Embracing Our Identity as Christ's Ambassadors
Summary
In our journey of exploring identity, we are reminded that our true identity is not something we create but something we receive from God. Last week, we discussed how we are God's masterpiece, created in Christ for good works. Today, we delve deeper into what it means to live out this new identity as ambassadors for Christ. Through the story of Sebastian, a fictional ambassador who lost sight of his mission, we see the importance of staying connected to our true calling. Like Sebastian, we can become so immersed in the world around us that we forget our purpose. However, our identity in Christ is not about self-improvement or behavior modification; it is about becoming a new creation, marked by freedom and forgiveness.
Paul reminds us that if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. Our old self, marked by sin and shame, is gone, replaced by a life of reconciliation and purpose. God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ, restoring our broken relationship and calling us to be messengers of reconciliation. This calling is not based on our worthiness but on God's choice and love for us. Jesus chose us to bear fruit and represent Him in the world. Our identity as ambassadors means we are sent by God to show His love and truth, not to blend in with the world but to stand out as representatives of His kingdom.
As ambassadors, our words and actions carry weight and eternal implications. We are called to communicate God's truth and grace, reminding others of His love and greatness. Our citizenship is in heaven, and our loyalty belongs to God. We are here to represent Christ, not ourselves, and to participate in the ministry of reconciliation. This requires us to stay connected to Christ, the vine, and to carry ourselves differently, reflecting His love and goodness in every interaction. Our everyday moments are opportunities to show Christ's love and point others to Him.
The world needs to see Jesus, and God has chosen us to be His ambassadors. May we live in this identity, embracing our calling to represent Christ in the little moments every day. God's peace and strength be with us as we fulfill this mission.
Key Takeaways:
1. Identity in Christ: Our identity is not self-created but received from God. In Christ, we become a new creation, free from sin and shame, and marked by forgiveness and purpose. This identity shapes our mission in the world, calling us to live as ambassadors for Christ. [09:07]
2. Ambassadors of Reconciliation: God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ, restoring our broken relationship and calling us to be messengers of reconciliation. Our role as ambassadors is not based on our worthiness but on God's choice and love for us. [14:48]
3. Living with Purpose: As ambassadors, we are sent by God to show His love and truth. Our words and actions carry eternal implications, and we are called to communicate God's truth and grace, reminding others of His love and greatness. [20:55]
4. Staying Connected to Christ: To represent Christ effectively, we must stay connected to Him, the vine. Through His word, prayer, and worship, we remain rooted in Him, allowing us to reflect His love and goodness in every interaction. [20:55]
5. Everyday Opportunities: Our everyday moments are opportunities to show Christ's love and point others to Him. As ambassadors, we are called to live differently, carrying ourselves in a way that reflects Christ's love and goodness to a world longing for hope and peace. [20:55]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Identity Series
- [01:15] - God's Masterpiece
- [02:45] - Story of Sebastian the Ambassador
- [04:30] - Losing Sight of Our Calling
- [06:00] - Identity in Christ
- [07:30] - New Creation in Christ
- [09:07] - Ambassadors for Christ
- [10:45] - Reconciliation Through Christ
- [12:30] - Purpose and Mission
- [14:48] - Communicating God's Truth
- [16:15] - Staying Connected to Christ
- [18:00] - Everyday Opportunities
- [20:55] - Living as Ambassadors
- [22:30] - Conclusion and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20
2. John 15:16
3. John 15:5
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Paul mean when he says, "if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come"? How does this relate to our identity as described in the sermon? [09:07]
2. In the story of Sebastian, what were the key factors that led him to lose sight of his mission as an ambassador? [04:30]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of an ambassador for Christ? What responsibilities are associated with this role? [14:48]
4. According to the sermon, what are the implications of being reconciled to God through Christ? How does this affect our daily lives? [14:48]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being a "new creation" in Christ challenge the idea of self-created identity? What does this mean for someone who struggles with self-worth? [09:07]
2. What does it mean to be a messenger of reconciliation, and how does this role impact our interactions with others? [14:48]
3. How can staying connected to Christ, as described in John 15:5, influence the way we live out our identity as ambassadors? [20:55]
4. In what ways might someone unintentionally blend in with the world, like Sebastian, and how can they remain distinct as representatives of Christ? [20:55]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily routine. Are there specific areas where you might be blending in with the world rather than standing out as an ambassador for Christ? How can you address this? [20:55]
2. Consider a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation. How can you act as a messenger of reconciliation in that situation this week? [14:48]
3. Identify one way you can stay more connected to Christ, the vine, in your daily life. What practical steps will you take to ensure this connection remains strong? [20:55]
4. Think about a recent conversation where you had the opportunity to share God's love and truth. How did you handle it, and what might you do differently next time to better represent Christ? [20:55]
5. Who in your life needs to hear the message of hope and reconciliation? How can you intentionally reach out to them this week with the love of Christ? [14:48]
6. Reflect on your understanding of your identity in Christ. How does this understanding influence your sense of purpose and mission in the world? [09:07]
7. What specific distractions in your life prevent you from focusing on your role as an ambassador for Christ? How can you minimize these distractions this week? [20:55]
Devotional
Day 1: Identity Received, Not Created
Our identity in Christ is not something we manufacture or earn; it is a gift we receive from God. In Christ, we are transformed into a new creation, liberated from the chains of sin and shame, and marked by forgiveness and purpose. This new identity is foundational to our mission in the world, calling us to live as ambassadors for Christ. As we embrace this identity, we are reminded that our worth and purpose are not determined by our achievements or failures but by God's love and grace. This understanding frees us from the pressure of self-improvement and behavior modification, allowing us to rest in the truth of who we are in Christ. [09:07]
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you still trying to create your own identity? How can you begin to embrace the identity that God has given you in Christ today?
