The Lamb is Our Identity

The Lamb is Our Identity

ILL-- If you were to ask me who I am, i could give you many titles?

Husband, Father, Pastor, American, New Mexican,

when I resigned as pastor at age of 24- How do I identify myself?

We have a tendency to identify ourselves by what we do.

Book of Job- lost everything- did he lose his identity?

Job 1:20–22 ESV

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

When our identity is in Christ, there is nothing this world can do to change our identity.

Who are you?- You are a child of God who has the purpose of reflecting him. Our identity is in Christ.

John 1:12 ESV

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

1 John 3:1–2 ESV

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

John is a Witness of Jesus- He is more than just a baptizer.

His identity is in his relation to Jesus.

John 1:19–34 ESV

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

5 Ways To Influence Others Concerning Jesus

1. Point to Truth (19-21)

John 1:19–21 ESV

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

Testified Truth in front of Enemies- point to Jesus despite Adversaries

It is the Truth that sets man free.

When you are questioned it is easy to think you have to build yourself up.

John the Baptist deflected from himself to point to Jesus.

2. Point to Purpose (22-23)

John 1:22–23 ESV

22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

John had Biblical purpose- He was prophesied about...

Isaiah 40:3 ESV

3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Message "Make straight the way of the Lord"= Get on the right path- stop sin and live right.

John's message was to call man to repentance.

"Baptism of repentance"

We do not testify in order for people to have knowledge of a historical figure.

We do not testify in order for people to know our story.

We testify so people can know Jesus and their need for repentance.

3. Point to Position (24-28)

John 1:24–28 ESV

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

John was most popular spiritual leader in Israel.

What we are known for is a platform to point people to Jesus.

Job title- point people to Jesus

Parent- point people to Jesus

Special talent (singing)- point people to Jesus

Education - point people to Jesus.

Influencers- All about self in order to build up other’s products.

We all have influence.

How are you using your influence.

He placed his position as far below Jesus as he could think of.

unworthy to untie his shoes.

Untie- after they have been worn and dirty. Job of lowest of servants.

We are servants of Jesus- He is not a servant of us.

Many Christians have this backwards.- You don't command him- he commands us.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

4. Point to Cross (29-31)

John 1:29–31 ESV

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.”

Bloody sacrifice.

John knew Jesus’ purpose.

While others were looking for a political messiah, John knew Jesus was a sacrificial lamb.

It's not what we do, it's what Jesus did.

Always go to the cross.

1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

5. Point to Power (32-34)

John 1:32–34 ESV

32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Where does power come from?

Acts 19:1–7 ESV

1 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jesus' baptism is superior than John's.

John's was a symbol of repentance.

Jesus' was the indwelling of the Spirit of God.

We are called to both.

Water baptism is a picture of dying to self.

Jesus gave us the example. Evidence of Surrender.

Romans 6:4 ESV

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Spirit baptism is evidence of salvation.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit happens at conversion

Ephesians 1:13 ESV

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Romans 8:9 ESV

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

John 3:5 ESV

5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

2 Corinthians 1:21–22 ESV

21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

CONCLUSION

Is your identity in Jesus?

Have you been baptized by the Holy Spirit?

Are you testifying of what Jesus has done?