#210 Vinz: Finding Identity Beyond the Spiritual Checklist

Jonathan shares his transformative journey from growing up in a rigid religious environment to discovering true freedom and identity in Christ's finished work.• Grew up in a strict Adventist home focused on doctrine and religious law• Struggled with pornography addiction from a young age• Repeatedly tried and failed to break free using willpower and accountability• Received discouraging messages that addiction would be a lifelong battle• Experienced a breakthrough when he learned to see himself as God sees him• Had a "dolly zoom moment" when he realized his identity is not in his mistakes• Found freedom by understanding Romans 6 and his death to sin in Christ• Now shares this message with others through  social mediaIf you're struggling with addiction or shame, remember that God has removed every obstacle between you and freedom. Your identity isn't determined by your struggles but by Christ's finished work.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Frank Paine shares his journey from a devastating pornography addiction and legalism to finding freedom through understanding his identity in Christ. After years of smashing laptops, crying in closets, and feeling condemned, Frank discovered that true freedom comes not from trying harder but from embracing who God says he is.• Grew up with minimal religious background but felt drawn to God from childhood• Struggled with pornography addiction for over a decade• Experienced crushing shame and believed God was punishing him for his failures• Tried various solutions including Celebrate Recovery, Pentecostal and Adventist churches• Battled legalism that made him believe his salvation depended on his behavior• Discovered Love Reality Bible Studies in 2022, which transformed his understanding• Learned that his identity is rooted in Christ, not in his behavior• Found freedom by believing what God says about him rather than identifying with his sin• Began working with a life coach who helped him apply gospel truth to daily living• Now ministers to others struggling with similar issuesIf you're trapped in cycles of shame and addiction, stop identifying with what you're doing and start identifying with what God's Word says about you in spite of what you're doing. The freedom you seek comes from believing the truth about your identity in Christ.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Brie shares her extraordinary journey from the brink of suicide through years of New Age spirituality to finding authentic freedom in Christ. Her raw testimony reveals the deceptive nature of alternative spiritual practices while highlighting the transformative power of encountering Jesus.• Growing up without faith and finding identity in partying, drugs, and promiscuity• Planning suicide at 17 before experiencing an unexpected spiritual intervention• Pursuing metaphysical teachings that convinced her she was "god"• Living in a California commune with people who believed they weren't from Earth• Working on "Murder Mountain" while unaware of the dangers around her• Building a 20,000-follower Instagram platform offering tarot readings and psychic services• Finding Jesus after being arrested and receiving a Bible in jail• Learning to relinquish New Age practices despite financial dependence on them• Breaking free from pornography addiction through understanding her identity as God's daughter• Meeting her husband Victor and witnessing his dramatic conversion• Discovering the truth about Romans 7 and freedom from sinIf you've been blessed by this testimony, consider partnering with us to help share more stories of transformation. Go to lovereality.org/give and join our mission to preach the gospel.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Jake Hotchkiss returns to share how understanding the finished work of Christ has deepened in the years since publishing "No Longer I" and what he's learned about relying on God's strength through valleys and mountains.• The initial revelation of the finished work creates a spiritual high that inevitably fades as life continues• Knowledge of our righteousness in Christ creates a foundation that gives our spiritual life traction• Our weaknesses aren't obstacles but opportunities to discover God's strength working through us• Many believers stop bringing their honest feelings to God after receiving the finished work revelation• The flesh represents not just our physical bodies but everything pertaining to the earthly realm• The upcoming revised edition of "No Longer I" addresses common questions and clarifies concepts• Learning to walk in Christ means accepting our inability to change our circumstances and resting in HimIf you've been blessed by this ministry, please consider partnering with us at www.lovereality.org/give so we can continue producing content that spreads the good news of the gospel around the world.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Brittney shares her powerful journey from believing she was unlovable to discovering her true identity as a cherished daughter of God, revealing how genuine transformation comes through embracing His unconditional love rather than religious performance.• Grew up in an Adventist home with strong religious foundations but developed deep insecurities from bullying experiences• Struggled with people-pleasing tendencies and defining her worth through others' approval• Experienced traumatic events in college that reinforced beliefs of being unworthy of God's love• Continued serving in church leadership while feeling spiritually empty and believing she was beyond redemption• Encountered a transformative understanding of grace through persistent friends and Bible study• Discovered God sees her as "crystal clear glass" – completely pure despite past mistakes• Found freedom from sin not through trying harder but through believing what God says about her identity• Now lives with confidence that she is unconditionally loved regardless of performanceThe gospel can truly change your life – no matter what you've done or what's been done to you, God's love is always greater.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Dr. Joey Dodson unpacks the commonly misunderstood passage of Romans 7, revealing how the dominant interpretation has mistakenly led Christians to identify with defeat rather than victory in Christ.• Historical interpretation shows earliest Greek readers understood Paul was impersonating someone else, not describing his own post-conversion experience• Augustine shifted the interpretation during disputes with Pelagius, influencing Luther and Calvin• The "I" in Romans 7 is completely dominated by sin, with no mention of the Holy Spirit• Romans 7 likely portrays Adam/Israel under law's condemnation, not the normal Christian life• Paul presents sin as a cosmic tyrant, not just individual actions• Christians are already sanctified but not fully expressing that reality• Our identity is primarily as sons and daughters, not sinners• Community and the Holy Spirit are essential for freedom – isolation keeps us in darkness• Grace doesn't just forgive sin – it frees us from sin's powerThe gospel brings liberation from sin's dominion, not just forgiveness. Our struggle isn't because we must sin, but because we choose to. We've been delivered from the domain of darkness into his marvelous light.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Vinz, the editor behind Love Reality's podcasts and videos, shares his powerful journey from legalistic religion to gospel freedom and how discovering his identity in Christ changed everything for him.• Growing up in a traditional Seventh-day Adventist home in the Philippines where religion felt like following rules• Viewing God as a taskmaster checking off good and bad deeds• Living with constant fear about not measuring up to God's standards• Experiencing a transformational encounter with the gospel that felt like "chains falling off"• Learning that salvation is based on Christ's finished work, not personal performance• Going through a period of deconstruction and reconstruction of beliefs• Finding true freedom and identity as God's beloved son• Facing persecution from religious communities for embracing gospel freedom• Discovering that being free from sin produces more genuine transformation than rule-followingWe preach grace, we preach Jesus, we preach the truth. Because we have come face to face with the gospel, I'm learning to forgive and just move forward in my journey of faith. Live out the gospel, live out the truth that God has declared over me and experience the joy of being favored by God.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Carol shares her journey from a people-pleasing, boundary-less upbringing to discovering the transformative power of the gospel later in life. Her testimony reveals how true freedom comes not from self-effort but from recognizing our complete identity in Christ.• Raised in a multi-generational Adventist home without healthy boundaries• Struggled with people-pleasing tendencies and inability to say "no"• Marriage deteriorated despite regular church attendance and ministry involvement• Experienced shocking moral failure that led to divorce and self-examination• Found practical help through therapy but still lacked spiritual power• Witnessed her daughter's dramatic transformation through understanding the gospel• Finally understood what "Christ in me, the hope of glory" truly means• Now experiences victory by asking Christ to manifest His character through her• Currently involved in music ministry and spiritual warfare at her church• Encourages others to surround themselves with people who understand gospel livingIf you're feeling powerless against sin, know that your source must be God, not yourself. When you declare and claim your identity as God's forgiven child in Christ, that's where the power is.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

