Redefining Identity: Embracing Our Place as God's Children
Summary
The sermon explores the graciousness of Jesus towards individuals caught in sexual sin, emphasizing his transformative power over tax collectors, prostitutes, and skeptics. Jesus' approach to power and authority is redefined through his acts of forgiveness and his choice to suffer rather than retaliate. The Incarnation is presented as a redefinition of identity, with C.S. Lewis quoted to illustrate the concept of humans becoming sons of God. The speaker stresses that our true identity lies beyond our professions, relationships, sexual orientation, and past mistakes, and is instead rooted in Jesus' actions.
The privilege of being adopted into God's family through Jesus Christ is highlighted, with believers described as coheirs with Christ, inheriting the universe and all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges that come with being children of God. This adoption transcends superficial labels and invites believers to see themselves and others through divine love and dignity.
The importance of love, prayer, and worship in the Christian faith is underscored, with an invitation for the congregation to seek prayer and respond to the Lord's message through song. Jesus is presented as the ultimate model of what it means to be a child of God, demonstrating sacrifice motivated by love and serving others. The sermon concludes with a story about a teacher named Mrs. Thompson and her student Teddy Stoddard, emphasizing compassion and understanding towards those who are different or struggling.
The speaker reflects on the transformation of Mrs. Thompson and the power of love and understanding, encouraging the congregation to choose empathy over anger and love over frustration. The sermon acknowledges Jesus' sacrifice and the love he showed by confining himself into humanity, urging the congregation to reflect that love towards others.
The divinity of Jesus is discussed, with the speaker emphasizing that Jesus is not just a good teacher or compassionate leader, but God himself. Jesus' self-emptying act is seen as an act of radical love, demonstrating God's love for humanity. The mystery of God's love is also explored, with the story of Christmas serving as an example of God's extravagant love in bridging the gap between the divine and the human.
The concept of identity in Christ is explained, with believers finding a new label that supersedes all others: being a child of God. This new identity redefines everything and carries with it love, value, inheritance, and purpose. The speaker draws a parallel to the famous adoption of Octavian by Julius Caesar in ancient Rome.
The Incarnation is described as a divine mystery that surpasses human reasoning, with the infinite contained within the bounds of humanity. The paradox of the Incarnation challenges our usual understanding and invites us to grasp something beyond our comprehension.
Lastly, the speaker discusses how Jesus, in his human experience, went through hunger, fatigue, physical pain, and temptation, handling his temptation better than humans do. Jesus' experiences gave him a deep understanding of the complexities of the human experience, and his sacrifice out of radical love reoriented the understanding of power through vulnerability, humility, and self-sacrifice.
Key Takeaways:
- Jesus' approach to individuals caught in sin demonstrates a transformative power that redefines our understanding of authority, emphasizing forgiveness and suffering over retaliation. This reorientation invites us to consider how we exercise power in our own lives and relationships. [49:17]
- The concept of adoption into God's family through Jesus Christ is a profound truth that offers believers a new identity that transcends all earthly labels. This identity as children of God carries with it an inheritance that is not of this world, but of the universe, redefining our sense of belonging and purpose. [54:26]
- The Incarnation of Jesus is a radical act of love, where the divine chose to experience the limitations and pains of human life. This self-emptying of God challenges us to consider the depths of divine love and the lengths to which God will go to be with us. [45:18]
- The story of Christmas is not just a historical event but a demonstration of God's relentless pursuit of humanity. The image of God reaching out to us serves as a reminder of His unfathomable love and the sacrifice made through the Incarnation. [42:54]
- Our identity in Christ as children of God redefines our worth and purpose, overshadowing all other labels we may carry. This new identity invites us to live with the love, value, inheritance, and purpose that come from being part of God's family, changing how we view ourselves and others. [53:34]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 1:1-5 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
2. Philippians 2:6-8 - "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross."
3. 1 John 4:9-10 - "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to John 1:1-5, what role did Jesus (the Word) play in creation?
2. In Philippians 2:6-8, how does Paul describe Jesus' attitude towards his divine status and his actions as a result?
3. What does 1 John 4:9-10 say about the nature of God's love and the purpose of Jesus' coming?
4. How did Jesus demonstrate his power and authority differently from the typical expectations of divine power? ([47:19])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean that Jesus "made himself nothing" and "emptied himself" according to Philippians 2:6-8? How does this concept challenge our understanding of power and authority? ([44:57])
