Safe Space: Identity Part 1

For me, in middle school and high school, I had a bit of identity crisis. Can I be honest with you? See my problem was that I found myself always in a relationship with a girl. I was always someone’s boyfriend. And even though I was a Christian, I started to believe that all of who I was was wrapped up in that current relationship. What happened because of this was that when the relationship I was in was going well, my life was going well. But when the relationship was in trouble, or it ended, I fell hard. I struggled to identify who I was because I got so wrapped up in my relationship that when it ended my life around me fell apart. The reason was because I made my relationship the most important thing in my life. I didn’t realize who I truly was?

WE

Ok, so maybe for you it wasn’t a relationship for you. Maybe right now you are putting your identity in the sport you play, but what happens when you don’t make the team, or you are moved to the second team? Maybe you are putting your identity in the friends you have, but what if for some reason, you start making other friends, or even your friends let your down, or betrayed your trust? Maybe your identity is that dream career you want to have, or that ideal life you want for yourself.

See when we place our identity and who we are in something other than God himself, those things may end up failing us. See relationships, friendships, sports, and dreams are all good things, but when they take the place of God they become idols. They become things we worship instead of God. When we forget who we are, at our core, we end up sacrificing who we truly are for something that is not as valuable.

God’s Word has something to say about who we are, who we truly are at our core! Let’s explore who we are in Christ.

GOD

Ephesians 1:3–14 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Let’s look together and pick out what God’s Word says about who we are in Christ. Right know I want you to look at this passage in your Bible’s and pick out some words that describe who we are in Christ. Give me a verse number when you find some:

List:

Blessed (Favored)

Holy

Blameless

Adopted

Redeemed

Forgiven

United

Heirs

Saved

Sealed

YOU

These things we just listed, are truths. They don’t change, if you have placed your trust and faith in Christ. These things will not change in times that are difficult, nor will they leave you. These are at the core of who you are. This is unlike anything else we see in the world. Things of this world will ultimately let us down. Even good things likes sports, relationships, and friends. If we place our trust and identity in them they will let us down, but if we root out identity in these things we can have peace and hope even when we face the trials of this life.

Now in your small groups you will discuss how our identity in Christ can be applied to our daily lives.

SMALL GROUPS

Of the 12 different descriptions of who we are in Christ, which one do you personally like hearing the most? Why?

How may knowing these truths of who we are in Christ affect my walk with Christ?

Have you ever heard that you are a son/daughter of God? How does that impact the way you view God?

How can knowing about your identity in Christ impact your life at school? on sports teams? at home? with friends?

Why might knowing who we are in Christ be important when we face challenges in our life? Have you faced a challenge in your life? Would knowing these truths during the challenge help you? Do you believe they can help you in your future trials? Why or why not?