Our Identity

What does it mean to be a Christian?

In Antioch, followers of Jesus were first called Christians.

“Christian” is a word the world uses for people who are identified by their connection to Jesus Christ.

If someone were to ask you what it meant to be a Christian, what would you say?

What does it mean to be a member of North Point Chapel?

Title - God’s Family Picture: The Church Covenant / How We Display Our Identity

Covenant - A contract or promise between two or more parties.

Type - A physical object or example that represents a spiritual truth.

The local church is a type or picture of God’s Kingdom in eternity.

Ephesians 5:25–32 NASB95

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

(30m)

God’s Family Picture begins with...

A Proposal

“Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and upon profession of our faith...”

John 1:12–13 NASB95

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 6:44 NASB95

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

John 14:6 NASB95

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

A healthy relationship begins when attraction becomes devotion.

A man and a woman begin a relationship because they are attracted to one another, but things don’t get serious until they become devoted to each other in an engagement.

You are here this morning because you see something in Jesus or His people that causes you to want a relationship with Him, but He wants your devotion and not just attraction.

Jesus doesn’t date the Church, He marries the Church.

(20m)

A proposal leads to...

A Ceremony

“Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and upon profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...”

Romans 6:1–7 NASB95

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.

A wedding ring is a sign that a person is in covenant with their spouse, and baptism is a sign that a person is in covenant with God.

A marriage certificate allows the wife to legally take the name of her husband, and your baptism allows you to legally take the name of Jesus in God’s eyes.

(10m)

A ceremony leads to...

A Family

“Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior and upon profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.”

Church membership matters, because it shows that you’ve accepted the proposal, you’ve completed the ceremony, and you’re a part of the family.

Friends aren’t included in the family picture.

Acts 2:42–47 NASB95

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Our Church Covenant is a commentary on our life together as a church family. It describes God’s Family Picture for our church.

QUESTIONS

Have you accepted God’s proposal?

Have you taken Jesus’ name?

Are you in the family picture?

Offering purpose, tracts, and connect cards.