2. How does the Incarnation, as described in John 1:1-5, redefine our understanding of God's relationship with humanity?
3. Reflecting on 1 John 4:9-10, how does the sacrificial love of Jesus redefine our identity and purpose as believers?
4. How does the story of Mrs. Thompson and Teddy Stoddard illustrate the transformative power of love and understanding in our relationships? ([58:22])
#### Application Questions
1. Jesus showed love and compassion to those caught in sin, such as the woman at the well and the woman caught in adultery. How can you show similar grace and understanding to people in your life who are struggling? ([48:44])
2. The sermon emphasized that our true identity is as children of God, transcending all other labels. How does this new identity affect the way you view yourself and others? ([54:21])
3. Jesus' Incarnation is described as a radical act of love. What are some practical ways you can demonstrate sacrificial love in your daily interactions? ([45:48])
4. Considering the example of Jesus' humility and self-emptying, how can you practice humility and service in your community or workplace? ([44:57])
5. The story of Mrs. Thompson and Teddy Stoddard highlights the importance of empathy and understanding. Think of someone in your life who might be struggling. How can you reach out to them with compassion and support this week? ([58:22])
6. Reflect on the idea that Jesus redefined power through vulnerability and self-sacrifice. How can you apply this redefined understanding of power in your leadership roles or relationships? ([47:19])
7. The sermon invites us to see beyond superficial labels and embrace our identity as children of God. What steps can you take to view and treat others with the divine love and dignity that Jesus exemplified? ([54:21])
Devotional
Day 1: Redefining Power Through Compassion
Jesus' interaction with those in sin showcases a power that heals and restores rather than condemns. This power is not coercive but transformative, inviting a reevaluation of how authority is exercised. It is a power that forgives and chooses suffering over retaliation, exemplifying a strength found in vulnerability and grace. [49:17]
Luke 7:47-48 - "Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little. Then Jesus said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'"
Reflection: How can you exercise compassionate authority in your own relationships, choosing forgiveness and understanding over judgment?
Day 2: Embracing Our Divine Inheritance
Believers are invited into a profound relationship with God, becoming coheirs with Christ. This spiritual adoption offers a new identity that transcends all earthly labels, bestowing upon us an inheritance that is cosmic in scope. It redefines our sense of belonging and purpose, aligning us with the divine narrative. [54:26]
Romans 8:16-17 - "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
Reflection: In what ways can you live out your identity as a child of God and coheir with Christ in your daily life?
Day 3: The Radical Love of the Incarnation
The Incarnation is the ultimate expression of God's love, where the divine chose to embrace human limitations and sufferings. This act of self-emptying, or kenosis, reveals the lengths to which God will go to be with us, inviting us to marvel at the mystery of divine love. [45:18]
Philippians 2:6-8 - "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."
Reflection: How does the reality of the Incarnation challenge you to live out love and self-sacrifice in your own life?
Day 4: The Pursuit of Humanity in Christmas
The Christmas story is a narrative of God's relentless pursuit of humanity, demonstrating a love that is both unfathomable and sacrificial. The Incarnation serves as a reminder of God's desire to bridge the gap between the divine and human, calling us to respond to this love with awe and gratitude. [42:54]
Hebrews 2:17-18 - "For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."
Reflection: How can you more fully embrace and respond to God's pursuit of you during this season?
Day 5: Living as Children of God
Our identity in Christ as children of God redefines our worth and purpose, overshadowing all other labels we may carry. This new identity invites us to live with the love, value, inheritance, and purpose that come from being part of God's family, changing how we view ourselves and others. [53:34]
1 John 3:1 - "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
Reflection: What labels have you allowed to define you, and how can you begin to see yourself and others primarily as children of God?
Quotes
"He transformed a tax collector into a disciple, a prostitute into a saint, and a skeptic into an apostle. He showed incredible reliance on the Father, often withdrew to pray, and his power was exercised in obedience and submission to the will of the Father." [49:17] (Download)
"What Jesus did in the Incarnation redefines our identity. When you understand what Jesus did in taking on human flesh, you understand who you are as a result of it." [50:08] (Download)
"In Christ we find a new label, one that supersedes all the others, and Jesus gives us the opportunity to be part of God's family, becoming children of God. This label, child of God, adopted into His family, redefines everything." [51:59] (Download)
"When you realize that you are actually co-heir with Jesus, that we have all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges of Sons and Daughters of God in the kingdom of God, I mean this is extraordinary news." [54:26] (Download)
"The infinite God in his Limitless love chose to reach out to us not just through prophets and through Commandments but by taking on the finite form of a baby in a Manger." [41:02] (Download)
"God's outstretched hand, a symbol of his Relentless Pursuit and unfathomable love for us, is a profound mystery that challenges our understanding of the Divine in humanity." [42:54] (Download)
"In Jesus, we have the ultimate example of what it looks like to be a child of God. He chose sacrifice motivated by love and used his power and authority to serve and love people." [56:57] (Download)
"Considering the profound sacrifice that Jesus has made, motivated by radical love, we must reflect on how we use our own power and authority in response to His example." [57:46] (Download)
"Jesus voluntarily emptied himself, relinquished all of his Divine Privileges and powers to take on human flesh and this self-emptying act is an act of radical love because it involves God choosing to limit himself to be vulnerable." [45:18] (Download)
"These images capture the seeming impossibility of the infinite being held within the finite; it's a concept that stretches our imagination, it challenges us to grasp something beyond our usual understanding." [37:34] (Download)
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