Beholding Jesus | Tim Horman
On Sunday, Tim continued our Deeper series with a message exploring how true transformation happens—not through striving, but by beholding Jesus. Discover how fixing our eyes on Him shapes our identity, fuels our faith, and leads to real spiritual growth. Below you’ll find both video and audio recordings of this message as well as a summary article with small group discussion questions related to this part in the series.
The Power of Beholding Jesus
How do we grow in Christ? How do we engage with the Lord more deeply, become strengthened in our faith, and increase in the life of the Spirit? These are the questions that have shaped our Deeper series. So far, in our Deeper series we've explored the theological foundation of Christian transformation, focusing on the love of the Father, repentance and faith, and our union with Christ. Now, we shift our focus to the practical—how do we actually step into this deeper life with Jesus?
Our Identity in Christ: The Foundation for Growth
Before we talk about practical steps, we must keep one crucial truth in mind: the foundation of all change is not our effort but the work of Christ. As Tim Horman emphasised, we must be cautious not to turn Christian growth into another form of works-righteousness—a list of rules to keep or tasks to perform. Instead, our transformation is rooted in the unshakable reality of our identity in Christ.
Through repentance and faith, we are united with Christ, meaning that all He has—His righteousness, holiness, power, and victory—now belongs to us. This is not something we earn but a gift of grace. Our truest identity is found in being in Christ. Nothing—our past, our failures, our struggles—can change that reality.
The Struggle with the Old Self
Yet, many of us find ourselves asking, If I am a new creation in Christ, why do I still struggle with my old self? This was Paul’s dilemma in Romans 7, where he expressed frustration that the things he wanted to do, he didn’t do, and the things he didn’t want to do, he kept doing. His conclusion? “It is no longer I who do it, but sin living in me.” (Romans 7:20)
Paul recognised that while our new identity in Christ is secure, the remnants of our old nature still try to exert control. However, even when we sin, it does not change who we are in Christ. Our salvation is not dependent on our performance but on the finished work of Jesus. Yet, how we experience our life in Christ—whether we live in freedom, peace, and joy—depends on how much we align ourselves with our new identity.
The Key to Growth: Beholding Jesus
So how do we change? Not by trying harder, but by continually beholding the love and glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Scripture repeatedly emphasises this principle:
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate (or behold) the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)
Growth in the Christian life is not about working harder but about fixing our gaze on Jesus. The more we behold Him, the more we become like Him. The Christian journey is about keeping our attention on Christ so that His love, grace, and truth reshape our desires, priorities, and behaviour.
Learning to Rest in His Love
Tim shared a personal story of how he once tried to grow in love by reading 1 Corinthians 13 every morning and evening for a year. However, instead of feeling more loving, he became increasingly frustrated. In an attempt to make love a reality in his life, he tried to force it through effort. It wasn’t until he realised that 1 Corinthians 13 is not primarily about what we must do, but about who God is—that Jesus is patient, kind, and faithful—that he began to truly grasp the love of Christ.
In a moment of surrender during a prayer meeting, he let go of striving and simply rested in God's presence, allowing Himself to receive God’s love. This moment of beholding Jesus changed everything.
Living from Our True Identity
If we are already fully loved, fully accepted, and fully new in Christ, then our call is not to achieve transformation but to live from it.
Paul puts it this way:
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25)
“Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1)
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)
We are called to align our lives with what is already true. This is not about trying to become something we are not, but about stepping into the fullness of who we already are in Christ. As Jesus said, “Remain in me and you will bear much fruit.” (John 15:5)
Practical Steps to Beholding Jesus
Over the coming weeks, we’ll explore specific ways to cultivate a deeper awareness of Christ in our daily lives. These include:
Prayer – Spending time with Jesus in conversation, not as a duty, but as a delight.
Scripture – Reading the Bible not just for information, but to encounter Jesus.
Worship – Fixing our hearts on Him through song, adoration, and thanksgiving.
Community – Growing in faith alongside others who point us to Jesus.
Suffering – Learning to see Jesus even in hardships, allowing trials to draw us closer to Him.
Each of these practices helps us behold Jesus more clearly, allowing His love to transform us.
Small Group Discussion Questions
What stood out to you most from this message? Why?
How do you typically approach spiritual growth—through striving or through beholding?
How does knowing that your identity in Christ is secure (regardless of your performance) change the way you think about your Christian walk?
In what ways do you still see your ‘old self’ trying to control you? How can you surrender those areas to Christ?
Have you ever experienced a moment where you stopped striving and simply rested in God's love? Share your experience.
Which of the practical ways to behold Jesus (prayer, Scripture, worship, etc.) resonates with you most? Why?
What are some practical ways you can fix your eyes on Jesus throughout your week?
How can we as a group encourage each other to live from our identity in Christ rather than trying to earn it?
Fixing Our Eyes on Christ
True transformation does not come through effort but through beholding Jesus. As we fix our eyes on Him, we are changed from the inside out. Instead of striving to be better, we rest in His presence, allowing His love to shape us. The call of the Christian life is not to do more but to see Jesus more clearly. As we do, we are transformed into His likeness, growing ever deeper in His love.