Embracing Our Identity in Christ: Living with Purpose
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound concept of identity and its impact on our lives. We began by acknowledging that each day is a gift from God, and we are called to rejoice in it. Our lives are filled with opportunities to influence others, whether through small acts of kindness or significant gestures. This influence stems from our identity, which is deeply rooted in our Creator. Just as an iPhone cannot escape its identity as an Apple product, we cannot disconnect from our identity in God. Our mental state, values, self-worth, and how we treat others are all reflections of this identity.
Throughout history, from Genesis to today, there has been a struggle to disconnect from the Creator, yet God's love remains steadfast. Our identity in Christ is not defined by our past, failures, or what others say about us, but by what God declares. We are chosen, royal, holy, and special. Embracing this identity allows us to stand firm against the lies of the enemy and live a life of freedom and purpose.
We also discussed the importance of understanding the context of our identity. Just as our experiences shape our responses, our identity in Christ shapes our functionality in life. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and follow Him, shifting our allegiance from earthly kingdoms to the Kingdom of God. This transformation brings a new functionality, enabling us to live out our true identity as followers of Christ.
As we prepare to take communion, we are reminded of the significance of our identity in Christ. We are the salt of the earth, valuable and influential in the world. Our identity is rooted in love, not achievement, and we are called to live as new creations in Christ. Through His divine power, we have everything we need for a godly life, participating in His divine nature and escaping the corruption of the world.
Key Takeaways:
- Our identity is deeply rooted in our Creator, and it influences every aspect of our lives, from our mental state to our interactions with others. Understanding this identity helps us live with purpose and intentionality. [16:10]
- God's love is unwavering, and our identity in Christ is not defined by our past or failures but by His declarations. We are chosen, royal, holy, and special, and embracing this truth allows us to stand firm against the lies of the enemy. [01:00:23]
- Understanding the context of our identity is crucial. Our experiences shape our responses, and our identity in Christ shapes our functionality in life. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and follow Him, aligning our lives with the Kingdom of God. [26:34]
- Our identity is rooted in love, not achievement. We are called to live as new creations in Christ, participating in His divine nature and escaping the corruption of the world. This transformation empowers us to live a life of freedom and purpose. [01:07:39]
- As the salt of the earth, we are valuable and influential. Our identity in Christ makes us the currency of the world, enabling us to operate with authority and impact. Embracing this identity allows us to live a blessed life, trusting in God's promises. [01:14:27]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[16:10] - Influence and Identity
[17:02] - Disconnecting from the Creator
[19:08] - Identity Crisis in the World
[25:11] - Identity and Functionality
[26:34] - Following Christ's Call
[30:45] - Context of Identity
[58:31] - Understanding Our True Identity
[59:10] - Trusting God's Declaration
[01:00:23] - Standing Firm Against Lies
[01:02:11] - Embracing Our New Nature
[01:07:39] - Participating in Divine Nature
[01:10:19] - Characteristics of Love
[01:12:00] - Open Communion
[01:14:27] - Salt of the Earth
[01:15:09] - Communion and Identity
[01:18:46] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 9:23 - "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'"
2. 1 Peter 2:9 - "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
3. 2 Peter 1:3-4 - "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Luke 9:23, what are the requirements for someone who wants to follow Jesus? How does this relate to the concept of identity discussed in the sermon? [26:34]
2. In 1 Peter 2:9, what are the four descriptors used to define our identity in Christ? How do these descriptors contrast with how the world might define us? [01:00:23]
3. How does 2 Peter 1:3-4 describe the resources God has provided for living a godly life? What role does our identity play in accessing these resources? [01:07:39]
4. The sermon mentioned that our identity influences our mental state and interactions with others. Can you recall any specific examples given in the sermon that illustrate this point? [16:10]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to deny oneself and take up one's cross daily, as mentioned in Luke 9:23? How might this act of self-denial shape a person's identity in Christ? [26:34]
2. How does understanding our identity as a "chosen people" and "royal priesthood" in 1 Peter 2:9 empower us to stand firm against the lies of the enemy? [01:00:23]
3. In what ways does participating in the divine nature, as described in 2 Peter 1:3-4, transform our daily lives and interactions with the world? [01:07:39]
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of understanding the context of our identity. How does this understanding affect our functionality and purpose in life? [30:45]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily life. How can you intentionally influence others positively, knowing that your identity is rooted in Christ? Can you think of a specific situation where you can apply this? [16:10]
2. Consider a past failure or negative label that you have allowed to define you. How can you replace that with the truth of being chosen, royal, holy, and special in God's eyes? [01:00:23]
3. Identify an area in your life where you struggle to deny yourself and follow Christ. What practical steps can you take this week to align more closely with Jesus' call in Luke 9:23? [26:34]
4. Think about a time when you felt disconnected from your identity in Christ. What reminders or practices can help you stay rooted in your true identity? [19:08]
5. How can you participate in God's divine nature this week, especially in situations where you might be tempted to conform to worldly standards? [01:07:39]
6. As the "salt of the earth," how can you use your influence to bring about positive change in your community or workplace? What specific action can you take this week? [01:14:27]
7. During communion, we are reminded of our identity in Christ. How can this sacrament deepen your understanding and acceptance of who you are in Him? [01:15:09]
Devotional
Day 1: Identity Rooted in the Creator
Our identity is deeply rooted in our Creator, influencing every aspect of our lives, from our mental state to our interactions with others. Understanding this identity helps us live with purpose and intentionality. Just as an iPhone cannot escape its identity as an Apple product, we cannot disconnect from our identity in God. This identity shapes our values, self-worth, and how we treat others. Recognizing that each day is a gift from God, we are called to rejoice and use our identity to influence others positively, whether through small acts of kindness or significant gestures. [16:10]
"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally use your God-given identity to positively influence someone in your life today?
