Who Am I?
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Have them circle the keywords for today…
PASTOR APPRECIATION FOR ELDERS
This is such a cool theologically rich opening. It’s only two verses but it contains what some commentators call “some of the richest theological statements in the New Testament letters”
You have the trinity mentioned, God’s sovereignty, salvation, etc.
It’s pretty awesome. But my goal is to not get u s lost in the headiness of this text. I want to show you what this means for you, believer. Who you truly are…
last week was salvation Sunday. We can call this, Sunday… I’m focusing on addressing those who have come here because they know Christ and want to encounter Him more. I do hope to make you jealous if you aren’t in Christ.
Everyone say, “who am I?”
You might not say this often. But, I know the reality is that our actions, attitudes, emotions, etc indicate that we forget who we are.
The Lion King: Mufasa to Simba “remember who you are”
This is all about identity
You are…
Elect
Elect
Chosen; selected
Eklektos - To pick out of - EK meaning “out of”.
I don’t understand this in regard to why the scriptures say this about us and not someone else. Its hard to understand. But, I know God speaks to us by condescending to our level and communicating to us in a way we understand. And if we consider what God has saved us from, our experience is as if we were pulled out.
Toy story 3 has a scene at the end with an incinerator. The toys are going towards it. One reddit toy story 3 discussion is literally titled “Toy Story 3 Garbage Scene is Horrifying”
But that is exactly what humanity’s experience is.
All have sinned and fallen short
The only way to be saved is if someone or something literally plucks us out. That is where we get the idea of election or being chosen and plucked out…
The way we think of elections: Campaigning, putting our best foot forward, people only see what you want them to see.
You did not have to campaign for this… You did not have to perform for this. You were chosen, elected, simply because you are an object of God’s amazing and infinite love.
Some theologians have called it scandalous. If you were to ask google “why do some theologians call God’s love scandalous, it would tell you this “it is shocking, improper, and offensive to human notions of fairness and merit”
Why is God’s love called scandalous?
“it is shocking, improper, and offensive to human notions of fairness and merit”
This is why I say “beloved”
You are loved and chosen simply because you are loved and chosen.
1, 2 Peter, Jude I. Opening (1:1–2)
Believers are elect because God the Father has set his covenantal affection upon them
Not because of anything we have done. But because God is mysteriously kind and loving.
I would tell you: BE LOVED Beloved.
You are…
An Exile
An Exile
Sojourner or pilgrim
We should be uncomfortable here. This is not your home. This is not final.
So many of us, including me, are trying sooooo hard to feel at home here. To feel at comfortable with what is here and what we know….
I’ve literally thought at times, “I wish I didn’t know what I know”, because, knowing what I know about heaven, hell, angels, demons, grace, wrath, have made it very very very difficult to be comfortable here.
Your home is with your family. The Kingdom.
You belong with the King. You are merely a pilgrim here.
You will look strange here.
When temptation hits us, and we are left with a choice…
????What if we thought about our choices in terms that are less about what is “right” or “wrong” and thought more about what is normal for someone of the Kingdom. ?????
You are…
A Dispersed One
A Dispersed One
Scattered
Diaspora - originally used to describe Jews.
Your family is spread out. We have brothers and sisters all over this planet. And not on this planet. Not in this realm.
Part of the dispersion’s purpose is for us to find more and more dispersed ones. To call them home with us!
Thats what Evangelism is.
The original language for gospel speaking is sharing the good news of a conquering king’s new rule. We are speaking the good news to find people who will appreciate it and embrace it. We are dispersed to tell more and more people about it!
Another thing to think about…
Christian Churches function as outposts that validate passports for the dispersed. Like little embassies in foreign territory. Thats what Church Membership exists for. Validating the fact that you are an exile who’s been dispersed throughout enemy territory.
You are…
Known
Known
Foreknown
God knew you intimately, deeply, and unveiled long before time and creation. Your deepest and most hidden personality traits and defects were intimately known by your Father in Heaven.
God knows and has known the best and worst of what makes you… And yet… He says I LOVE YOU
How many people can we really say know us??
Don’t most social anxieties stem from the fact that most of us are terrified of being know because we don’t think we are lovable or will measure up?
But, here is God, knowing us better than we even know ourselves. Knowing our weaknesses, our future mistakes and sins, knowing every square inch of our soul and SAYING “I LOVE YOU”
You are…
Sanctified
Sanctified
Holy
1, 2 Peter, Jude I. Opening (1:1–2)
When believers are converted, they become God’s holy and set-apart people
Illustration: my Nanny had an entire room filled with plates and silverware dedicated to entertaining people
likewise, I have my special and set apart coffee mug dedicated to drinking espresso in the morning! This is my fine china!
Everyone look at your neighbor and say “you are the fine china!”
Do you realize just how valuable and special you are to God?
You are…
Cleansed
Cleansed
Sprinkled with His blood
Everything said before this is only made possible by the fact that God, Himself, has shed His blood and washed us in it.
Not only is God’s love scandalous because of who its distributed to, but it is also scandalous because of HOW it was shown and distributed.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
You…
Belong to Jesus
Belong to Jesus
Obedient to Him.
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Jesus has become our Master.
Your identity isn’t primarily about “who you are”…
Your identity is primarily about “Whose you are”
There are two candidates… ONLY TWO….
Compare Masters
1. Jesus - The Good Master, Elder Brother, The Bridegroom, – Leads the Elect in their exile towards their heavenly Father…
Desires your pleasure, your freedom, and your redemption
2. Satan - The Lying Thief , Father of Lies,– leads the rebellion of this world
Desires your suffering, your shame, and your destruction
For those who are of the World and are mastered by Satan, there is no eternal satisfaction given by the world nor a love and acceptance they will receive from their master. They think there is!
Who am I?
Who do I belong to? Who’s family am I of?
Bill Dingle’s story.
The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom…
We were talking about how sin and temptation call us to be who we aren’t. But, its the fear of our Father that sustains us an leads us to life. Not a terror. W
Bill shared how he grew up with this reverent fear of His dad. Once they were out hunting and Bill, just unaware of what was around him, was following this bird with his gun. His brother was standing in the birds path. Bill followed the bird with his gun and just at the right time, his brother ducked and Bill shot the tree behind him. Their dad didn’t scream at him or scold him. All he said was “son…”
To bill that meant so much more. It wasn’t just “son”… It was “son, thats not who you are, what were you thinking…”
For us… we are… Elect, exiles, dispersed, known, sanctified, cleansed, and we belong to Jesus. This is who we are. Anything we could do, say, pursue, etc, that is contrary to this is ammo for the accuser. Who accuses us to our faces and to our Father saying “look at them! Look at what they’ve done”
SON, DAUGHTER… HEAR YOUR FATHER… THAT IS NOT WHO YOU ARE…
Who am I?
I am Elect
I am an Exile
I am a Dispersed One
I am Known
I am Sanctified
I am Cleansed
I Belong to Jesus