Dr. Joey Dodson, scholar and author, shares his transformative journey from feeling like an unwanted "accident" to discovering the fullness of gospel freedom through a fresh understanding of Romans 7.• Adopted into a Christian home with deep biblical roots yet struggled with feeling like a mistake• Searched for significance through sports, church involvement, popularity, and partying before encountering deeper Christian relationship at age 16• Academic revelation about Romans 7 changed his understanding of Christian freedom• Discovered that Paul in Romans 7 likely depicts someone under law rather than someone walking in the Spirit• Scripture consistently teaches that sin no longer has power over believers except what we give it• Multi-ethnic ministry experience demonstrated how the gospel breaks down racial and cultural barriers• Grace is "unconditioned" (we don't earn it) but not "unconditional" (it comes with expectations)• Christ came not just to forgive sin but to free believers from sin's power• Bridges the gap between academic biblical scholarship and practical church teachingCheck out Dr. Dodson's book "Conquerors, Not Captives" available on Amazon or wherever books are sold to learn more about the freedom Christ offers from sin's power.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.

This episode dives deep into the heartfelt story of Rachel, who shares her transformative journey of faith and self-discovery. Raised in a Christian environment, Rachel grappled with the pressures of societal expectations and feelings of unworthiness. In this candid conversation, she reflects on her early life, revealing how shyness and self-doubt shaped her relationships and choices.Rachel takes us through her experiences of heartbreak, including her engagement that ended in a powerful moment of liberation, leading her to reflect on the deeper implications of her desires. Instead of clinging to the notion that relationships define worth, she learns to embrace God's unconditional love, which reshapes her identity and perspective on life. This episode serves as a reminder that while seeking heartfelt connections is part of human nature, the ultimate fulfillment comes from placing trust in God's timing and purpose for our lives.Join us as Rachel inspires listeners to break free from societal molds and to cultivate belief systems rooted in God's grace, fostering healing and hope in every season of life. Whether you're currently navigating singlehood or reflecting on past relationships, this discussion encourages everyone to lean into faith, find wholeness in God, and trust in the beauty of His plans for the future. Listen, share, and be uplifted!Rachel discusses the challenges she's faced with self-acceptance and relationships.💰 DONATE & SUPPORT our Ministry: lovereality.org/give👍 LIKE us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alovereality📷 FOLLOW us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyoung31/📚 LEARN more at our site: lovereality.orgDownload the Love Reality app. Available in the App Store & Google Play.