Day 2: Messengers of Reconciliation
God has reconciled us to Himself through Christ, restoring our broken relationship and calling us to be messengers of reconciliation. This calling is not based on our worthiness but on God's choice and love for us. As ambassadors of reconciliation, we are tasked with sharing the message of God's love and forgiveness with others, inviting them to experience the same restoration we have received. Our role is to communicate God's truth and grace, reminding others of His love and greatness. This mission requires us to live with purpose, understanding that our words and actions carry eternal implications. [14:48]
Colossians 1:19-20 (ESV): "For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of reconciliation? How can you intentionally share God's love and forgiveness with them this week?
Day 3: Living with Purpose
As ambassadors for Christ, we are sent by God to show His love and truth to the world. Our words and actions carry eternal implications, and we are called to communicate God's truth and grace, reminding others of His love and greatness. This purpose shapes how we live, guiding us to reflect Christ's love and goodness in every interaction. Our everyday moments are opportunities to show Christ's love and point others to Him. By living with purpose, we fulfill our calling to represent Christ and participate in the ministry of reconciliation. [20:55]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: What is one specific way you can show Christ's love and truth in your interactions today? How can you be intentional about living with purpose in your daily life?
Day 4: Staying Connected to Christ
To represent Christ effectively, we must stay connected to Him, the vine. Through His word, prayer, and worship, we remain rooted in Him, allowing us to reflect His love and goodness in every interaction. This connection is vital for our spiritual growth and effectiveness as ambassadors for Christ. By staying connected to Christ, we are empowered to live out our calling and fulfill the mission God has given us. Our relationship with Christ is the source of our strength and the foundation of our identity as His ambassadors. [20:55]
John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Reflection: How can you prioritize staying connected to Christ this week? What specific practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to deepen your relationship with Him?
Day 5: Everyday Opportunities
Our everyday moments are opportunities to show Christ's love and point others to Him. As ambassadors, we are called to live differently, carrying ourselves in a way that reflects Christ's love and goodness to a world longing for hope and peace. Each interaction is a chance to demonstrate the love and grace of God, inviting others to experience the transformation we have received in Christ. By embracing these opportunities, we fulfill our calling to represent Christ and participate in the ministry of reconciliation. [20:55]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: What is one everyday moment where you can intentionally show Christ's love today? How can you be more aware of the opportunities God places in your path to represent Him?
