Unique Hope
Identity Crisis • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Sharing our identity with others
Sharing our identity with others
Work with the person next to you, what is something unique about each of these areas that we have talked about? Here are the topics we have taught, maybe what do you remember or how is our identify unique in each of these areas?
Uniquely created by God
Uniquely material
Uniquely gendered
Uniquely sinful
Our new identity in Christ
The new creation
We as humans are set apart from all of creation. Being made in the image of God gives us not only unique value and attributes, but the right and responsibility to rule in God’s place with his delegated authority with the ability to alter the course of history.
We are composed uniquely and divinely in even how we function and operate. We live in a material world. Human beings were created to live in a material world forever, but not be defined by the material things they possess. Meaning comes by gratefully enjoying the things God gives and using them for the good of others and the glory of God. Therefore all relationships are NOT defined by oppressor and oppressed (marxism and critical theory).
We are created unique as male and female. God created mankind with two biological genders :male and female. This was not only for procreation, but also that both would equally (yet uniquely) “image” God.
In rejecting God’s design there is unique consequences for man. It was mankind’s rejection of God’s rule (as we wrongly took dominion) that brought on ourselves and the entire cosmos under the curse of sin and death. In doing so we flipped the creative order where Satan now rules over us as the “god of this world”. All of this will be reversed by a second Adam.
We now have a new identity in Christ. Our new identity in Christ is what will bring forgiveness of sins now (restored relationship), and the beginning of a New Creation (restored creation order).
Last week we covered the new creation to come. The New Creation is the final place (planned from eternity) where a new humanity will “image God” perfectly in fellowship with God in a material place absent of sin.
So that is what we have covered and that is a lot. That is a lot to bite off and some of you may feel like you are choking. And so in some ways it feels a bit daunting to figure out how to bring this all together. How do we bring this to finality.
Remember the map we drew out of the created order.
In creation there was God then Man then Creation
In the garden satan convinced us we can flip this but we ended up flipping it the other way:
God then Serpent then Man
We have covered that there is hope in the new created order that it will be returned:
God then Man then Creation (Serpent)
But where does that leave us now? And how do we use this knowledge in the here and now?
Some of you were in the worldview class Jared & I taught years ago. We went through how every person in the world and specifically every worldview has to answer four questions:
How did it begin?
What went wrong?
How is it fixed?
How will it all end?
I used an example back then that is still helpful:
Who has ever seen Finding Nemo?
What is the beginning of the movie? It sets up where they are, that they are about to have all these kids, what to name them, etc.
What is the problem? Well everyone but Nemo is killed and soon after Nemo is separated from Marlin
How can it be fixed? Marlin has to find Nemo. (Nemo doesn’t know help is on the way, he is unaware that his dad is searching the whole ocean for him)
What is the result/end? They are reunited, he is found and saved
How did it begin? Creation
What went wrong? The Fall
How is it fixed? The blood of the lamb, the death burial and resecurrection of Jesus Christ.
How does it all end? Restoration—all things will be made new. The old will pass away. Christ will return and he will establish his rule and reign forever. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess.
And I think there is a good way to wrap a bow around all of this.
We have this unique idenity in Christ that we get to share with others and provide forgiveness, purpose and hope.
We know in Colossians all things will be made right
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
There is reconcilation that will happen, there is peace through the blood of the cross.
We have something that no one else has which is hope. In a world that feels hopeless we have hope.
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
We are heirs with Christ. We will be glorified. We will have this inheritance at the end of it all.
4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
One that is imperishable, undefiled, unfading.
Who remembers what they got to Christmas last year? Do you still use it?
What about 5 years ago? Do you still use it?
I would guess 90% of the gifts we are given eventually go unused. Our excitement fades, the break, they go bad, we outgrow them.
We have this inheritance that will not go bad, will not be ruined, will not fade away in Christ Jesus.
Even more than this we have been hidden in Christ.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
We are unique in that we have been hidden with Christ and when Christ appears in glory we will be with him. Brought along as Alestiar Begg says not because of anything we have done, not because of any knowledge we have but because the man on the middle cross said we could come.
This is encouraging to us, but how is this an encouragement to those around us?
How does this provide hope to our friends & family?
A disservice we can have is to be hyperfocused on our theology and knowledge that we lose sight of the hope of the gospel. We can be so focused on mending the fences and fortifying the walls that we forget to welcome our friends and family in the gate.
I want to encourage us and bring this series to an end looking at the Christmas story.
What led up to the Christmas story? in the narrative of scripture what is before that story?
Sin & death
Fall of Israel
Fall of prophets, judges, kings
Confusion
Silence
We incorrectly assume were the first generation to be lost and confused. That all of sudden we don’t know which way is up and how to move about.
As if the nation of Israel wandered through the wilderness holding hands and singing worthy is the lamb over and over.
As if they didn’t openly challenge God’s plan and cry for a king, a prophet, a judge, a priest (spoiler alert they didn’t like any of them)
David the man after God’s own heart consistently challenged and spat at god’s plan.
Israel is enslaved then released then enslaved then released. Jerusalem is destroyed.
We are not the first ones to be lost and confused. And then there is silence. Nothing. Generation comes and generation goes with no hope.
Then.
The word became flesh. Emmanuel has come to us.
