We are a new creation in Christ, yet we are still plagued with human nature.

1) Our position in Christ never changes, but the challenges before us change as we move forward.  Don't lose our base camp in Christ.  Today, "understanding our victory in Christ" we have a role -- Ho w can I change my life?  The story of the Bible is God using ordinary people to do extraordinary things.  Examples:  slave Israel, shepherds to prophets, fishermen to conquerors.  1Cor 1:26  Corinth is nothing compared to Athens -- just ordinary.  Why the ordinary?  That no flesh should glory (v 29).  It's not about us, but what Christ is performing in us.  In the island analogy, maybe we've moved just past the beachhead, while others are not there yet.  We need to recognize where they are and help them!  One shoe does not fit all people.  Are we all to enjoy the process?

James 1:2-4.  How patient is God?  All forsook Jesus at His hour of greatest need.

The power of Acts and the New Testament is the story of Christ in the apostles and their changed lives.  Why were so many of the letters and epistles written so late?  Because of their own life experiences and their changes needed to be related.

1 John 1:8 John says "we" - he is still on the journey.

Encourage others with our story.

Contrast the gifts of the spirit with the fruit of the spirit.  Gifts being tongues, prophecy, etc. (1 Cor 13).  Fruit being love, joy, peace, etc.

1 Thes 2:6-11 Paul gave a measure of his own life (v8) because they were dear to him as a family. Exhort, comfort, (v 11) as a father does.

Col 2:10-15  My position in Christ.  The victory is won!

Romans 5:1-11  My position in Christ, no matter what comes.  Christianity is about God's love toward us (v8)

1 John 3:8 The victory is won, but we have a role.

Rom 2:4  Goodness of God brings us to repentance.  God's love accepted us as we were, in spite of our initial reprehensible behavior.

God doesn't change us in order to love us, but He loves us in order to change us.

We are used to having to measure up to be worthy of being loved.  Not so with God.