Who You Really Are

Opening

Adopted Niece/Nephew - We don’t call them “my adopted nephew” or “my adopted niece” - They are part of the family without qualification. Adoption is part of their story, but it isn’t their identity.

Kids running off - getting into trouble (sometimes big trouble) - they are still family.

We recognize this with our family - that family is something that doesn’t depend on doing the right things. But we don’t think it applies with our relationship with God. We gravitate toward earning our place in God’s family. We think that are defined - that our identity rests - in what we do and how we do it. That our achievement is who we really are.

People say all the time: “I should pray more.” “I really should read my bible more.” “I should swear less.” “I should probably go to church more often.” The problem is that this is said in the same way that we say, “I should go to the gym regularly.” “I really need to clean out my gutters.” “I should probably mow the grass this weekend.” “I ought to give so-and-so a call.” We don’t really want to do these things, but we feel an obligation to. That obligation doesn’t produce results. Difference: Consider my friend who stopped swearing before they became a Christian. Why? Someone said to them, “You are a creative person and that is the kind of language you use?” They were motivated, intrinsically, and it produced a result. They didn’t feel an obligation to - they acted out of the kind of perosn they were. Spiritually, this obligation usually is borne out of a sense of expectation about how God perceives us if we don’t. We believe that we can earn his approval in the same we can earn the approval of our family, friends, or neighbors by behaving in a socially acceptable fashion. We do, because we believe that God will only approve us if we do the right things - it isn’t something intrinsic to us. It isn’t about the kind of person we are or are becoming.

However, God doesn’t see us that way. without respect to our deservedness, ability, or offering he already receives us in a specific way. We use a term in the church frequently - “Grace”. Grace means a “gift” - something given without being earned. The fancy way to define it is, “Unmerited favor”. Un-merited - as in, you didn’t earn it. You don’t deserve it. You can’t work for it. You just get it.

Queue Romans:

Romans 8:14–17 “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 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.”

Background of Romans.

This follows on the heels of Paul’s lament about the conflict within a person who does not have the spirit within them. They are torn between what they “want” to do and what they actually do. They can’t do good, no matter how hard they try.

Then the spirit intervenes and sets them free from this destructive pattern. Notice, they weren’t doing what was right. They weren’t earning. They didn’t deserve it, but God set them free. This is a theme of the whole book. We are all undeserving, yet God does his work anyway. Them Paul moves to this beautiful passage. If you have the spirit, then you are a son - an heir. This is who you are. You still didn’t earn it, but you are this person. You still don’t deserve it, but you get it anyway.

The greek word used here for adoption is a technical legal term. It refers to the legal process where an adoptee receives full legal rights as a child. They get a full inheritance. They are considered as much part of the family as a “natural born” child. For every purpose that counts - they are part of the family.

If you are in the wilderness, this is message you need to hear today. You don’t perform your way out of the wilderness. This difficult season of your life isn’t a punishment for the bad things you’ve done. It isn’t a result of your lack of effort, lack of achievement, moral failings, or poor attitude. You won’t end it by praying more, reading more, showing up to church more, giving more to charity, leading enough people to Jesus, or sinning less. Those things aren’t who you are. They don’t define you. Your troubles aren’t a sign that God is displeased with you. God is with you right now. In the middle of all of this. He loves you. He adopted you. He welcomes you. He accepts you. Those are the things that define you.

Let me illustrate this with a story. Incidentally, it isn’t my story - it is one that Jesus told.

Background

Luke 15:11–24 “And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”

Look at how the son defined himself: First by his share of the inheritance. then by his actions: “I have sinned heaven and against you” But that isn’t how his father identified him. Regardless of his poor choices and thoughtless actions. Regardless of his mistakes and hardship. The father defined him by their relationship. “My son was dead and is alive again.” This is a picture of how God views us. This is how God defines us.