Reclaiming Our True Identity in Christ
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth of our identity in Christ, emphasizing how Satan attempts to distort and erase this identity. The story of a man with amnesia serves as a metaphor for the spiritual amnesia many of us experience when we forget who we are in Christ. Satan uses various tools, such as the opinions of others, personal pain, and societal pressures, to obscure our true identity. However, our identity is not defined by these external influences but by our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Blaise Pascal's insight that we only truly know ourselves through Jesus Christ underscores the importance of our spiritual identity. The Bible frequently uses the term "in Christ" to describe believers, highlighting that our true identity is found in Him. In 1 Peter 2, we are reminded of five key aspects of our identity: we are chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, and recipients of mercy. These identity markers reveal that we are completely accepted, extremely valuable, eternally loved, totally forgiven, and fully capable.
Understanding our identity in Christ transforms how we view ourselves and interact with the world. We are not defined by past mistakes, societal labels, or the lies of the enemy. Instead, we are defined by God's love and purpose for us. This identity empowers us to live confidently and fulfill our calling as God's representatives on earth. We are called to share the good news, love others as God loves us, and live out our true identity in every aspect of our lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. Spiritual Identity Theft: Satan's primary goal is to distort and erase our true identity in Christ. He uses the opinions of others, personal pain, and societal pressures to achieve this. Recognizing these tactics is the first step in reclaiming our identity. [01:27]
2. True Identity in Christ: Our true identity is found in being "in Christ." This identity is marked by being chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, belonging to God, and recipients of mercy. These truths define who we are beyond any external labels or past mistakes. [08:21]
3. Unconditional and Unending Love: God's love for us is both unconditional and unending. Unlike human love, which can be conditional and fickle, God's love is constant and not based on our actions. This love is foundational to our identity. [30:04]
4. Empowered to Serve: As royal priests, we are fully capable and empowered to serve God and others. Our identity in Christ equips us to fulfill our calling and share the good news with those around us. We are not alone in this mission; God's strength enables us. [42:50]
5. Reversing the Curse: To reclaim our true identity, we must replace the lies we've believed with God's truth. This involves memorizing and affirming God's promises about who we are in Christ. By doing so, we can reverse the false identities imposed on us and live out our true identity. [52:13]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:27] - The Story of Lost Identity
[02:30] - Satan's Tactics Against Identity
[03:28] - Opinions and Identity
[04:49] - The Battle of Thoughts
[05:33] - Lies About Acceptance
[06:39] - Repeating Satan's Lies
[08:21] - Knowing Ourselves Through Christ
[09:42] - Five Fingerprints of Identity
[11:25] - Chosen and Valuable
[18:10] - Holy and Belonging
[20:04] - Ownership and Value
[21:28] - God's Treasured Possession
[22:37] - Reasons for Our Value
[23:27] - God's Provision and Love
[24:32] - Jesus' Sacrifice and Our Worth
[25:23] - Determining Value
[26:41] - The Cross and Our Worth
[28:38] - Eternal Love and Family
[29:20] - Characteristics of God's Love
[30:04] - Unconditional Love
[31:17] - Conditional vs. Unconditional Love
[32:09] - Real Love Defined
[33:02] - Consistent Love
[34:14] - God's Unchanging Love
[35:02] - Love as God's Character
[36:06] - Fully Capable in Christ
[42:50] - Role as Royal Priests
[43:40] - Every Member a Minister
[44:47] - Mission and Calling
[46:28] - Believing God's Truth
[47:16] - Capable Through God's Power
[48:17] - Overcoming Insecurities
[50:16] - Confidence in Christ
[51:22] - Rejection and Identity
[52:13] - Reversing the Curse
[53:35] - True Identity in Christ
[54:24] - Steps to Reclaim Identity
[55:38] - Spiritual Identity Theft
[56:34] - Prayer and Restoration
[57:25] - Closing False Accounts
[58:38] - Defending True Identity
[59:07] - Affirming God's Truth
[01:00:11] - Living Out True Identity
[01:01:02] - Applying Identity in Relationships
[01:01:55] - Respect and Value for Others
[01:02:49] - Criticism and Self-Perception
[01:03:34] - Prayer for Identity Restoration
[01:04:14] - Personal Prayer and Commitment
[01:05:31] - Affirmation of True Identity
