Living Out Our Identity: Blessing Through Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Reflecting Christ's Identity Through Blessing Others

Our call to bless others, even when wronged, is a profound reflection of our identity in Christ. It is not about earning our inheritance but living out the DNA of Jesus within us. Our actions are evidence of our union with Christ and the imperishable seed we are born of. This means that when we choose to bless rather than retaliate, we are demonstrating the transformative power of Christ in our lives. Our ability to bless others, especially in difficult circumstances, is a testament to the new life we have in Him. [03:50]

1 John 3:9-10 (ESV): "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you were wronged. How can you choose to bless the person involved today, reflecting the identity of Christ within you?

Day 2: Assurance of Our Inheritance in Christ

Our inheritance in Christ is secured by God's mercy and the resurrection, not by our works. We are born again to a living hope, and this inheritance is imperishable, kept in heaven for us. This assurance frees us to live out our calling without fear of losing our inheritance. Knowing that our future is secure allows us to focus on living faithfully in the present, trusting in God's promises and His power to keep us. [08:37]

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Reflection: In what ways does the assurance of your eternal inheritance impact your daily decisions and interactions with others?

Day 3: Following Christ's Example of Suffering

The behavior of not repaying evil for evil is deeply rooted in the example of Christ, who suffered for us and did not retaliate. Our calling is to follow in His steps, demonstrating the same love and patience He showed. This means embracing a lifestyle of forgiveness and grace, even when it is difficult. By doing so, we align ourselves with Christ's example and become a living testimony of His love and sacrifice. [05:40]

1 Peter 2:21-23 (ESV): "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly."

Reflection: How can you actively follow Christ's example of suffering and non-retaliation in a current relationship or situation?

Day 4: Transformation Evidenced by Our Actions

The motivation for blessing others is not to earn God's favor but to reflect the transformation that has occurred within us. Our actions reveal the new life we have in Christ and the imperishable seed that defines our identity. This transformation is not just internal but is meant to be visible to others through our actions and attitudes. By living out this transformation, we become a witness to the power of Christ's work in us. [10:06]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to demonstrate the transformation Christ has made in your life?

Day 5: Trusting in God's Justice and Promises

The call to bless rather than retaliate is a profound expression of our faith and trust in God's justice and promises. It is a testament to our hope in the eternal inheritance that awaits us, secured by God's power and grace. By choosing to bless, we are declaring our trust in God's ultimate justice and His ability to work all things for good. This trust allows us to release the need for personal vengeance and rest in His sovereign plan. [09:11]

Romans 12:19-21 (ESV): "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to release control and trust in God's justice and promises? How can you actively choose to bless in that situation today?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of 1 Peter 3:8-9, we delve into the profound theological implications of the word "this" and its reference point. The passage calls us to a life of unity, sympathy, brotherly love, tender-heartedness, and humility. It challenges us not to repay evil with evil but to bless others, for we are called to inherit a blessing. The question arises: does "this" refer to the inheritance of a blessing, or does it refer to the behavior of blessing others despite being wronged?

The first interpretation suggests that "this" points forward to the inheritance, aligning with 1 Peter 5:10, where God calls us to His eternal glory. This view emphasizes the future promise of blessing as the content of our calling. However, the second interpretation, which I find more compelling, suggests that "this" refers backward to the behavior of not repaying evil for evil. This aligns with 1 Peter 2:20-23, where we are called to endure suffering and follow Christ's example of not retaliating when wronged.

This interpretation does not imply that we earn our inheritance through our actions. Instead, it highlights that our behavior is evidence of our identity as God's children, born of imperishable seed. Our inheritance is secured by God's mercy, the new birth, and the resurrection of Jesus. We do not earn it; it is a gift given to us as children of God. Our actions of blessing others, even when wronged, demonstrate the DNA of Jesus within us, showing that we are united with Him through the new birth.

Key Takeaways

1. The call to bless others, even when wronged, is a reflection of our identity in Christ. It is not about earning our inheritance but living out the DNA of Jesus within us. Our actions are evidence of our union with Christ and the imperishable seed we are born of. [03:50]
2. Our inheritance in Christ is secured by God's mercy and the resurrection, not by our works. We are born again to a living hope, and this inheritance is imperishable, kept in heaven for us. This assurance frees us to live out our calling without fear of losing our inheritance. [08:37]
3. The behavior of not repaying evil for evil is deeply rooted in the example of Christ, who suffered for us and did not retaliate. Our calling is to follow in His steps, demonstrating the same love and patience He showed. [05:40]
4. The motivation for blessing others is not to earn God's favor but to reflect the transformation that has occurred within us. Our actions reveal the new life we have in Christ and the imperishable seed that defines our identity. [10:06]
5. The call to bless rather than retaliate is a profound expression of our faith and trust in God's justice and promises. It is a testament to our hope in the eternal inheritance that awaits us, secured by God's power and grace. [09:11]
** [09:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:22] - Introduction to the Question
[00:54] - Unity and Love in Action
[01:13] - Exploring the Meaning of "This"
[02:28] - The Forward Reference Argument
[03:27] - The Backward Reference Argument
[04:34] - Support for the Backward Reference
[05:22] - Christ's Example of Suffering
[06:22] - Theological Implications
[07:24] - Addressing Works-Based Concerns
[08:18] - Assurance of Inheritance
[09:28] - The Nature of Inheritance
[10:25] - Conclusion on the Meaning of "This"
[11:29] - Living Out Our Calling

