Embracing Our New Identity in Christ

1) "Peter is sharing with this group that they're called towards a different experience of life. A different experience of life. They're called to live differently. They're called to look differently. They're called to love differently, most importantly, than the world around them. They're called out towards a different way to be identified in this world. And so what is this different way? Well, it's the way of Jesus. In fact, the early church was known as the way. The followers of Jesus were called, the way. Now, why were they known as the way? Well, if you think back, we did a series a couple years ago in the book of John. A few years ago, we saw Jesus say this. Jesus said this in John 14. He says, I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. So Jesus, he makes this claim that he is the way, right? Jesus is the way to true life." [07:19] (63 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


2) "If the goal is to be a way of life, to experience life in its fullest as it was designed, wouldn't the best way to do that be going towards the one who created it? Wouldn't that be the most advantageous approach in getting to that space, right? Much like if I wanted to understand how one of my favorite songwriters, Bruce Springsteen, could craft such incredible songs, right? If I wanted to understand that the way towards understanding, right, it wouldn't be a path towards his guitar, right? I wouldn't just go to his guitar and say, how did this happen, right? That would just be a path towards the instrument that he uses for his creation, but it's not a path that connects me to him as the songwriter, as the creator." [10:44] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


3) "And so that's the way of Jesus. It's this opportunity to be called out towards a way that will actually connect us, will actually bring us to the design, the author of life. And because it's the way of Jesus, this path is the one that calls us to the way of Jesus. And so that's the way of Jesus. It's an incredible way to live in relationship with our creator. It's an incredible way to live life. And it calls us, though, to then live in obedience, calls us to live in worship of our creator. Now, here's what's incredibly important in regards to this path. If we really want to truly walk in this life the way that God designed for us, well, Jesus's way is absolutely vital. It's vital. Because he shares he is the only way." [12:07] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


4) "So here's what we get to see. As a follower of Jesus this morning, we can confront this call out in a couple ways. Like, do we truly walk in this new identity? Do we walk as being declared new? Are we living from this standing that declares a new calling? And if we're not, well, maybe the question to ask is, what's getting in the way? Maybe we're still clinging to the ways of old, right? The identity of old. The identity that this world gives you, that your worth or your value or what you have is based on like your possessions or the way you think or your abilities, right? Those are all fleeting identities. They're just all fleeting identities. And so if you have a struggle just remaining in this new identity, I hope that we can kind of go after that today as followers of Jesus." [15:10] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


5) "And so here's how we can continue to be, reminded of that. It's when we exist in this new identity, this exile, these exiles, these elect exiles. It's an identity that's designated to us by God. It's not an identity that we're attempting to curate from the things of this world, and so as Peter provides this acknowledgement, here's what he does next. He recognizes the hardship of living life feeling unsettled and in exile. And what I love is that he calls this group out to a new understanding of something really important, a new understanding of hope, and I love that he presents this hope. He does so through a blessing." [33:57] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


6) "So here's the thing. Here's the blessing that Peter provides this group. And here's what I want us to see today. It's a blessing that says we're called out of this old way of living for a blessing and called into this new way, the new way of Jesus, which calls us to live from this blessing. So called out from living for to living from. And I love, this is really cool how Peter does this. I love how he makes this known, the new out of the old. See, this blessing that Peter... And this is what Peter prays. It's in the form of this Jewish blessing. It's called Shemanoah Ezra. And these are 18 prayers. These are blessings that they're prayed for to achieve something, a blessing with God." [36:08] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


7) "And now, maybe for some, this will be the first time. This will be the first time you've heard this type of blessing. And I hope it's an encouragement. I hope it's really, it's a joyful thing for you. I hope it's hopeful. And maybe for others, right? Maybe like those who Peter is writing to, who know the truth of this blessing. But need to maybe be reminded because they're feeling weary, right? Feeling we're just living as an exile around those people who they live their lives with, right? People who might not respect them for following Jesus. People who actually might. People who might resent them for following Jesus. Or who might even persecute them for following Jesus, right? Maybe that's, maybe that's some of us today." [38:39] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


8) "So first blessing. We have been given the love of a perfect father in heaven, obtained through the perfected work of his son. That's, that's the first part. That's the second part of this blessing. It's that we have a father in heaven who created us and lavishes us in love. Now listen, I know many, many of us might struggle at times to believe that. Right? I've had times as well. And maybe it's been really hard because of our certain circumstances. Moments where we're just honest and say, God, this doesn't feel very loving. Like, I get that. The reality of something like human suffering can, can impact on how we live. How we view love. But here's the reality. God has shown his love and that he offered himself to do something about this, this reality of human suffering." [39:24] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


9) "Here's the next blessing. Blessed by the presence of God in our suffering. It says, in this you rejoice. Though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials. So that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold, that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found a result in the praise and the glory and honor the revelation of Jesus Christ. Here, here's just the truth. The human suffering conversation is one that's complex. Understanding God's role in regards to human suffering has been like a philosophical pondering since, since Plato. It's true. Yet, here's what I found different about the God of the Bible. Different in regards to the other worldviews. Or, or just attempts to understand suffering." [43:06] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)


10) "And here's what we're blessed with. We're blessed with this truth that's unshakable. It's undeniable. Here's the thing. Christianity at times can be a very imperfect religion. Filled with flawed, sinful people. And as much as the church does fall short. The truth is that the object of our belief system, Christ crucified, cannot be disproved. It hasn't been revisioned. Right, the truth of the witnesses to the risen Jesus has not and will not be proven untrustworthy or not factual. And listen, I would encourage anyone who might struggle with the thought. Did this dead guy really come back to life? Here's the thing. Go take a deep dive. Right, check out resources. Go do research from both Christian historians and non-Christians. The evidence, it's there." [46:31] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)