In Christ Foundation #1

Identity in Christ

1)

Who I’m I?

· Jason Roth – No that’s my name.

· I’m a business man – no that’s what I do

· I’m an American – no that where I live

· I’m a evangelical – no that’s my denominational preference.

My physical qualities are not who I am either. If you cut my arms and legs off I would I still be me?

If I had a heart transplant would I still be me?

Who I am is far more than what you see on the outside. We tend to identify ourselves and each other primarily by:

1. what we look like – tall, short, stocky, slender

2. Or by what we do - plumber, carpenter, nurse, engineer, clerk.

3. Our faith – protestant, evangelical, Calvinist, charismatic

4. Our denominational preference – Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, non-denominational

5. Or our role in church – Teacher, pastor, deacon, usher

Is who you are determined by what you do, or is what you do determined by who you are? I believe its determined by what you do.

I believe your hope for growth, meaning and fulfillment in life is based on your understanding of who you are IN Christ.

a. Your identity in as a child of God

b. Your understanding of who God is and your relationship to Him

Your sense of self worth is based on where you mainly get your identity. The problem is that if its based on:

1) external appearance,

2) accomplishment, and

3) recognition it will not produce internal peace and maturity.

Ask King Solomon: He had everything this world has to offer to make him feel significant. 1000 wives, he was the richesses man who ever lived, and was king of Isreal. He who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes which His conclusion was that it was all meaningless and futile without God.

We think success = a meaningful life. We also thing failure = a hopeless life.

These kind of equations do not exist in the kingdom of God. Wholeness and meaning in life are not products of what:

· You have or don’t have

· What you’ve done or haven’t done:

We are already whole and have meaning and purpose because of who you are:

A child of God! The only identity equation that works in God’s kingdom is you plus Christ equals wholeness and meaning!

2)

What does it mean to be in Christ and to have my identity with Him?

· The tribe enters covenant

· David and Goliath – 1 Samuel 17:8

· The High Priest

· Adam and Eve

3)

The word Christ

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