measure and control. The old wineskin doesn’t require trust or surrender, just effort and willpower.

But the new wine? It’s unpredictable. As it ferments and expands, it requires flexibility, surrender, and trust. It means giving up control and letting God do what only He can do. It means admitting that your old ways, no matter how familiar, were leading to death.

Ephesians 4:20–24 ()

[20] But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. [21] Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, [22] throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. [23] Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. [24] Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Throw off the old. Put on the new. This is new wineskin language. This is why being a new creation is so threatening to some people. It’s not just about adding Jesus to your life. It’s about letting Him transform everything. It’s not about becoming a better version of yourself. It’s about becoming someone new. And that’s scary. Because new means the old, comfortable patterns of habits and traditions (even religious ones) sometimes have to die.

Galatians 6:15 ()

[15] It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.

The old wine of self-effort leads to exhaustion, but the new wine of Spirit-empowered life brings rest. The old wine of performance brings anxiety and fear of failure, but the new wine of grace brings freedom and joy. The old wine of religious duty tastes bitter after a while, but the new wine of loving relationship with God is sweet and satisfying. Finally, the old wine eventually runs out (i.e., stops producing the desired result). But, new wine never stops flowing because it comes from an infinite Source.

Chapter Resources

If this chapter stirred something in you to learn more about the Holy Spirit and what we have in Him, I can’t recommend enough the book Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan. We talk about God the Father. We celebrate Jesus. But the Holy Spirit? Too often, He’s treated like an optional add-on rather than the very presence of God living inside us. Chan doesn’t give us five easy steps to “activate” the Spirit. Instead, he invites us into the kind of surrendered, dependent, sometimes uncomfortable life that actually makes room for God to move.

John 7:37c–39 ()

[37] … Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! [38] Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, “Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.” [39] (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

A prayer:

Heavenly Father,

I’m so thirsty for more of You, God. I want to want You even more. Shine Your light down in the deepest, darkest part of my being and cleanse my heart and mind from anything that distracts me from You.

[Optionally name specific things that you’re aware of and listen for Him to bring things up.]

Instead of those things in my life, God, I want to be consumed by You and You alone!

Saturate me in Your Holy Spirit to the point of overflowing with Your fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and inner-strength for discipline from Your Spirit.

Guide me in how to be faithful to You, to my family, and at work. I want to have integrity and wise stewardship in small and large things. Help me to respond instead of react, operating from an instinct abounding with Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Change me, Lord, from the inside out. Help me to remember that You’ve made me new. You’ve given me a new heart, a new nature, and a new identity in You. So, don’t let me settle for any “old wine” just because it feels safe to me. Overwhelm me with rivers of the Living Water of Your Holy Spirit inside me.

Amen