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Peter 2:9-10
- Jeremiah 31:3
- Philippians 4:13
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 Peter 2:9-10, what are the five aspects of our identity in Christ? How do these aspects define who we are? [09:42]
2. In the sermon, how does the story of the man with amnesia serve as a metaphor for spiritual identity theft? [01:27]
3. What are some of the tools Satan uses to distort our true identity, as mentioned in the sermon? [02:30]
4. How does the sermon describe the difference between God's love and human love? [30:04]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding our identity as "chosen" and "a royal priesthood" in 1 Peter 2:9-10 impact the way we view ourselves and our purpose in life? [09:42]
2. The sermon mentions that God's love is unconditional and unending. How does this understanding of God's love challenge common perceptions of love in society? [30:04]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest we can reclaim our true identity in Christ? How does this process involve replacing lies with God's truth? [52:13]
4. How does Philippians 4:13 provide assurance and empowerment for believers in fulfilling their calling? [50:16]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt your identity was being shaped by external opinions or societal pressures. How can you begin to reclaim your true identity in Christ this week? [02:30]
2. Consider the five aspects of identity mentioned in 1 Peter 2:9-10. Which one resonates most with you, and how can you live it out more fully in your daily life? [09:42]
3. God's love is described as unconditional and unending. How can you demonstrate this kind of love to someone in your life who may not expect it? [30:04]
4. Identify a lie you have believed about yourself that contradicts your identity in Christ. What steps can you take to replace this lie with God's truth? [52:13]
5. Think of a situation where you feel inadequate or incapable. How can Philippians 4:13 encourage you to rely on God's strength rather than your own? [50:16]
6. How can you actively serve as a "royal priest" in your community, sharing the good news and love of Christ with others? [42:50]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s message about reversing the curse of false identities. What practical steps can you take this week to affirm your true identity in Christ? [52:13]
Devotional
Day 1: Recognizing Spiritual Identity Theft
Satan's primary goal is to distort and erase our true identity in Christ. He uses the opinions of others, personal pain, and societal pressures to achieve this. Recognizing these tactics is the first step in reclaiming our identity. By understanding how these external influences attempt to define us, we can begin to see the importance of grounding our identity in Christ. This awareness allows us to resist the lies and embrace the truth of who we are in Jesus. [01:27]
Ephesians 6:11-12 (ESV): "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Reflection: Identify a specific lie or external pressure that has influenced your self-perception. How can you actively replace this with the truth of your identity in Christ today?
Day 2: Embracing Our True Identity in Christ
Our true identity is found in being "in Christ." This identity is marked by being chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, belonging to God, and recipients of mercy. These truths define who we are beyond any external labels or past mistakes. Understanding these aspects of our identity helps us to live confidently and purposefully, knowing that we are fully accepted and valued by God. This identity is not something we earn but is a gift from God, rooted in His love and grace. [08:21]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Reflect on one of the identity markers mentioned (chosen, royal priesthood, holy nation, belonging to God, recipients of mercy). How does this truth change the way you view yourself and your purpose today?
Day 3: Resting in God's Unconditional and Unending Love
God's love for us is both unconditional and unending. Unlike human love, which can be conditional and fickle, God's love is constant and not based on our actions. This love is foundational to our identity, providing us with security and assurance. When we understand and accept this love, we are freed from the need to seek validation from others. It empowers us to love others as God loves us, reflecting His character in our relationships and interactions. [30:04]
Jeremiah 31:3 (ESV): "The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."
Reflection: Think of a situation where you have sought validation from others. How can you rest in God's unending love instead, and how might this change your approach to that situation?
