Podcast Summary: Living Influence with Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd

Episode: What It Means to Be Truly Alive in Christ

Release date: September 4, 2025
Hosts: Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd

Overview

In this episode, Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd explore the transformative meaning of being "truly alive in Christ." Building on their previous discussion about what it means to be "dead" in Christ, they now move into the reality of new life and identity as believers—how embracing God’s declarations about us can break the hold of shame and condemnation. The hosts articulate the connection between our view of ourselves and genuine influence, emphasizing that living out our true identity shapes how we love, relate, and serve others.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Shift from Death to Life in Christ

• Transition from Last Episode: The previous episode focused on whether we are “really dead”—dead to the old identity. This episode examines whether, and how, we are “really alive” (00:03).
• Beginning Eternal Life Now: Bill expresses excitement that, in Christ, we’ve already started our eternity:

  "I love the thought that I've already begun my eternity." (00:28)

Jesus’ Work: Addressing Both Sin and Shame

• Beyond Sin to Shame: Bill highlights how Christ not only took our sin but also bore our shame. Living in shame means not trusting Christ with it, and once we are “dead,” shame no longer defines us (01:02 - 02:22).
• Resurrection as Proof: The hosts discuss Jesus’ resurrection as confirmation of new life—in abundance, not just existence:

  “I came to give you life and to give it to you abundantly.” (02:22)

Believing God’s Declarations About Us

• Identity in Ephesians 1: They challenge listeners to truly believe biblical declarations—adopted, holy, righteous—not just as positional, but as present reality (03:16 - 06:13).
• Difficulty Believing ‘Holy’ and ‘Righteous’: Many participants can accept being “adopted,” but struggle with being “holy” or “righteous” (05:33), often seeing these as unattainable.

The Indwelling Spirit as Evidence of New Life

• Holy Spirit’s Presence as Proof: Bill explains that God’s Spirit cannot dwell in an unholy place—His presence is evidence that believers are holy (06:34 - 08:14).
• Dissonance in the Church: Scott notes a disconnect for many:

  “But God doesn't see me as holy. You can't live with those. That's just not, that's not logical.” (08:21)

Positional vs. Actual Transformation

• Positional Theology Critiqued: The idea that we’re only “positionally” holy/righteous, but not really, is challenged. Bill insists,

  “What if the reality is that I have been made new, That I have a new life?” (09:42)

Living From Identity, Not For It

• From Striving to Trusting:

  “The Christian life is living like Jesus because that's who you are. And the great evidence that that's who you are would be your righteousness. And the great evidence of your righteousness would be your love.” (10:52)

Love as the Mark of New Life

• Jesus’ New Commandment:

  “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another, just like I loved you... because of your love for one another.” (11:48)

• Love Over Judgment: Bill notes that Christians often default to judgment, but Jesus called us to love (12:52).

Receiving Love—The Hardest Part

• Vulnerability Needed: Most people are more comfortable giving than receiving love due to fear of rejection or pain (13:06 - 13:39).
• Bill’s Story: A leader from the underground church in China shares the difficulty and healing power of expressing and receiving love (15:45 - 16:54).

Grace and Resistance

• Fear of Grace Leading to Sin: Some resist this message, fearing that emphasizing grace and new identity will promote sin (17:24 - 17:33).
• Fruit as Evaluation: Scott shares how he gauged the truth of the message by observing whether love increased in his group:

  “How I was able to continue was I would notice, is the love in this group increasing or decreasing? ...it would be the affirmation that I was on the right track...” (18:11)

Purpose Flows from New Life

• Great Commission Rooted in Identity: Bill encourages listeners:

  "What if because I have life, I have new purpose? ...He gave me a new life. So with a new purpose, I could be used of God to make a difference in this world." (19:18)

• The Church and Influence: The decline of the Church’s influence is tied to judging rather than loving the world (20:02).

Moving from Shame to Freedom

• Final Challenge:

  “Could I trust him with my new life and not let the old me define who I am? That’s how I move from shame to no condemnation.” (20:24)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• "Shame does not define a dead person. But if I'm dead, then shame doesn't define me." — Bill Thrall (01:22)
• "The Holy Spirit cannot dwell in an unholy place. And if he’s in me, then I'm holy. It is the evidence that I am holy." — Bill Thrall (07:09)
• "Don't give up the opportunity to be deeply loved for the fear of being hurt." — Scott Boyd, recalling Bill’s words (13:59)
• "Love is the proof of my righteousness." — Bill Thrall (12:43)
• "If I expose and say I'm gonna allow my needs to be known... What if? Not only are they not met, but I'm judged or I'm hurt." — Scott Boyd (13:40)
• "What if because I have life, I have new purpose?" — Bill Thrall (19:18)
• "Could I trust him with my new life and not let the old me define who I am?" — Bill Thrall (20:24)
• "There's a cliff that you kind of have to leap off of to believe this message. ... What if God really is in me? What if he's really made me righteous?" — Scott Boyd (21:21)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Defining the Theme: 00:03 – 02:22
• Jesus: Sin, Shame, and Resurrection: 01:02 – 02:22
• God’s Declaration of Holiness and Righteousness: 03:16 – 06:34
• The Indwelling Holy Spirit & Logic of Holiness: 06:34 – 08:14
• Disconnection in Embracing Holiness: 08:14 – 09:53
• From Trying to Trusting Grace: 10:26 – 10:52
• Love as Proof of Righteousness: 11:48 – 13:05
• Learning to Receive Love: 13:06 – 14:38
• Stories of Love Increasing in Practice: 16:54 – 18:48
• Purpose: Living Out the Great Commission: 19:18 – 20:24
• Personal Leap of Faith Into New Identity: 21:21 – 21:49

Conclusion

Bill Thrall and Scott Boyd passionately invite listeners to stop striving for an identity that God has already given and to embrace life, holiness, and purpose as present realities in Christ. The natural outflow is a life marked by love—evidence of this new creation. They challenge the audience to risk believing God’s declarations, to receive love vulnerably, and to be agents of grace, not condemnation, in the world.

End of summary.