Deeper by Dane C. Ortlund
Week 5: Chapter 4 — Identity
Read Chapter 4 of Deeper by Dane Ortlund. Key passages: Romans 6:1–14; Ephesians 1:3–14; 2 Corinthians 5:17.
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Ortlund argues that knowing *who you are* in Christ is not a self-help exercise but the most potent force for change — and that one of the great tragedies of the Christian life is believers living beneath their actual identity.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.Ortlund distinguishes between identity *earned* through behavior and identity *given* through what Christ has accomplished. Why does the direction of that arrow matter so much? What goes wrong when Christians try to build their identity through spiritual performance?
2.Romans 6 is central to this chapter: Paul's appeal to the Roman Christians not to sin is grounded in *who they already are* — dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. What is striking about this approach? How does it differ from how you typically try to motivate yourself or others to resist sin?
3.Ortlund uses the phrase "invincible identity" — the believer's standing in Christ cannot be taken away, shaken, or diminished by sin, failure, or accusation. How does this land emotionally for you? Does it feel liberating, or does it feel like it might remove urgency from the battle against sin?
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