Embracing Our True Identity: Confession and Belonging

Today, we celebrate the truth that our identity is not defined by our past, our pain, or the labels others have placed on us, but by the confession that we belong to God. Over the past weeks, we have journeyed through a season of confessions—admitting our sins, acknowledging our struggles, and releasing forgiveness. Each of these confessions has been a step toward freedom, healing, and restoration. But today, we arrive at the foundation of it all: the bold declaration, “I am His.” This is not a statement of perfection, but of position. We are His, not because we have earned it, but because we have confessed it and received it by faith.

The power of confession is not just in admitting what is wrong, but in announcing what is true. When we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts, as Romans 10:9 teaches, we step into the reality of salvation and identity. Our words shape our world; what we confess, we become. If we continually speak defeat, fear, or rejection, our lives will reflect those words. But when we align our confession with what heaven says about us, everything begins to shift. We are called to speak life, to declare God’s promises, and to reject the false narratives that the world or our past may try to impose.

Identity is rooted in relationship. Just as Peter’s revelation of who Jesus was led to Jesus revealing Peter’s true identity, our closeness to Christ unlocks the truth of who we are. We cannot confidently declare that we belong to God if we are distant from Him. Intimacy with Jesus brings clarity about ourselves, and the more we walk with Him, the more we understand our purpose and value.

We are not defined by our failures, our shame, or the world’s expectations. We are God’s masterpiece, chosen, called, and set apart. The enemy seeks to confuse our identity, but today we tear down every lie and false label. We boldly confess, “I am His,” and in doing so, we step into the fullness of our calling, our value, and our destiny. Let us continue to confess what heaven says, to walk in the truth of our identity, and to live as those who are truly His.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Confession is the gateway to transformation, not just a ritual of words. When we open our mouths to admit our sins, struggles, and need for forgiveness, we invite God to do a deep work in our hearts. Healing cannot begin where hiding still lives, and grace is reserved for the honest, not the perfect. Our journey toward freedom starts with the courage to confess what is real. [11:00]
• 2. What you confess, you become. Our words are not empty; they carry the power to shape our reality. If we continually speak defeat or fear, our lives will follow that direction. But when we declare what God has already spoken over us, we align ourselves with His purpose and see transformation take root. Our confession must echo heaven’s truth, not the world’s commentary. [21:30]
• 3. Identity is rooted in relationship, not in isolation or performance. Peter’s bold confession of Jesus’ identity flowed from his closeness to Christ, not from hearsay or distance. The more intimately we walk with Jesus, the clearer we see ourselves and our calling. If we struggle to declare “I am His,” it may be a sign to restore our relationship with the One who defines us. [28:08]
• 4. Our mouths are not mirrors of insecurity but microphones of identity. We must break the cycle of repeating what trauma, rejection, or the world has said about us. Instead, we are called to speak what heaven says: that we are healed, chosen, redeemed, and victorious. Even when our feelings or circumstances say otherwise, our confession of God’s truth brings breakthrough and shifts the atmosphere. [32:00]
• 5. The revelation of our true identity restores our value and purpose. Like a masterpiece hidden in plain sight, many have been mislabeled or overlooked, but when the Master reveals our worth, everything changes. We are not damaged goods or defined by our past; we are God’s beloved, bought with a price, and destined for glory. Confessing “I am His” is the key to stepping into our calling and living out the benefits of belonging to God. [34:43]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [04:39] - Praise and Worship: The Best Days of My Life
• [08:39] - Honoring Lady Perry and Opening Prayer
• [09:42] - Introduction to the Series: Confessions
• [11:00] - The Power of Honest Confession
• [15:17] - Identity: Not Defined by the Past
• [21:30] - What You Confess, You Become
• [25:35] - Aligning Your Words with Heaven
• [28:08] - Identity Rooted in Relationship
• [30:28] - Speaking What Heaven Says
• [32:00] - Breaking the Cycle of Negative Confession
• [34:43] - The Masterpiece: Restored Value
• [38:33] - The Cross: The Proof of Belonging
• [40:14] - Rejecting the World’s Labels
• [43:16] - Embracing Your Identity and Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Matthew 16:13-19 (ESV) — > 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
> 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
> 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
> 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
> 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
> 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
> 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Romans 10:9-10 (ESV) — > 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
> 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 16, what is the difference between what the crowd says about Jesus and what Peter confesses? How does Jesus respond to Peter’s confession? ([13:00])
2. According to Romans 10:9-10, what two things are necessary for salvation? How are belief and confession connected?
3. The sermon says, “What you confess, you become.” What examples did the pastor give of negative confessions versus confessions that align with God’s truth? ([21:30])
4. How did Jesus’ response to Peter’s confession change Peter’s identity and purpose? ([16:00])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus ask his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” instead of just accepting what the crowd says? What does this teach us about personal faith and identity? ([13:00])
2. The pastor said, “Your words shape your world; you cannot become what you will not declare.” What does this mean in the context of our spiritual lives? ([21:30])
3. How does the relationship between Peter and Jesus show that identity is rooted in relationship, not performance or isolation? ([28:08])
4. The sermon mentions that confession is not just about admitting what is wrong, but also about announcing what is true. Why is it important to confess God’s truth over our lives, even when our feelings or circumstances say otherwise? ([32:00])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says, “Healing cannot begin where hiding still lives, and grace is reserved for the honest, not the perfect.” Is there an area of your life where you’ve been hiding instead of confessing? What would it look like to bring that into the light this week? ([11:00])
2. Think about the words you regularly speak over yourself. Are there any negative confessions you need to stop repeating? What is one truth from God’s Word you can start declaring instead? ([21:30])
3. The pastor said, “If we struggle to declare ‘I am His,’ it may be a sign to restore our relationship with the One who defines us.” What steps can you take this week to grow closer to Jesus and let Him define your identity? ([28:08])
4. Are there any labels or lies from your past that you still carry? How can you replace those with what God says about you? ([34:43])
5. The sermon challenges us to “break the cycle of repeating what trauma, rejection, or the world has said about us.” What is one practical way you can start breaking that cycle in your daily life? ([32:00])
6. The pastor used the story of the hidden masterpiece to illustrate restored value. Have you ever felt overlooked or mislabeled? How does knowing you are God’s masterpiece change the way you see yourself and your purpose? ([34:43])
7. The message says, “Our mouths are not mirrors of insecurity but microphones of identity.” What is one confession you want to start making daily to align your words with heaven’s truth? ([32:00])