Day 4: Empowered to Serve as Royal Priests
As royal priests, we are fully capable and empowered to serve God and others. Our identity in Christ equips us to fulfill our calling and share the good news with those around us. We are not alone in this mission; God's strength enables us. This empowerment is not just for a select few but is available to all believers, calling us to actively participate in God's work on earth. [42:50]
1 Corinthians 12:27 (ESV): "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."
Reflection: Consider one way you can serve others this week, using the gifts and abilities God has given you. How can you rely on God's strength to carry out this act of service?
Day 5: Reversing the Curse of False Identities
To reclaim our true identity, we must replace the lies we've believed with God's truth. This involves memorizing and affirming God's promises about who we are in Christ. By doing so, we can reverse the false identities imposed on us and live out our true identity. This process requires intentionality and perseverance, as we continually remind ourselves of God's truth and reject the lies of the enemy. [52:13]
Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV): "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
Reflection: Identify a specific promise from God about your identity that you can memorize and affirm this week. How will you incorporate this truth into your daily routine to combat false identities?
Quotes
1. "No past, no present, no friends, no connections. Your entire identity has been erased. That would be a scary thing. A very scary experience. To have no recollection and no identity of who you are. But that is exactly what Satan is trying to do to your true identity. He's trying to erase it. You may not even realize this, but there's a spiritual war going on over your identity. Satan cannot create anything. Only God creates. God is the creator. Satan has never created anything. Satan can only pervert, distort, or destroy. And so what he likes to do is take what God has created for good, pervert it, distort it, or destroy it." [02:30] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "People all your life have been trying to get you to be what they want you to be, not what God wants you to be. And Satan uses the opinions of others to keep you from the true you, what you were meant to be by God. Satan uses hurt and he uses pain in your life to deceive you and disguise your true identity. Because if he can get you resentful, if he can get you bitter, if he can get you angry, guilty, or ashamed, he knows you're going to miss your true identity." [03:28] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Now, if all these tools are being used against me to conceal who God really made me to be, things my parents said, my peers said, the society said, the media said, Satan said, and the things that I say to myself, how do I know the real me? How do I know the true me, who God made me to be? Well, we can go back to that famous 17th century philosopher, Blaise Pascal. Blaise Pascal was a physicist. He was a mathematician in the 1600s. And he was also a philosopher. And Pascal said this, quote, not only do we know God through Jesus Christ, but we only know ourselves through Jesus Christ." [08:21] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You are a people holy to the Lord. In other words, very valuable, set apart to the Lord your God. His treasured possession. Did you know that when God looks at you, he doesn't go, oh no, I created that person. You gotta be kidding me. What was I thinking when I did that person? When God looks at you. He sees you as his treasured possession. Nobody values you more than God. Nobody. The Bible says this in Isaiah 43, 4. God says you are precious to me. Now your parents may have never called you precious, but God does." [22:37] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You are not what your parents said you were. You are not what other people, friends or enemies, said you were. You are not what the media and culture says you are. You are not what Satan says you are. You're not even what you tell yourself you are. That's the false identity. You need to get back to your true identity. Your true identity has been stolen. And you need to get it back." [53:35] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "When Satan comes and says, you must earn God's acceptance, you say, that's a lie. I am completely accepted no matter what I do. And when Satan comes and says, you don't matter, you're not important, you're worthless, you say, that's a lie. I am extremely valuable. And the cross shows it. And I belong to God and he's my father, so shut up. And when Satan comes to you and says, nobody would love you if they really knew what you're like, you say, that's a lie. I am eternally loved and I am loved unconditionally. and I am loved unfailingly, it's never going to stop." [59:07] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "How should I act once I know my true identity? I didn't have time to share these verses with you on the outline. The ones at the end, here's your homework. Go home and look those verses up. Because there wasn't enough room on the outline for them. And in those five verses, it says this. The very thing God does with you, he expects you to do with everybody else. God says, he accepts you totally. You are to totally accept everybody else. It says, just as you've been accepted in Christ, you should accept others in Christ." [01:01:02] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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