Understanding Our Origins: Purpose and Identity in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus is the Creator and the Beginning of All Things

Jesus is not only Lord, Savior, and Friend, but also the Creator through whom all things were made. Recognizing Jesus as the Word who was with God and was God at the very beginning shapes our understanding of existence, purpose, and identity. When we see Jesus as the source of all creation, we realize that our lives are not random or accidental, but intentionally crafted by Him. This truth calls us to align our lives with His purposes, knowing that our beginning is rooted in His eternal will and creative power. [07:40]

John 1:1-5, 10-14 (ESV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ... He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Reflection: How does seeing Jesus as your Creator change the way you view your own life and purpose today?

Day 2: What You Believe About Your Beginning Determines Your End

The way you understand your origin—whether by chance or by divine intention—profoundly shapes how you live and where you are headed. If you believe you are here by accident, your life may feel aimless or insignificant. But if you embrace that you are made in the image of God, intentionally created by Him, it gives your life meaning, direction, and hope for the future. Your choices, values, and responses to life's challenges are all influenced by what you believe about your beginning, and this belief will ultimately determine your destiny. [06:11]

Genesis 1:1 (ESV)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Reflection: What is one belief about your own beginning that you need to surrender to God so you can live with greater purpose and hope?

Day 3: You Were Known and Chosen Before the Foundation of the World

Long before you were born, before the world itself existed, God knew you and chose you to be His own. Your true beginning is not in your family history, your DNA, or even the moment of your birth, but in the mind and heart of God who predestined you for adoption as His beloved child. This truth brings deep assurance that you are not an accident or afterthought, but a masterpiece of God’s intentional love and purpose, called to live holy and blameless in Christ. [33:13]

Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV)
Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.

Reflection: In what ways does knowing you were chosen by God before time began affect how you see yourself and your worth today?

Day 4: You Are God’s Masterpiece, Created for Good Works

You are not here by chance; you are God’s masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus for a purpose that God planned long ago. Your life is not defined by your past, your genetics, or your circumstances, but by the good works God prepared in advance for you to do. When you seek God’s will and align your life with His purposes, you discover the abundant life He intends for you, walking in the path He designed uniquely for you. [34:13]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Reflection: What is one good work you sense God has prepared for you to do this week, and how can you take a step toward it today?

Day 5: You Are Not Here by Chance—Live in God’s Appointed Purpose

Every day you live is by God’s appointment, not by random chance. God numbers your days and has placed you in this time and place for His glory and purposes. When you choose to step from darkness into the light of Christ, you enter into the story God imagined for you before time began. Even if you do not understand every detail now, you can trust that God is sovereign and will use your life for good as you remain faithful to Him. [36:16]

Psalm 139:16 (ESV)
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek God’s purpose for your life today, trusting that you are here by His design and not by accident?

Sermon Summary

History is not just a record of what has happened; it is the lens through which we understand who we are, why we are here, and where we are going. The way we view our beginnings—whether as individuals, as a community, or as a people—shapes our present actions and ultimately determines our end. The Gospel of John opens with a profound declaration: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… All things were made by him.” This is not just a theological statement; it is a claim about the very foundation of our existence. Jesus is not only Lord, Savior, and Friend—He is also our Creator. Our origin is not random or accidental, but intentional, rooted in the mind and will of God.

Reflecting on the history of places like Pennsylvania and Germantown, we see how beginnings are often misunderstood or oversimplified. True beginnings go deeper than political events or cultural milestones; they reach back to the very heart of God’s creative purpose. Even our personal stories—our family histories, our DNA, our cultural backgrounds—are not the ultimate source of our identity. Science itself, through the study of human DNA and the discovery of a common maternal ancestor, points to a shared origin for all humanity. Yet, even this is not the deepest beginning. Scripture tells us that before the foundation of the world, God knew us, chose us, and purposed us for good works in Christ Jesus.

Our lives are lived on a timeline between the beginning and the end, but there is a story before the beginning and a story after the end. The true beginning of each of us is not our birth, our ancestry, or even our conception, but the moment we were imagined in the mind of our Creator. We are God’s masterpieces, created with intention and purpose, called to walk in the good works He prepared for us long ago. To live abundantly is to align ourselves with this divine purpose, to recognize that we are not here by chance, but by God’s appointment. Our days are numbered by Him, and our end is secure in His hands. The invitation is to step into this reality, to let our understanding of our beginning transform the way we live today and the way we face our end.

