Find Yourself in Christ

Introduction

Who are you? How would you describe your identity? How do you define your self?

How many of you chose...

How much coffee you’d drink this morning?

What you wore to church today?

How you spend your Saturday?

What family you’d be born into?

What era of history you’d live in?

What nationality you’d be?

The color of your skin?

How tall you are?

What inherent talents and abilities you’d be born with?

This morning we’re talking about self, or identity. Who are you? What is your identity? How do you know your identity? How do you define your identity?

Part 1: I am who You say I am

The claim: We are not free to define our own identity. Our identity is given by God, not created by us.

Biblical Survey & Observations: God gives identity

Genesis 17:5… Abram is renamed Abraham, “father of a multitude”

Genesis 17:15-16… Sarai is renamed Sarah, “princess.”

Genesis 32:26-28… Jacob, “one who grabs the heels” or “cheater,” is changed to Israel, “God fights for him.” But notice that before Jacob could receive his new name and identity, he had to confess his old name and sin (v. 27).

Matthew 16:18… Simon is renamed Peter, “rock.” And we see throughout Acts that Peter unlocks the gospel for the Jews, the Samaritans, and the Gentiles.

Acts 9:15… The story of Saul’s conversion, and God’s statement of his new kingdom identity as one who is sent to the Gentiles, to kings, and to Israel. The word “apostle” means “one who is sent,” and we see Paul standing in that identity in the opening words of almost every letter he wrote in the NT.

Romans 1:1.

1 Corinthians 1:1.

Galatians 1:1.

A disciple of Jesus is someone who finds their identity in Christ. A Christian is a person who is defined by Jesus—not by anyone or anything else.

Application

Who does God say you are?

2 Corinthians 5:17… a new creation

Ephesians 2:10… God’s workmanship, his masterpiece

Romans 8:37-39… more than a conqueror

1 Corinthians 6:19-20… a temple of the Holy Spirit

1 John 3:1… a child of God

Galatians 4:6-7… a son and an heir of God your Father

What is your role in God’s kingdom?

As human beings, we are created in relationship to others. We are not isolated individuals but members of a community—and that means we all have various roles in the community: friend, daughter, brother, father, mother, sister, teacher, student, leader, helper.

God will speak your identity and calling to you through a variety of ways: listening in prayer, reading Scripture that stirs your heart, things you get excited about, things that move you deeply, things that frustrate you, what you’re naturally good at, your personality type, and where you see needs around you.

I talked with a man in our church recently who spent several weeks praying about his role in God’s kingdom, and the Lord showed him that he is a Gentle Peacemaker.

Part 2: Meditation on Mark 3:27

The claim: In order to walk in our identity in Christ, we must be set free from the power of sin.

Biblical Meditation

Mark 3:27… The strongman is Satan. Jesus is binding Satan and plundering his house by casting demons out of people and setting them free from Satan’s power.

Who or what is the strongman in your life? (There may be more than one.)