Identity Crisis 3

Intro

Week 3 of the series!

Man I’m happy you guys are here!

Two weeks ago we talked about how our identity comes from the Father — that we are made in His image!

Last week we looked at what does it mean to look like a Christian?

Well this week we are going to learn another invaluable truth about our Identity!

Earned VS Given Identity

See there is a big difference between your given Identity and your earned Identity

Let me give you a few examples of earned Identities:

Hotdog!

That was the nickname I had when I was 12 years old playing baseball for the all star team

I am not sure why I ever received that nickname, but it’s one that stuck with me for years

Maybe because I ate a lot of hot dogs that year

Assistant Grocery Manager

A title I earned by accepting the job at Lowe’s Foods 5 years ago

A title that I was proud of inside of the store, but disgusted by when I had to tell people what I did

Cheesehead

A title I earned the moment I got a “cheesehead”

I wear it each time the Packers play — and bare the title

These are identities or titles that I earned

But I want you to notice something about them — they aren’t permanent

If you did something to earn something, you also have the capability to lose the thing you earned

Now let me give you some of my given identities:

Gideon’s Father

There is nothing I can do that will not make this statement true

It was given to me at his birth and it will stick with me my entire life, no matter what

Spry

I will always be known as a Spry

I was born into the family of Sprys — and no matter what I do, or my family does, I will always be a Spry

A given title is one that you did nothing to receive — I couldn’t force myself to have these titles

I couldn’t make it my own title

It is one that is given to me and will always be true about me

Earned titles are great in the moment, but the reality is when you are in an Identity Crisis and looking for some comfort in life and the tragedies that you’ll face they just won’t help

It doesn’t help me to know that I am a cheesehead when I am going through the ringer — or that at one time I was the Assistant Grocery Manager

This same thing is true in our Spiritual life

Listen to what John tells us about our identity

John 1:9–14 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John chapter 1 shows us that Jesus is coming into the world

It starts by telling us that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and was God

That is Jesus

Then John tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among men — that Jesus came into the world for man kind

Then here in John 1:9-14 we see that John starts to tell us about identity

Identity is given, not earned

Here’s the first thing that John is teaching us:

Our Spiritual identity is given, not earned

Listen again to what John tells us:

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,

John said that “he gave the right”

John tells us that our spiritual identity is not something that we could earn — it was something that was given to us freely

Paul puts it this way:

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Paul tells us that we are saved, or our identity is changed, by the grace of God, not a result of works!

It is not because of anything we did!

Further more he mentions how it is a gift!

Have you ever thought about gifts?

Man giving and receiving gifts are some of my favorite things

I love the look on someone’s face when you give them a gift and you just absolutely nail it and they are so excited for it!

Christmas at the Spry household is fun for everyone, except our bank account!

But think back to Christmas — when you were given a gift you didn’t stop and say — wait I need to earn this gift

You weren’t like “I need to go mow the grass or shovel snow so that I can earn this present”

You may have believed that you needed to be good so that you are on the nice list versus the naughty list

But you are still given the gift

And this is the same thing with our Spiritual Identity

Nothing you did earned it

Nothing you did made God send Jesus to take your place

He did it out of love

Let Go of false names

The second thing that this passage teaches us about our identity is:

You need to let go of false identities

We need to let go of false identities

Listen to what John said:

John 1:9–11 ESV

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

John tells us that Jesus came into the world that He created, yet the world rejected Him

The people who God made rejected Him

Lets get practical — the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Jews who are God’s own people — rejected God

Why? They were looking for identity in something else

For the Pharisees they saw their identity as being wrapped up in tradition, in spiritual legalism

For us, we get our identity wrapped up in anything else — I know I will often let my identity be wrapped up in what people think about me

“The cool one” “the strong one” “the funny guy”

Sometimes I was the “screw up” “idiot”

We get so wrapped up in the names and identities that are put on us that we can miss Jesus and what He says about us

Jesus came to forgive us, to love us, care for us, protect us, but when our identity is wrapped up in false things we miss out Him

John also writes telling us this:

1 John 2:15–17 ESV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

He is pointing out the fact that when our eyes are on the things of the world we are not with the Father

When our identity is found in the things of the world, we cannot be see God

For us to accept the identity that God has given us we must cast out these false identities

God gives you a new name

Here’s the last thing when it comes to our Spiritual Identity

God gives you a new name

John tells us that He gives us a new name

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,

John says that we become children of God

We are HIS children!

This idea of becoming children of God is us being adopted into the family of God

Adoption is one of the most powerful examples on earth that we have when it comes to what God does for us Spiritually

I always think back to Josh Edmonds — Missions Pastor at REVO sharing a sermon at North a year or two ago where he brought up the image of adoption

He shared how him and Amy and their kids adopted their daughter and the power of it!

How she is now an Edmonds — she isn’t lost she isn’t gone — she has a new identity!

We are adopted!

We were lost and searching for purpose and thanks to Jesus we have been adopted

But not only are we in the family of God, given a new last name, John also tells this in the book of Revelation:

Revelation 2:17 ESV

17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

He says that if we accept the Lord, He gives us a new name!

This isn’t a name that is carbon copied — it isn’t a generic name from a baby book

This is new! Brand new!

As children of God we are a new creation

He brings us into the family of God

And He gives us a new name!

We are no longer lost but we are adopted!

Conclusion

So what does this mean for your daily life?

You don’t have to exhaust yourself proving your worth on the field, in the classroom, or on social media.

You don’t have to let bullies, toxic friends, or even your own insecurities define who you are.

You don’t have to wear labels that don’t fit you anymore.

Your true name is “child of God.” And when you embrace that, it changes everything.

You live with freedom. You live with confidence. You live with peace, knowing that your worth doesn’t come from likes, grades, or approval, but from Jesus.

So let me ask you:

Whose name are you living under right now?

Are you wearing the names the world has given you?

Or have you received the name God offers — child of God?

Tonight, some of you need to let go of false names and accept your God-given identity for the first time.

That starts by receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Others of you already believe, but you’re still letting old labels define you.

Tonight is the night to tear those labels off and live into the name God has already given you.

Discussion Questions

How does understanding that our spiritual identity is given rather than earned impact your relationship with God?

How do you think social media influences our perceptions of identity and self-worth?

What steps can you take to let go of the false identities that society places on you?

In what ways have you experienced the freedom that comes from being called a 'child of God'?

In times of crisis, how can recalling your identity as a child of God provide comfort and assurance?