Identity & Desire: How Who You Are Connects to What you Love

Introduction:

Illustration:We live in a culture that has put the cart before the horse. Putting the cart before the horse is a metaphor for when people get things backwards.

What is it that we have gotten backwards? Well, people today seem to be searching for who they are. They are trying to find themselves or become their true selves. One of the ways they determine who they are is based on what they want or what they desire. For example, “I am a man, identifying as a man, and I like men so I am homosexual.” This is one example where an individual uses personal taste to determine what his identity is.

But, what if the scripture teaches us something completely different? What if what the scripture teaches us is that the horse needs to be before the cart? In other words, who we actually are needs to determine what we love.

As John is trying to bring confidence and security to this body of Christians, he has already given them some tests so that they would know who are actually Christians are who are not Christians. Those who deny Jesus Christ, who disobey Jesus’ word, and who do not love the brethren are NOT Christians.

Now he turns to them with another connection that should further secure them. John is showing to them how they must know who they are and how this connects to what they should desire.

Theme: If we will be secure without fear, we must know who we are and what we should love!

Body:

(1) Who are you? (I John 2:12-14)

Illustration: When you don’t know who you are, it is difficult to be confident about decisions you make and the life you live. You have all seen the confusion of an elderly person who is lost. They cannot remember their name, their address, or even a family member. The diseases that attack the mind are horrible, and they leave people in a confused state.

How much better to be sure about our identity?

(i) An identity of being forgiven. (I John 2:12)

1 John 2:12 KJV 1900

12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.

This assumes a standard of holiness: God.

This assumes the need to be forgiven: sin.

The only reason for forgiveness is because of the Substitute: Jesus.

This assumes a response: repentance & faith in Jesus Christ.

(ii) An identity based on relationship. (I John 2:13)

1 John 2:13 KJV 1900

13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

Knowing Jesus is about relationship of faith.

Have you believed on Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

Knowing that Jesus is from the beginning identifies Jesus as Deity.

(iii) An identity of an overcomer. (I John 2:13), I John 5:4-5

1 John 2:13 KJV 1900

13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

1 John 5:4–5 KJV 1900

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

An Overcomer is one who has placed faith in Jesus Christ and is continuing to place faith in Jesus Christ.

Satan is a defeated enemy, but we daily battle against Him, his minions, and this world.

Applications:

The only identity that will stand the test of eternity before God is one where you are forgiven, known by God, and living victoriously by faith.

Are you truly saved?

How do you identify yourself?

(2) Who do you love (desire)? (I John 2:15-17)

Illustration: Have you ever watched a video clip of a tiger on the hunt? What kind of prey does a tiger desire? You do not have to wonder what kind of prey a tiger wants. The fact that it is a tiger immediately gives you clues to what the tiger wants.

What about people who are forgiven, known by God, and living victoriously by faith?

When someone has an identity given to them by God, what do they love?

What does their Father allow/not allow them to love?

(i) The Father does not allow two-timing (I John 2:15)

1 John 2:15 KJV 1900

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Illustration: Explanation of what it means to two-time in a relationship

(ii) Because the Father will not share your love with (I John 2:16):

1 John 2:16 KJV 1900

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Lust of the flesh

- Sexual immorality

- Heart of Hatred

- Heart of Jealousy

- Drunkenness

Lust of the eyes

- Love of money

- Covetousness

- Pornography

- Materialism

Pride of Life

- Personal status

- Lying for image

- Exaggerating for appearances

- Bragging

(iii) [Also], Because the world is temporary but not God's will (I John 2:17):

1 John 2:17 KJV 1900

17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Illustration:

There is the story told of a man who desired to live righteously. As part of his practice, he decided that he would show his righteousness by undertaking an unbelievable challenge. He would bring his body under extreme discipline and withhold himself from eating for an extended period of time. This would allow him to discipline his body and help put his mind on His God. Days one and two may have been a little difficult not certainly no where near as difficult as days 29 and 30. He still did not stop. He continued withhold food from himself. Finally, days 39 and 40 came. For 40 days he’d withheld food from himself. He was tired, hungry; but he’d proven his righteousness.

It was only after these 40 days were over that the real test began though. His mortal enemy showed up after the 40 days without food, but his mortal enemy had a plan that was unconventional. His enemy was not going to try to strike him down with a sword or a spear. Rather, his mortal enemy was going to attempt to torture this weakened man by testing his will and his desire. The tests were three:

First, his enemy tried to tempt the weakened man by an appeal to his flesh, he said, “If you are who you say you are, then turn one of these rocks into bread...” The weakened man refused but responded with scripture to this enemy.

Second, his enemy tried to tempt the weakened man by appealing to his eyes. The enemy took this weakened man to a high mountain where they could see all the kingdoms of the world in a flash of time. Then the enemy tested this weakened man again and told him that he would receive all these kingdoms if he would bow down to this enemy. Again, the weakened man refused.

Finally, the enemy had one more trick up his sleeve. This time, the enemy would tempt the weakened man’s pride about his identity. He took the weakened man to the very top of the high Temple of worship. The enemy said, “If you are who you say you are, then throw yourself off of this high spot and see if the angels will catch you before you hit the ground. Surely, if you are who you say you are, then you have a status that will require God to act.” A final time the weakened man refused to give in to the desires of this enemy.

If you have not figured out who the two main characters of the story are, Jesus is the weakened man of disciplined righteousness. Satan is the enemy. When Jesus refused the enemy in all three temptations, he defeated Satan in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

This is how we know that the world is passing away. The world is passing away because Jesus defeated Satan during his life, through his death, and Resurrection. Thus, only those who are in Jesus have a settled identity as children. If they are children of God, then they should love what Jesus love - the will of the Father.

Conclusion:

Who are you?

Who do you love?