The Born Identity

In the opening scene of the movie entitled, “The Bourne Identity,” Jason Bourne is searching for his true identity. He goes to locate a safety deposit box which contains some of the essential items he uses as a highly trained lethal assassin. He is saved from near death and through the series he suffers from amnesia without identity or background.

And so he begins the search for his true identity. Along the way, he finds clues and his memory is triggered piece by piece as he connects the dots to who he really is. There are a few characters along the way that help him learn his true identity.

But you know, when Jesus was born, His true identity was expressly stated by God’s Word, through the prophets, mediated through the angels, and through a bright star in the sky that communicated a group of Magi that someone special had been born.

Isaiah 6:9-10

Isaiah 6:9–10 CSB

And he replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. Make the minds of these people dull; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.

Isaiah provides insight into the struggle people would have with Jesus and still have today. They would hear, but not perceive, see and not understand. Their ears are dull, eyes are dim, and their hearts were far from Him. Most of the people in Jesus’ time didn’t understand who He was, but He knew.

The identity of the Messiah is clear from His birth, and His purpose and mission are just as clear. There is no uncertainty. No need to guess. We know and believe that Jesus is the identity of Christmas, come to save us from our sins.

Romans 1:1–6 CSB

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures— concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh and was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead. Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles, including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.

Romans is such a power packed letter that really is about the Gospel. Paul relates his particular calling as a serving of Christ Jesus, called as one that is sent out with this message bearing the identity of the Messiah, and one is set apart for this very Gospel of God.

The message, the Gospel, is rooted in God’s eternal purpose. Quickly, lets think about this for a moment:

The Gospel is Who, not What?

The Gospel - the basic word itself reflects the “good herald” or the one who brought the Good News.

The Messenger - the herald, angeloi, often brought news of victory on the battlefield.

Paul is the messenger of this announcement.

The Message belongs to God. It was and is His victory, and His news!

The Born Identity is Proclaimed in God’s Gospel

Romans 1:1–2 CSB

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures—

This Gospel proclaiming the Born Identity of the Messiah is part of God’s unchanging purpose, and it isn’t the latest fad to come along, it isn’t something new or a religious teaching to fit Paul’s motive to deceive the world...

We know that because - “he promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures.”

The “promise” is important as Paul grounds this gospel in God’s work of salvation…promise and fulfillment...

Not only did God promise it, but He proclaimed it through the prophets:

As I mentioned last week in the Born Prophecy, God declared as early as Genesis 3:15 there was a promised Redeemer that come to strike down the serpent.

We looked at a few of those prophets/prophecies last week. But for Paul, I get the sense, and for us today, we can understand that Paul has in mind all of the OT writers. Every book points to our need and God’s supply of that promised Redeemer.

All the scriptures point forward to this announcement.

Timothy Keller says, “they are scaffold on which Paul stands as God’s herald. Every page that God wrote before outlines what He has now declared in full color.” (Keller, Romans 1-7 For You, p.11-16)

The Gospel Content is “His Son”

Romans 1:3–4 CSB

concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh and was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead.

In Christ Jesus, all of the hopes of God’s people in the Old Testament are fulfilled.

I’m grateful college football made an attempt this year to play. One of the key aspects to any game though is the “game plan.” Many of these coaches are working day to day, some not knowing if they’ll actually get to play the game they’re planning on playing.

I was impressed with the level of play between BYU and Coastal Carolina yesterday. Two schools 2200 miles apart, never played each other, and the game was scheduled Thursday and played Saturday. Not much time to “game plan.”

But God’s “game plan” was Jesus, from along time before His appearance, His Son for the reconciliation of a lost world.

There are Messianic expectations all throughout the OT

Is 11:1, 10

Isaiah 11:1 CSB

Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

Isaiah 11:10 CSB

On that day the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will look to him for guidance, and his resting place will be glorious.

Jer 23:5-6

Jeremiah 23:5–6 CSB

“Look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration— “when I will raise up a Righteous Branch for David. He will reign wisely as king and administer justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. This is the name he will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

Ezekiel 34:23-24

Ezekiel 34:23–24 CSB

I will establish over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will shepherd them. He will tend them himself and will be their shepherd. I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among them. I, the Lord, have spoken.

This Gospel is about a person, not a concept; IT IS ABOUT HIM.

We might struggle, at best, to fully grasp the Gospel until we understand that the Gospel is not fundamentally about our lives, dreams, or hopes. The Gospel speaks to, about, and transforms them by God’s grace. But rather the Gospel is a declaration about God’s Son, the man, Jesus.

