I Know Who I Am

Who Are You?

Who Am I?

Facts about myself.

But I am always worried about how others identify me.

The Text ()

Story about what others think of me.

TRANSITION: This is something that the Corinthians were dealing with.

The Proposal ()

The Proposal ()

Your identity is not determined by others.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

2. Your identity is not determined by yourself.

Context

How we should be defined.

3 Points on

Paul is dealing with divisions within the church of Corinth.

Do not allow others to identify you.

In chapter 4, Paul addresses a very specific issue that the Corinthians are dealing with: Being too worried about how others identify them.

Regarding identity, Paul makes 3 declarations on Identity.

Your identity is not determined by others.

The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 6 Mine Own Self

No man is qualified to evaluate properly the motives and attitudes of his fellow men, because he cannot read their hearts and know their thoughts.

General Example

Do not even allow your own mind to identify you.

Do not even allow your own mind to identify you.

Who Really Are We?

Labeling by society (group level).

It is only the Lord that determines your identity.

1 Corinthians 4:3–4 ESV

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

Surveys conducted say that our generation is the least responsible, least hardworking, least compassionate, and least active generation than the other 3-4 generations before us.

Labeling by the church.

Labeling by the church.

Who Really Are We?

3. Your identity is in Christ.

Labeling each other (individual level).

The moment we judge others is the moment we make ourselves God.

1 Corinthians 4:3-4

Personal Example

Who Is He

Your big head.

“YOU DON’T KNOW ME”

“You are smart!”

1 Corinthians 4:3-4

1 Corinthians 4:3–4 ESV

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

But your’e not really, lol.

Your identity is not determined by yourself.

General Example

Gassing you up doesn’t last as long as you think.

You just end up falling into a cycle of narratives that lead you away from God.

1 Jn

Personal Example

Legalism

Personal Example

Legalism.

“Not Good Enough”

1 John

1 John 3:20 ESV

for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

God calling me to SA, pastoral ministry, and a life of leadership.

But I never came up to my expectation. In that moment, I realized…

But the devil attacks me, having me repeat this label in my head.

Your identity is determined by Christ.

Christ is the ultimate judge. He is the only one that is able to determine your identity.

Christ exemplified these in His own life.

DA 330 —

Others didn’t determine His identity.

In the wilderness, the devil himself was not able to prevail.

In the wilderness, the devil himself was not able to prevail.

He even denied His own negative narrative.

In the garden of Gethsemane, He had to deny

He knew who He was because He knew Who He belonged to.

So Christ died on that Cross, knowing that He would save you. Knowing that you would forget you are you. Knowing that you would listen to the negative narratives playing in your head.

Romans 5:6 ESV

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Christ gave everything, so that you can know

What does it mean that Christ determines your identity?

It means that you no longer have to listen to the negative judgement of others or of yourself.

It means that you can claim all that God calls you in His word.

The Gospel

You are… (Spiritual Inspiration)

When you feel weak, you are more than a conqueror ()

When you feel like you have no purpose, you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139)

When you feel like you don’t belong, you are part of the body of Christ ()

When you feel unworthy, A Royal Priesthood ()

When you feel like unvalued, Loved beyond measure ()

When you don’t know who you are, know that You are His (Isaiah 43:1)

Loved beyond measure

Desire of Ages Chapter 78—Calvary

The spotless Son of God hung upon the cross, His flesh lacerated with stripes; those hands so often reached out in blessing, nailed to the wooden bars; those feet so tireless on ministries of love, spiked to the tree; that royal head pierced by the crown of thorns; those quivering lips shaped to the cry of woe. And all that He endured—the blood drops that flowed from His head, His hands, His feet, the agony that racked His frame, and the unutterable anguish that filled His soul at the hiding of His Father’s face—speaks to each child of humanity, declaring, It is for thee that the Son of God consents to bear this burden of guilt; for thee He spoils the domain of death, and opens the gates of Paradise. He who stilled the angry waves and walked the foam-capped billows, who made devils tremble and disease flee, who opened blind eyes and called forth the dead to life,—offers Himself upon the cross as a sacrifice, and this from love to thee. He, the Sin Bearer, endures the wrath of divine justice, and for thy sake becomes sin itself.

Christ died for you. And there is no other you that this world will see.

When you don’t know who you are, know that you are His

Who are you? (Practical Application)

There are some of you who have constantly listened to the narrative

Do you want to make the decision to STOP listening to yourself, and know that You are His.