Finding Our Identity and Hope in Christ
Summary
In today's gathering, we delved into the profound theme of finding our identity in Christ, as outlined in 1 Peter 1:17-21. This passage challenges us to live a life that reflects our identity as children of God, emphasizing the importance of being one with Jesus. Our journey with Christ is not merely about adhering to a list of do's and don'ts but about allowing Him to permeate every aspect of our lives. This transformation is rooted in understanding that our nature determines our behavior, and as we grow closer to Christ, our actions naturally align with His will.
We explored the concept of being ransomed by Christ, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with His precious blood. This act of redemption underscores the immense value God places on each of us. It is a reminder that our lives are not futile but are meant to honor God. Our response to this incredible gift should be one of reverence and awe, conducting ourselves with a holy fear that acknowledges God's sovereignty and love.
The passage also highlights the importance of living with hope and faith in God, recognizing that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven. While we are exiles on this earth, our lives should be a testament to the hope we have in Christ. This hope is not based on earthly things but on the eternal promise of salvation and the assurance that God is with us in every circumstance.
As we reflect on these truths, we are reminded that our lives should honor the giver of this great gift. Our daily walk with Christ should be a reflection of His love and grace, acknowledging that He paid the ultimate price for our redemption. This understanding should motivate us to live lives that are fully surrendered to Him, trusting in His plan and purpose for us.
Key Takeaways:
- Identity in Christ: Our identity as believers is rooted in being one with Jesus, allowing Him to influence every aspect of our lives. This goes beyond following rules; it's about a deep, personal relationship with Christ that transforms us from the inside out. [29:34]
- Ransomed by Christ: We have been ransomed by the precious blood of Christ, highlighting our immense value to God. This act of redemption calls us to live lives that honor Him, recognizing that we are no longer bound by the futile ways of our forefathers. [44:04]
- Living with Reverence: Conducting ourselves with fear means living with a deep respect and awe for God. This holy fear is the beginning of wisdom and leads us to a greater understanding of who God is and His purpose for our lives. [39:37]
- Hope and Faith in God: Our hope and faith should be firmly placed in God, not in earthly things. As exiles on this earth, we are called to live with the assurance of our heavenly citizenship, trusting in God's eternal promises. [50:53]
- Honoring the Giver: Our lives should be a reflection of the gratitude we have for the gift of salvation. By living a life surrendered to Christ, we honor the giver of this great gift, acknowledging His love and grace in all we do. [52:31]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [24:37] - Special Announcements
- [25:07] - Baker and Shelby's Move
- [25:36] - Christmas Choir Rehearsals
- [26:09] - Children's Church Dismissal
- [26:36] - First Things First Event
- [27:19] - Introduction to 1 Peter
- [28:19] - Steve Green's Journey
- [29:34] - Finding Identity in Christ
- [30:06] - Reading 1 Peter 1:17-21
- [31:19] - Prayer for Joe Loving
- [33:13] - Responding with Hope and Holiness
- [34:24] - Honoring God with Our Lives
- [35:23] - The Seven "You" Statements
- [50:53] - Faith and Hope in God
- [52:31] - Life Points and Closing Remarks
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Peter 1:17-21
---
Observation Questions:
1. What does 1 Peter 1:17-21 say about the nature of our redemption through Christ? How is it described in terms of value and permanence? [30:41]
2. According to the sermon, what does it mean to conduct ourselves with fear during our time of exile? How is this fear different from being afraid? [39:37]
3. How does the sermon describe the concept of being ransomed by Christ? What are we ransomed from, and what was the cost? [44:04]
4. What is the significance of the phrase "for the sake of you" as mentioned in the sermon? How does this relate to the purpose of Christ's actions? [49:02]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding our identity in Christ influence our daily behavior and decisions, according to the sermon? [29:34]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our hope and faith should be placed in God rather than earthly things? How does this perspective affect our view of life's challenges? [50:53]
3. The sermon mentions that our works count for something. How does this align with the idea of salvation by grace, and what role do our actions play in our faith journey? [36:37]
4. How does the concept of being ransomed by Christ challenge the way we view our self-worth and purpose in life? [44:04]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current understanding of your identity in Christ. How can you allow this identity to influence your actions and decisions more fully this week? [29:34]
2. The sermon emphasizes living with reverence and awe for God. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a deeper respect and honor for God in your daily life? [39:37]
3. Consider the areas in your life where you might be placing hope in earthly things. How can you shift your focus to trust more in God's eternal promises? [50:53]
4. How can you live a life that honors the gift of salvation you have received? Identify one specific way you can demonstrate gratitude to God through your actions this week. [52:31]
5. The sermon discusses the importance of conducting ourselves with fear throughout our time of exile. What does this look like in your personal and professional life? [42:14]
6. Reflect on the phrase "for the sake of you." How does this understanding of Christ's sacrifice impact your relationship with Him and others? [49:02]
7. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to surrender to God's plan. What steps can you take to trust in His purpose for you more fully? [56:57]
Devotional
Day 1: Our Identity in Christ Transforms Our Lives
Our identity as believers is deeply rooted in being one with Jesus, which goes beyond merely following a set of rules. This identity is about cultivating a profound, personal relationship with Christ that transforms us from the inside out. As we grow closer to Him, our actions and behaviors naturally begin to align with His will. This transformation is not about external compliance but an internal change that reflects our true nature as children of God. By allowing Christ to permeate every aspect of our lives, we become living testimonies of His love and grace. [29:34]
"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to let Christ influence your actions? How can you invite Him into those areas today?