The Son was:

Jesus was both human (verse 3) and God (verse 4)

The One who fulfilled the promises of Scripture:

A descendant of David (1:3) - 2 Samuel 7:11b-16

2 Samuel 7:11b–16 CSB

ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. “ ‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord himself will make a house for you. When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and blows from mortals. But my faithful love will never leave him as it did when I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’ ”

Glimpses of David’s life somewhat foreshadows Jesus’ life - Ps 2, 22, 110

His Birth:

His Parents did as instructed, and named Him, Jesus - Matt 1:25

God used four different messengers to announce and identify the Savior

The Angels & Shepherds - Luke 2

The Magi - The Star - Matthew 2:1-12

Simeon - The Holy Spirit - Luke 2:25

Luke 2:25 CSB

There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

Anna - Simeon & God - Luke 2:36

The Signs and Miracles attest to His identity

By Peter - Matthew 16:13-16

Matthew 16:13–16 CSB

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Divine - Romans 1:4

Jesus was designated Son of God “by His resurrection from the dead.”

It is the resurrection that sets Jesus apart and authenticates His deity.

Paul isn’t saying that Jesus only became God’s Son when he was raised from the grave. He is giving two great truths about the resurrection:

1) The empty tomb is the great proclamation of who Jesus is. Removes all doubt.

2) The resurrection and ascension were the path to His rightful place, to rule at God’s right hand.

He came humbly as a man, tasted the struggle of life, endured rejection and suffered death. But the resurrection is where we see not only that He is the Son of God, but that He is truly the Son of God in power. This is why HOPE HAS A NAME - His NAME IS JESUS - EMMANUEL - God with Us.

If Jesus had not risen from the dead, he would only be remembered as a moralistic teacher/philosopher/prophet/rabbi and nothing else.

As a result of the resurrection, He is testified to as God’s unique Son exalted over death and Satan, and invested with all power. Matt 28:18

He is in fact, the Born Identity, the real, authentic, true Son of God, Jesus Christ, Messiah born so that you may have life, and a new identity.

The Identified Messiah will transform your life

Romans 1:5-6

Romans 1:5–6 CSB

Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles, including you who are also called by Jesus Christ.

It is through Jesus, Messiah, that we receive grace and our calling.

As Jesus is identified as the fulfilment of the promises of God, we know the Gospel is good news for all who will respond in faith, trusting faith, by GRACE.

I like to define GRACE as more than we deserve, greater that we can imagine. The One who was promised to come, born in a stable, identified as Messiah, gives grace, mercy, and forgiveness to those whom He calls and respond by faith. Listen, faith isn’t just intellect agreement with a set of historical facts, but rather surrender (because you trust Him) to the One who asks you to trust Him.

Biblical faith is an active commitment in your life. And obedience is the measure of that faith.

Even though Christmas has been hijacked by high priced toys, what used to be crowded stores, secular songs about winter wonderlands, white Christmases…Santa…we get to remember the true identity of Christmas is JESUS the CHRIST. All glory to God for His amazing gift of grace to humanity! The Gift of Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness.

COVID can have all the holiday fuss, but you can’t miss Christ Jesus.

Listen to the promises of God regarding this transformed life offered to you by the true identity of Christmas:

Ephesians 2:12–14 CSB

At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh,

God wants to work a new thing into your life…He wants to transform you from death to life! He alone can and will transform your life! This transformation brings JOY instead of SORROW/BITTERNESS/DESPAIR.

Isaiah 43:18–19 CSB

“Do not remember the past events; pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.

In Christ, the Born Identity of Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness

2 Corinthians 5:17 CSB

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

This from God and is the GRACE which Paul speaks of.

There is a story about Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban from about 20 years ago when he offered WGN radio sports-talk host David Kaplan $50,000 to legally change his name to Dallas Maverick. Kaplan declined and Cuban raised the stakes to $100,000 and donate the same amount to Kaplan’s favorite charity. He was bombarded by emails from listeners telling he’d be crazy to turn down the money. He ended up saying no and replied, “I’d be saying I’d do anything for money, and that bothers me. My name is my birthright. I’d like to preserve my integrity and credibility.”

Sometimes in Scripture, those God calls are given new names because God is doing something new in their life.

Abram to Abraham - from “exalted father” to “father of many nations” as he seeks to fulfill his role of protector of God’s family.

Sarai to Sarah - from “princess” to “my princess” - she grows into a woman who trusts God’s promises.

Jacob to Israel - Deceiving (one who replaces another) to devout (Jacob engaged directly with God.)

Simon to Peter - Peter would have to grow into that rock/role but eventually he did. From denier to proclaimer.

To be called of Jesus by grace is a moment when you receive that new identity. And in that new identity, we have a responsibility to point others to the One, truly identified as the Messiah, the One and Only Jesus Christ. So they too can know the JOY of serving and following Jesus.

If you sense Jesus calling you this morning unto salvation, would you respond by talking to Him as we pray?

Dear Lord Jesus, I admit I am a sinner and I ask You to forgive me. I believe you died on the cross to pay for my sins and that God raised you from the dead. I confess my trust in you as Lord and Savior of my life. Please guide me and help me to do your will.” Amen