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1 Peter 3:8-9
1 Peter 2:20-23
1 Peter 5:10

Observation Questions:

In 1 Peter 3:8-9, what specific behaviors are believers called to exhibit, and how do these relate to the concept of blessing others? [00:54]
How does 1 Peter 2:20-23 describe the example set by Christ in response to suffering and reviling? [05:40]
According to 1 Peter 5:10, what is the nature of the calling that believers receive from God? [02:28]
What are the two interpretations of the word "this" in 1 Peter 3:9, and how do they differ in their implications? [01:13]

Interpretation Questions:

How does the behavior of not repaying evil for evil reflect the identity of believers as described in 1 Peter 3:8-9? [03:50]
In what ways does 1 Peter 2:20-23 suggest that enduring suffering without retaliation is a reflection of Christ's example? [05:40]
How does the assurance of an imperishable inheritance, as mentioned in 1 Peter 5:10, influence a believer's motivation to bless others? [08:37]
What does it mean for our actions to be evidence of our union with Christ, as discussed in the sermon? [10:49]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a recent situation where you were wronged. How did you respond, and how might you apply the call to bless rather than retaliate in future situations? [03:50]
Consider the example of Christ in 1 Peter 2:20-23. How can you practically follow His example of not retaliating when wronged in your daily life? [05:40]
The sermon emphasizes that our inheritance is secured by God's mercy. How does this assurance impact your willingness to live out your calling without fear? [08:37]
Think about a time when you struggled to show brotherly love or sympathy. What steps can you take to cultivate these qualities in your relationships? [00:54]
How can you remind yourself of your identity in Christ when faced with challenges that test your patience and humility? [10:06]
Identify a person in your life who has wronged you. What specific action can you take this week to bless them, reflecting the transformation within you? [09:11]
How does understanding that our actions are evidence of our new life in Christ change the way you approach difficult relationships or situations? [10:49]

Sermon Clips

Finally all of you have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, tender heart, a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling but on the contrary bless for to this you were called that you may inherit a blessing. [00:00:56]

The question is what does this refer to? Does this refer forward, defined by this clause right here, so you were called to this, namely that you may inherit a blessing? The calling is a calling to the inheritance. It's a calling to the blessing. [00:01:29]

Suppose this refers that way and it refers to not repaying evil for evil. So it would read like this: do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary bless because you were called to that. This you call to this and that this goes back. That's the behavior you were called to. [00:03:32]

Speaking to slaves, servants, if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. God is very pleased with that behavior for to this you have been called. Does that sound familiar? For to this you were called. [00:04:46]

Your call to live this way is grounded in the fact that Christ suffered for you first and then as an example. Two ways: he suffered for you in your place and as an example that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. [00:05:45]

The calling here is a calling to suffer patiently rather than return evil for evil and that makes the that here a motive in order that you might inherit a blessing. [00:06:38]

We began our Christian life by mercy through the new birth to a Living Hope to the red Living Hope through the direction so through new birth and through the resurrection we have a Living Hope. What is that? To an inheritance. There it is. [00:08:38]

We have this inheritance by virtue of the resurrection of Jesus, by virtue of being born again, by virtue of mercy. We didn't earn it. We came into it by grace or mercy alone. A second argument that we're not earning our inheritance is that you don't earn inheritances. [00:09:15]

Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, this means it can't fade. You're already secured as a born-again child of God with an imperishable seed so that you will inherit eternal life. [00:10:06]

I do believe that this to this you were called refers to not repaying evil for evil or reviling for reviling but on the contrary, blessing. You were called to that because of its parallel in 2:22-23 and therefore this that is an argument that we should thereby inherit a blessing. [00:10:36]

We were born not of perishable seed but of imperishable. This is the DNA of Jesus in us and we must have the DNA of Jesus in us by union with him through new birth in order to inherit the blessing and the evidence that we have union with Christ and his DNA is that we live the way he lived. [00:11:12]

The motivation for blessing others is not to earn God's favor but to reflect the transformation that has occurred within us. Our actions reveal the new life we have in Christ and the imperishable seed that defines our identity. [00:10:06]

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