Let earth receive her king. He ruels the world with truth and grace. and makes the nations prove. The glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love.
Lets take a famous Christmas verse and look at the great hope we have in Christ that we get to share with others.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
We don’t have time to unpack all of this and probably you will here this and read about this at some point around Christmas.
Think of the themes in here that are often looked to as hope and yet we have the one who is hope.
The government will be upon his shoulders? How many people look to government as a source of hope and comfort. You don’t have to look far, wait for an election to come around and you can see where so many people stake their hope.
Thomas Jefferson once said about government in a document you might of heard of that it should serve to give “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” to every person.
Thats great. But what about when that doesn’t happen? There is no doubt thousands of Americans don’t feel this. To say nothing of the people of Uganda. Russia. China. Sudan.
Where do you go when the government does not provide hope, liberty, confidence, peace and security.
That can’t be the answer.
Wonderful Counselor.
This is a popular one. Millions of people turn to self-help sites, counseling or self-esteem training for hope.
One popular institution says this about counseling: “Counseling allows individuals to explore their feelings, beliefs, and behaviors, work through challenging or influential memories, identify aspects of their lives that they would like to change, better understand themselves and others, set personal goals, and work toward desired change.”
I am not saying that can’t happen and that there cannot be a role for counseling to assist and help someone. But what about when that doesn’t help?
How often is that hope or counsel based on our feelings? I am not necessarily talking about biblical counseling I am talking about the advice and “wisdom” people get about what they feel or how something effects them.
You know there is several problems in that but lets go for low hanging fruit.
Have you ever changed your mind about something? What is something you used to like but don’t anymore?
If your hope is tied to your feelings and those feelings change then your hope is a leaf being pushed around by the wind—you strive and strive and strive and never get it.
We have this wonderful counselor who is unlike any other—one with extraordinary wisdom.
How often did people come to Jesus asking questions or seeking advice and the answer they got was way to deep for them—thats not what they were thinking.
They were looking for a yes or no and Jesus gave them yellow. I am being a little silly but seriously, this wisdom and counsel was more than we could comprehend apart from Christ.
Remember Nicodemus? He didn’t even ask a question and got an answer he wasnt ready for.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
I can almost picture Nicodemus. Um, well, okay, um, well, okay but how can that even happen?
The encounter goes on—believe in the name of the only Son of God.
We have a counselor unlike any other. One that can give advice unlike any other.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
That is hope. Hey I know your struggling and trying avenue X Y and Z for comfort, for joy, for hope—well I serve a God who can relate, he can sympathize, who was tempted but didn’t sin—I can go to Him and he provides mercy and grace to help in time of need.
Mighty God.
We have a mighty God who will be a conquering king and will defeat death and hell
18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
We compare this to other religions
Buddhism says there is no god. No divine being
Islam says Allah is god but he rejects the trinity and divinity
Hinduism says there are multiple gods
New Age says we oursleves are god.
And so in this one statement we combat all those—there is one God and he is Mighty
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
He can do so much more than we can even think.
11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.
4 He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
This great and powerful God is on our side as believers. We get to tell others about this God who made all things, sustains all things and has provided a way of escape, of salvation via His Son.
Everlasting Father
1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Both of these verses let us know that God is eternal. He was here before the beginning.
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” 4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
He is forever.
And he is our father.
1 “You are the sons of the Lord your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead. 2 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
In a world filled with brokenness—orphans and the fatherless. There is a father who is eternal and is welcoming you into his family.
Jesus tells the little children to come him referring literally to small children but the imagery is the same of a Father spreading his arms out and welcoming his child home—the prodigal son finally returning. Embracing his children and holding them close.
Finally he is the Prince of Peace.
14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
Make no mistake about it Jesus will be the conquering hero. He will establish his rule and reign and all nations and kingdoms will fall.
But with it comes peace. And there is peace now for the believer.
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This peace that we cannot even understand. This peace that comforts in the storm, when the sea is raging, your spirit is my help.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
There is peace because there is no longer condemnation. The punishment we were going to receive has been paid by Jesus.
And because of that we have nothing to fear.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
Being in Christ, in our everlasting Father means nothing be against us—nothing that will prevail.
And this is the hope that we have to share. In a world of confusion and chaos people are looking for answers. They are trying to turn anywhere and everywhere looking for hope. They try relationships, career, family, drugs, sports, success, knowledge, music, whatever they can to try and find satisfaction and purpose and it is meaningless.
It was like we have found in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon tried all these things and found them all to be meaningless. We can look at who we are, who we were created to be, who we now are in Christ and there is a challenging response.
There is the biblical them of not being of the world. Paul speaks of this.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
We are in this world and not of it. And that is good and right and obviously biblical. But the danger in that is we look at it with some sort of moral superority. We have this—thank god I am not like the tax collector.
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
That was us, we were in darkness called to light.
And with that there is this great joy and privilege. In a world scratching and clawing for purpose in all the different things of the world, we have an identify and a purpose rooted not in this world but in heaven and they too can have that peace.
They search and search with no success but we have the answer that we can share with others. We have a treasure that is laid up in heaven were moth and rust do not destroy and thieves cannot break in and steal.
Praise be to God. May we go and share our new identity, our new hope we have with a lost and dying world.
