WHO ARE YOU?
TEXT: John 1:19
INTRODUCTION: John the Baptist
· John was asked this question by the priest and Levites.
· John had a great reputation throughout the land.
· Matthew 3:2—"Repent for the Kingdom is at hand!"
· All those around the region came out to hear John (Matthew 3:5-6)
· John rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 3:7-12)
· John wore "weird clothes" (Mark 1:6)
· John had a reputation, that is why he is asked this question.
· John responded that he is not the Christ, not the Prophet, and not Elijah.
· Notice that when John responded with Scripture
· Verse 23 from Isaiah 40:3 and in verse 26 there is a reference to Malachi 3:1
I. Do you know who you are today?
A. This question goes much deeper than your name?
B. This question goes deep into what is in your heart.
II. You are a PRECIOUS (very valuable) people!
A. You were purchased with a price.
1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1. The Price was God’s only Son (John 3:16)
2. Notice that since You are bought with a price You are to glorify God in our bodies and our spirit because both are God’s
B. 1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1. Notice that you were purchased not with corruptible things, but with the blood of Jesus.
Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
2. This blood of Jesus was
a. INNOCENT (Matthew 27:4),
Matthew 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
b. PRECIOUS 1 Peter 1:18-19
3. The blood of Jesus brings us eternal redemption
Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
4. This blood cleanses us from sin (1 John 1:5-7)
a. Notice the condition—"If you walk in the light…"
C. The blood of Jesus RECONCILES us! (Ephesians 2:13-16)
III. You are a RECONCILED People!
A. Reconciliation means "to restore favor" or "making peace between enemies
B. The blood of Christ has drawn us near (Ephesians 2:13).
C. This reconciliation is also accomplished by the death of Christ (Romans 5:10)
D. This reconciliation was effected on us while You were sinners; (Romans 5:8)
E. While you were sinning against God he sent his Precious son because he wanted us to be reconciled to him. (Romans 5:6-21)
F. Paul tells us to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20)
G. When You become RECONCILED to God then You become Righteous
IV. You are a RIGHTEOUS People!
A. Righteous people are those who are upright, those who live right.
B. Those who walk uprightly will also be righteous and that person will not be moved (Psalm 15)
1. Psalm 15 tells some characteristics of the righteous
C. The Lord knows the way of the Righteous (Psalms 1:6)
D. The Lord loves the righteous (Psalm 146:8)
E. The Lord hears the prayers of the righteous (Proverbs 15:29)
F. The term righteous is applied to Christians in Matthew 25:37, 46.
1. Notice that the righteous will inherit eternal life.
2. The unrighteous will go into eternal punishment
V. You are a SANCTIFIED People!
A. Sanctified people means that You are a people that is set apart.
B. This means that you are a people who are different from the world.
C. Romans 12:1-2
1. Notice that you are a living sacrifice, holy, are acceptable to God.
2. You are not to let the world mold us; you are to be different from the world by the renewing of our minds.
3. The renewing of your mind will set you apart from this world.
a. Our minds are to be set on things above (Colossians 3:2)
1) Matthew 6:19-21
2) Those things "above" do not corrupt like the things of this earth
b. Look at how we are to think (Philippians 4:8)
D. How does one become sanctified?
1. The word of God sanctifies or sets one apart (John 17:17)
2. Jesus said, "If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed." (John 8:31)
3. Jesus goes on to say that the truth will make you free (John 8:32)
a. What are they free from? They are free from the bondage of sin or the slavery of sin (John 8:34)
E. Those who are SANCTIFIED are also WASHED and JUSTIFIED (1 Corinthians 6:11)
1. What are they washed from? They are washed from their sins
VI. WHO ARE YOU?
A. Are you like John? Are you known for your reputation, as he is known?
B. Do you know who you are? Are you RECONCILED, RIGHTEOUS, and SANCTIFIED?
C. Are you a child of God?