Day 2: The Preciousness of Being Ransomed by Christ
We have been ransomed by the precious blood of Christ, which underscores the immense value God places on each of us. This act of redemption is not with perishable things like silver or gold but with something far more valuable—Christ's own blood. It is a powerful reminder that our lives are not futile but are meant to honor God. Recognizing this incredible gift should lead us to live lives that reflect reverence and gratitude, acknowledging that we are no longer bound by the futile ways of our forefathers. [44:04]
"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (1 Peter 1:18-19, ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding the value God places on you change the way you view yourself and your purpose? What steps can you take to live a life that honors this gift?
Day 3: Living with Reverence and Awe
Conducting ourselves with fear means living with a deep respect and awe for God. This holy fear is the beginning of wisdom and leads us to a greater understanding of who God is and His purpose for our lives. It is not about being afraid of God but about recognizing His sovereignty and love, which should inspire us to live in a way that honors Him. This reverence is a response to the incredible gift of salvation and the immense value God places on us. [39:37]
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." (Proverbs 9:10, ESV)
Reflection: What does living with reverence and awe for God look like in your daily life? How can you cultivate a deeper respect for His presence and purpose?
Day 4: Anchoring Our Hope and Faith in God
Our hope and faith should be firmly placed in God, not in earthly things. As exiles on this earth, we are called to live with the assurance of our heavenly citizenship, trusting in God's eternal promises. This hope is not based on temporary or material things but on the eternal promise of salvation and the assurance that God is with us in every circumstance. By anchoring our hope and faith in God, we can navigate life's challenges with confidence and peace. [50:53]
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you tempted to place your hope in earthly things? How can you shift your focus to trust in God's eternal promises today?
Day 5: Honoring the Giver of the Gift of Salvation
Our lives should be a reflection of the gratitude we have for the gift of salvation. By living a life surrendered to Christ, we honor the giver of this great gift, acknowledging His love and grace in all we do. This understanding should motivate us to live lives that are fully surrendered to Him, trusting in His plan and purpose for us. Our daily walk with Christ should be a testament to His love and grace, as we strive to honor Him in every aspect of our lives. [52:31]
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1, ESV)
Reflection: What does living a life fully surrendered to Christ look like for you? How can you actively honor God in your daily actions and decisions?
Quotes
1) "Today we are continuing on in 1 Peter chapter 1. And this whole series is called Finding Identity Finding My Identity in Christ. And what I want us to do is to really focus throughout this whole series about what it means to follow Christ but more than that just more on a fundamental level to be one with Jesus. To have him filtering in through every aspect of our life. To be identified as a child of God above everything else." [26:36] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "He said, I had the do's and don'ts down. I knew what to do, what not to do, all the processes, but what I wasn't doing was living the life. And so he really started that in earnest and you could see it coming out in his life as he talked about what it meant to be a follower of Christ. And so that's what we're aiming at here is finding our identity, finding our identity, in Christ, not being a, not just trying to find the right do's and don'ts. So that's a part of living that life out but really it stems from, as we talked about last week, our nature determines our behavior." [29:34] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "We should respond with hope and put our hope in Christ and focus on the grace and focus on what's coming ahead. We should prepare our minds for action, commit our mind to sober thinking and fix our hope on the grace. Then the last part of the verses we looked at last week, tell us that we should respond to this with holiness, that the natural outgrowth of a life sold out to Christ is he does the sanctifying work within us and our life begins to reflect that. And we quoted text from the Old Testament, which tells us, as God said, be holy for I am holy." [33:47] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "Knowing that you were ransomed. Again, the you is believers. You, if you are a child of God, if you have received Christ as your savior, if you're walking with him, you were ransomed. Okay, let's pull that back. We think about ransom. When I think about ransom, the first thing I think about is someone being kidnapped, and someone takes someone and they contact the family and say, if you want this person back, then you must pay this sum of money. That's the ransom money. It must be paid in order to receive that person. Well, the ransom to buy us back after we've fallen into sin is death." [43:34] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Jesus loved you enough to be the ransom for you. Don't ever say my life doesn't count. Don't ever say my life isn't worth anything. Don't ever say that the world wouldn't miss me if I was gone. Scripture says otherwise, and this is the truth. If you know Christ, you've been ransomed by him." [44:04] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Why did Jesus do this? For the sake of you. One of the things that I do in preparing to preach is once we lock down on what the text is going to be and start exegeting and that kind of thing, sometimes there will be a phrase or a word or a theme that just jumps off the page. And all week long, under my breath and in my mind, I have been saying, for the sake of you, for the sake of you, for the sake of you, thinking about what he did for the sake of me. Now, everything that Jesus did, he did was for God's glory, for his father's glory. But it also had the purpose for us, for your sake, for the sake of you." [49:02] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "The biggest mistake we can make in our service to the father is to think that somehow we have something worth offering to him other than just our lives. That we can somehow do some things that are going to be good for us. And that's what we're going to do. And that's what we're going to do. And that's what we're going to do. And that's what we're going to do. And we have to do it. Put our faith in our hope in something, some man-made tradition that we put our faith in hope in government or some sort of election or anything like that. What he's saying here is I've done this for you so that you could just trust me. You can put your faith and hope in me. Trust me. I'll take care of it. I've already done the hard part. You just follow. You just love. You just walk with me. That's all that needs to be done." [50:53] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Oct 06, 2024. Do you have any questions about it?