IMPRINT: Child Of God

Imprint: Living Out My Identity As A Child Of God

INTRO: (Me)

Who are you? In answering that question what name do you pick? Mom, dad, friend, neighbor or job occupation. Those titles imprint on your life and set boundaries to live out your identity.

I’m a husband.

Ill: Wedding Day = identity crisis! Married, husband and wife. Two single people and have come together. BOOM - I’m a husband. My identity changed. No longer single!

To think, feel and act like a husband took me awhile. If I didn’t make that course adjustment my life would be crisis.

We: That is what happens to every person that becomes a Christ-follower. You get a new identity. If that truth doesn’t imprint on your life you will be in a identity crisis.

Ephesians/Background

Ephesians 4:22–24 NLT

22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Ephes

We are no longer living in the old nature we are living in a new nature. Even if we don’t feel new or think that we are new.

God: God wants us to understand who we are in Him. God wants us to see ourselves as He sees us. He has given us a new identity. When we grasp this our thoughts and attitudes change. It affect our perspective.

We cannot act inconsistent with how we view ourselves. It’s dangerous to get married and act like a single person.

Frustration = being a Christ-Follower and not understanding who we are.

One of the identities God imprints on us is CHILD OF GOD

For us to fully understand this we have to go back to creation.

Genesis 1:27 NLT

27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Arg: Why aren’t more people like God? You were created to be like God not to be a God. You have the nature of God. The capability to love and be loved, to know and be known, to care and be cared for. Fall of man. Adam/Sin messed up their identity.

Genesis 5:1–3 NLT

1 This is the written account of the descendants of Adam. When God created human beings, he made them to be like himself. 2 He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them “human.” 3 When Adam was 130 years old, he became the father of a son who was just like him—in his very image. He named his son Seth.

Genesis 5:1-

Ill: Cheryl - you are just like Francis. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Ex: Because sin entered the world, we were born not in the likeness of God but in the likeness of our parents. That is why we struggle. That is why we deal with drama and “stuff” because we are not born physically like God.

When we accept Christ The OLD IS GONE - my dad’s nature the NEW - God’s nature.

HOW DO YOU

God wants us to grasp the change. The change from being a physical son to a spiritual son. From being born in my father’s sinful likeness to my heavenly Father’s holiness. I’m a child of God. I’m a son or daughter.

Trans - To live out the identity Christ imprinted on us we have to live out two traits. One trait deals with our position and the other is our privilege.

HOW DO YOU GET INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD?

You are spiritually born into the family of God. (Position in Christ)

John 3:7 NLT

7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’

New birth deals with your POSITION in Christ.

Being born again is believing in Jesus. That He is who he said He was and that He will do what He promised to do.

He came to earth born of a virgin > lived a sinless life > died on a cross > rose again > now I confess He is Lord and I invite Him into my life. He makes my spirit alive.

New birth deals with our position. God sees me as his child. Not my behavior but my birth.

Forgiven - totally, all my sin? Yes!!! Omission & Comission. God was our sub. God took out His anger on Jesus.

God treated MARK HUNNICUTT like Jesus because He treated JESUS like MARK HUNNICUTT.

Ephesians 1:7 NLT

7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Psalm 103:12 NLT

12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

I’m a shameless man because of my forgiveness. I don’t have to deal with guilt and shame. And because you are forgiven you don’t have to either.

Accepted - God knows the worst about you yet He loves you. It’s not based on your behavior but based on your belief. Jesus lived, died and rose again.

Romans 8:1–2 NLT

1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

No condemnation! ACCEPTED!!

Ill: What ever happens in your life will not change God’s love for you. It just changes what we talk about. When God changes the conversation don’t fill rejected or condemned. God is wanting to talk to you.

God’s conversion doesn't change but the conversation does.

Complete - you are enough.

Colossians 2:9–10 NLT

9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

When we accept Christ we lack nothing. This is the missing piece that will give you peace. Nothing will give me more peace than Jesus.

What would happen if you allow God to imprint this identity on your soul? You are His child and you are forgiven, accepted and complete.

This would change you life! Your daily life would FLIP from -

GUILT/FORGIVENESS

REJECTED/ACCEPTED

INADEQUATE/COMPLETE

Trans - To live out the identity Christ imprinted on us we have to live out two traits. One trait deals with our position and the other is our privilege.

2. You are legally adopted into the family of God. (Privilege in Christ)

Galatians 4:4–5 NLT

4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

Adoption deals with your PRIVILEGE in Christ.

Roman law meant that you had the right to the name and the citizenship of the person who adopted you, and the right to inherit his property. The adopted son had the same rights and privileges as a naturally born son. And the law also granted the one who adopted that son the full rights and responsibilities of a father, full authority over the adopted son, and full responsibility to care for him. - Bible Knowledge Commentary

Ex: We are adopted. (historical context) 3 things - 1. The father has complete authority over the adopted child. 2. The son was guaranteed legal rights to all of the father’s property. 3. The adopted child’s record was wiped clean.

Ex: We are adopted. (historical context) 3 things - 1. The father has complete authority over the adopted child. 2. The son was guaranteed legal rights to all of the father’s property. 3. The adopted child’s record was wiped clean.

Assurance

Knowing God as my Father!

Romans 8:16 NLT

16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

We are His children and He is our Father!

1 John 3:1 NLT

1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

You may not feel like it but it doesn’t change the fact that God loves you.

Freedom

Romans 8:14 NLT

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

I willingly want God to lead me = freedom. A all knowing, all loving God is leading me. FREEDOM.

Philippians 4:13 NLT

13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

I don’t have to do wrong! FREEDOM!!

I can handle everything in life because of my daddy.

Ill: There is nothing like crawling up in your dads lap. It was the safest place in the world.

Confidence

Confidence

Romans 8:15 NLT

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

I know that I’m a son/daughter NO FEAR - unknown, rejection, failure, uncertainity

Why do I have confidence? Do you know my DAD? DADDY!!

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Inheritance

You are in the will of God!

Romans 8:17 NLT

17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Philippians 4:19 NLT

19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

I have everything I need in life because of what God has given me.

Trans - To live out the identity Christ imprinted on us we have to live out two traits. One trait deals with our position and the other is our privilege.

Conclusion:

Ill: Leukemia / Just bear with me SON.

Do you realize your position in Christ? Forgiven Accepted Complete

Do you realize the privilege you have in Christ? Assurance Freedom Confidence Inheritance

When you hang on to this identity as His child it will change your whole outlook and it will imprint on your life and you will begin to live out your true identity.

Next Move Prayer: Will you commit to a NEXT MOVE today. I desire to see you move into a more dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ.

First Move Prayer: For some of you your NEXT MOVE into a more dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ will be a FIRST MOVE. If you’ve never asked Jesus to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life I want to give you that opportunity today. Sinner’s prayer. Repeat.

Would you lift your hand right now and say, “I asked Jesus to be the forgiver of my sins and the leader of my life.”

Let’s celebrate these NEXT MOVES and these FIRST MOVES.