Quotes
"And so, I'm going to tell you a story that I'm going to tell you about. He was given the list of things that he was supposed to do, the messages that he was supposed to carry on behalf of his leader. He was sent to his new homeland, and he was told to speak well and speak what I communicate, and then also make relationships, build relationships. So, Sebastian settles in, and things are going really well. He is in constant communication with his homeland. He's saying everything he's supposed to say. He's building relationships with the purpose. Things are going really well. But over time, what tends to happen, or what happened for Sebastian was that he really loved the culture in this foreign land. And so, he started mingling and interspersing himself more heavily with the locals and started living like a local, so to speak. And as he was living like a local, he lost communication, communication with his homeland. And before he knew it, he was no longer standing out as an ambassador. He was blending in with this place that he was called to speak into." [00:00:55] (70 seconds)
"And it's very possible, like Sebastian, to lose sight of that calling from time to time. But what we'll see today, and what God's Word reminds us of, is that ultimately, our identity in Christ shapes our purpose and mission in the world. That because of who we are, our identity in Christ, we know therefore what our purpose is and the mission that we have been called to. And yet, like Sebastian, we live in a world in which we are told that our identity is something we create. We create it through, through achievements, relationships, or even self-expression." [00:02:42] (44 seconds)
"Paul says it this way, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come, the old has gone, the new is here. Right? If you are in Christ, you are a new creation. Paul is not talking about self-improvement. He's not talking about behavior modification or some kind of spiritual makeover. What Paul is talking about is something completely new. The language he uses is new in quality, something completely different, something that is never seen before." [00:03:34] (41 seconds)
"It's not that our old self, our old identity, the one that is marked by sin and guilt and shame is fading away or lingering in the background. It is gone. It has been taken by Jesus to the cross and put to death. And in its place, he gives us new life, a life that is one marked by freedom and forgiveness, not condemnation and judgment. It's a life that rests in what God has done for us, not in what we must do, to be made right with God. And so for us, our identity is not something that we build or create. It's not defined or determined by our feelings or our decisions." [00:04:15] (47 seconds)
"He reached for us in Christ because ultimately he chose us, because he loves us. He takes us, people who were once enemies, who were once far from God, people who have failed time and time again, and he takes us, people who have failed time and time again, people who struggle every single day, and he calls us to be his messengers. Not because we're worthy, not because we're fully capable on our own, but because he chose us. And that's what Jesus says in John chapter 15. He says, you did not choose me, but I chose you, and I appointed you that you should go and bear fruit. He says, I chose you, but I chose you, and I appointed you out of the world. It's not random, it's not accidental, it's intentional that Jesus calls us into this, that ever, even before we even thought about God, before we realized that we need God, before we even considered following him, he already had his love set on each one of us because of his love for us. He appointed us, and he gave us, and he gave us, and he gave us, and he gave us, and he gave us, and he gave us, and he gives us a purpose. He sets us apart for a purpose, right? He didn't just save us from something, he saved us for something, and that is to reflect the one who called you, to live a life worthy of the one who has called you. And so the question for us today is, is that how you see yourself?" [00:07:23] (104 seconds)
"Or do I see myself as one who has been chosen by the king of the universe, who has set me apart, and who has made me a part of the world? Who has made me different, who has called me into this life of being an ambassador for him, right? It's this identity, it's this responsibility that comes with being reconciled to Christ and given this new life, to be Christ's ambassador, to be the official representative of Jesus in this world. The word that Paul uses is, which is ultimately used to describe envoys that are sent by a king to share his message with full authority, or to deliver the message with full authority. It's the highest ranking diplomat sent from one country to another to promote and protect the interests of their home country. For us as God's children, for us as God's people, we are his ambassadors, and we have been sent, by God, from heaven to earth to show his love on earth as it is in heaven. We have been placed by God in this exact moment in time, been given a special set of skills and spiritual gifts to represent him in the moments and the places that he has intentionally put us." [00:09:33] (93 seconds)
"It's okay to be different. And then we view every interaction, as a kingdom opportunity, every conversation, every passing with the stranger, every opportunity or inclination on our heart that says, go help that person or pick up the phone and encourage that person is an opportunity for us to reflect God's love to the world around us, right? Because ultimately our representing Christ happens in the small everyday moments, not just in the big life moments, right? God is making his appeal through us. That means that every single day in every interaction, God wants to use us to point people to him. It's an opportunity for us to show Christ's goodness, to show his faithfulness and his love to a world that is longing for answers, that is longing for hope and peace." [00:19:23] (64 seconds)
"And this is heavy work. This is not easy. And for us to fully live out this calling that we have to be ambassadors, it requires a few things of us. It requires us to stay connected to our King, right? If we want to represent Christ, we have to be connected to Christ, right? Jesus says in John chapter 15, I am the vine and you are the branches. And whoever abides in me and I in him, he bears much fruit." [00:16:54] (30 seconds)
"For apart from me, you can do nothing, right? See, sometimes we fall into this trap of thinking, it's all up to me and my own wisdom. We lean on our own ways. And yet, what we realize is that we get further away from God, that we get further down the path away from where he is ultimately trying to lead us. And so, it's through his word, through prayer, through worship, and gathering together as the saints, that we are able to remain connected to him so that we can represent him well, in a way that makes much of him and less of us." [00:17:24] (34 seconds)
"And then we also, because of our relationship, because of being connected to our King, the one who gives us life and shapes us into his image, we carry ourself differently. We don't look like the rest of the world because ultimately, as Christ's ambassadors, our lives point people to Jesus." [00:17:58] (23 seconds)
"Our actions have the opportunity to reflect Christ's love and goodness and grace. And when we live in this way, when we see ourselves that we are different, that we are called to represent Christ, to show his love on earth, to show his love on earth, to show his love on earth, to show his love on earth, as it is in heaven, people get to see Jesus." [00:18:42] (23 seconds)
"And that's where we run to the grace of the Father. And we say, God, please forgive me and help me to stay connected to you. Help me to live a life that reflects you. Help me to share your love boldly. And to live in this mission that you have called me to, to show your love on earth as it is in heaven." [00:21:14] (26 seconds)
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