Day 2: Embracing God's Unwavering Love
God's love is unwavering, and our identity in Christ is not defined by our past or failures but by His declarations. We are chosen, royal, holy, and special, and embracing this truth allows us to stand firm against the lies of the enemy. Throughout history, there has been a struggle to disconnect from the Creator, yet God's love remains steadfast. By understanding that our identity is defined by what God declares, we can live a life of freedom and purpose, unshackled by the opinions of others or our past mistakes. [01:00:23]
"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." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)
Reflection: What lies or negative beliefs about yourself do you need to replace with God's truth about your identity today?
Day 3: Contextualizing Our Identity in Christ
Understanding the context of our identity is crucial. Our experiences shape our responses, and our identity in Christ shapes our functionality in life. Jesus calls us to deny ourselves and follow Him, aligning our lives with the Kingdom of God. This transformation brings a new functionality, enabling us to live out our true identity as followers of Christ. By shifting our allegiance from earthly kingdoms to the Kingdom of God, we find a new purpose and direction in life, grounded in our identity in Christ. [26:34]
"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'" (Luke 9:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to shift your allegiance from earthly priorities to the Kingdom of God?
Day 4: Living as New Creations in Christ
Our identity is rooted in love, not achievement. We are called to live as new creations in Christ, participating in His divine nature and escaping the corruption of the world. This transformation empowers us to live a life of freedom and purpose. By embracing our new nature, we can stand firm against the lies of the enemy and live out our true identity as followers of Christ. Through His divine power, we have everything we need for a godly life, enabling us to live as new creations in Christ. [01:07:39]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: What old habits or mindsets do you need to let go of to fully embrace your new identity in Christ?
Day 5: Being the Salt of the Earth
As the salt of the earth, we are valuable and influential. Our identity in Christ makes us the currency of the world, enabling us to operate with authority and impact. Embracing this identity allows us to live a blessed life, trusting in God's promises. We are called to be the salt of the earth, bringing flavor and preservation to the world around us. By living out our identity in Christ, we can have a profound impact on those around us, shining His light in a world that desperately needs it. [01:14:27]
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet." (Matthew 5:13, ESV)
Reflection: How can you be the salt of the earth in your community today, bringing flavor and preservation to those around you?
Quotes
Every single one of you came. You came here today with a purpose. You came here with an intentionality. You came here with a functionality. And you came here so you can make some influence, right? I don't know about you all. In your life, can you look into your life and say, I make influence? [00:13:56] (19 seconds)
What happens is people identify something that happened or identify you. Identity is so important. And what happens through time, and we see it all the way from Genesis to today. From Genesis to today, we see it. Even on this phone. What happens in life is, I'll say it this way. [00:16:23] (27 seconds)
look at this your mental state follows your identity the values you have follows your identity your self -worth follows your identity how you see other people follows your how you treat yourself how you treat yourself how you treat yourself how you treat yourself other people follows your your decision -making follows your [00:21:08] (29 seconds)
See, so many times in this world, people just try to identify with what is their surrounding, where they come from, who they are, their ethnicity, all of this. But at the same time, Christ is saying right here, he said, Hey, if you want to be my follower, if you want to identify as a Christ follower, if you want to identify, you have to what? Give up your own way. [00:26:02] (25 seconds)
let's celebrate the recovery let's celebrate the renewing of Christ I'm telling you guys don't believe what the world says you are it holds you in bondage God says you're on fearfully and wonderfully therefore there is no condemnation through Christ Jesus man I'm not that one thing that some people there say they love Jesus I know they love Jesus [01:00:57] (34 seconds)
escape the corruption it says in the world when you understand that you may participate in the divine nature at the end of chapter verse four it says having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires the world defines the people by their performance by the popularity by their possessions god defines you by his love [01:05:12] (30 seconds)
And the Bible says, when you take communion, it says, do this and remember to me. And the only thing that you have to identify as and make sure you're right, really, with holy communion, is be a Christ follower, to have Jesus in your heart. It don't matter what church you're in or where you're at. [01:11:38] (23 seconds)
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