Key Takeaways

1. What you believe about your beginning shapes your destiny. If you see yourself as a product of chance or random events, your life will reflect that uncertainty. But if you embrace the truth that you were created intentionally by God, your life gains meaning, direction, and hope that transcends circumstances. [65:58]
2. Jesus is not only Lord, Savior, and Friend—He is also the Creator. The mystery of the Trinity means that Jesus, the Word, was present at the very beginning, and all things were made through Him. Recognizing Jesus as Creator deepens our worship and grounds our identity in His eternal purpose. [72:36]
3. Our personal histories, family backgrounds, and even our genetic makeup are not the ultimate source of our identity. While these things shape our experiences, our true beginning is found in the mind and will of God, who knew and chose us before the foundation of the world. This truth liberates us from being defined by our past or our circumstances. [93:13]
4. Science and faith, rather than being at odds, can together point us toward the wonder of our shared origin. The discovery of a common maternal ancestor in human DNA echoes the biblical narrative of a single human family, reminding us of our unity and shared dignity as image-bearers of God. [89:48]
5. There is a story before the beginning and a story after the end. God’s purposes for us were established before time began, and our hope extends beyond the limits of this life. To live abundantly is to seek alignment with the good works God prepared for us, trusting that our days are held in His sovereign hand and that our end is secure in Christ. [94:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[64:31] - Honoring Pastoral Leadership
[65:34] - The Importance of History
[66:26] - John 1: The Word and the Beginning
[69:12] - Who Is Jesus?
[70:43] - Jesus: Lord, Savior, and Friend
[71:44] - Jesus as Creator
[73:07] - The Power of Our Beginnings
[74:24] - Pennsylvania’s Many Beginnings
[77:21] - Germantown and the Birth of Human Rights
[79:49] - Rethinking Historical Beginnings
[80:41] - Personal Beginnings and Identity
[83:15] - The Story of Adoption and Identity
[87:29] - Science, DNA, and Our Shared Origin
[91:02] - Time, Eternity, and God’s Timeline
[93:13] - Chosen Before the Foundation of the World
[94:44] - Living with Purpose and Divine Appointment
[97:30] - The Church’s True Beginning
[99:23] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 1:1-5, 10-14 — "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... He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

- Ephesians 1:4-5
"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will."

- Ephesians 2:10
"For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Observation Questions

According to John 1, who is described as being present at the very beginning, and what role did He play in creation?
In Ephesians 1:4-5, when did God choose us, and for what purpose?
The sermon mentions that our true beginning is not our birth, ancestry, or even our DNA. What does the speaker say is our real origin?
What scientific discovery about human DNA was discussed, and how does it relate to the biblical idea of a shared human origin?

Interpretation Questions

The speaker says, “What you believe about your beginning will determine your end.” How does believing you are created intentionally by God change the way someone might view their life and future?
Why is it significant that Jesus is not only Lord, Savior, and Friend, but also our Creator? How might this deepen a person’s relationship with Him?
The sermon points out that our family history and DNA are not the ultimate source of our identity. How does knowing that God chose us before the foundation of the world affect how we see ourselves and our past?
The discovery of a common maternal ancestor in science was mentioned. How does this scientific finding support or challenge the biblical narrative of humanity’s shared origin?

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to consider what we believe about our beginnings. Have you ever thought about your own “beginning” in terms of God’s purpose rather than just your family or cultural background? How might this shift in thinking affect your daily life?
If Jesus is truly your Creator as well as your Savior and Friend, how does this impact the way you worship Him or relate to Him in prayer? Is there a specific way you want to acknowledge Jesus as Creator this week?
The speaker shared his adoption story and how it shaped his understanding of identity. Are there parts of your personal history or family background that you have let define you? How can you begin to let God’s purpose and calling be your main source of identity?
The sermon says, “To live abundantly is to align ourselves with this divine purpose.” What is one area of your life where you feel out of alignment with God’s purpose? What is a practical step you can take this week to seek God’s direction in that area?
The idea that “our days are numbered by Him, and our end is secure in His hands” was emphasized. How does this truth affect your fears or anxieties about the future? Is there a specific worry you can entrust to God this week?
The sermon highlights that science and faith can work together to point us toward our shared origin and dignity. Is there a relationship in your life where you need to remember your shared humanity with someone very different from you? How can you act on that this week?
The speaker said, “The trick in finding abundant life is aligning your life with the purposes that God planned long ago beforehand for you.” What is one “good work” you sense God may have prepared for you? How can you take a step toward it this month?

Sermon Clips

History is not about yesterday alone, though. It tells the story of what has been. It actually informs how you live the here and now. And it will determine what you do next. [01:05:51]

If you follow Jesus your allegiance to that king is above all other allegiances and defines all else. You cannot serve Jesus and another flag. We are leached to the cross. [01:10:09]

When push comes to shove and choices must be made, Jesus is Lord and we conform our conduct, our thoughts and our projections to him. Jesus is Lord, but Jesus also savior, isn't he? [01:11:29]

Jesus is my friend, the King, the Savior, my friend. Oh, but wait. As I've been studying this text over the last couple years, and I just mean in my advanced age, it's just in the last few years, I've really begun to wrestle with this particular text. [01:11:57]

But Jesus is also the creator. Wait a minute. No, God's the creator. No. In the mystery of the triune God, we want to rank everything like like we do NFL teams like here's number one, here's number two, here's number three. [01:12:32]

What John is telling us so that there's no doubt about it. This Jesus about whom we're speaking. This Jesus who is indeed the subject and the key to everything of knowledge, life, discipline, future. This Jesus is the creator. [01:12:49]

Do you believe that you're here by chance? Do you believe that you're just a product of some random chemical and physics propositions at work without design over millennia or who knows how long? And that's what brought you into being. [01:13:92]

See, your lens of what you believe about the beginning is informing decisions taken today. Oh, but let's talk it more personally. What's your beginning? What's your beginning? [01:20:41]

But most of us when we think about our beginning, we say, well, our beginning is is our birthday, isn't it? The day of which we were born. Mine's 73 years ago. Now, is that really your beginning, though? [01:22:38]

What you believe about your beginning will inform the way in which you respond to the challenges and the issues of our time. I'm one of those who have done some thinking about this because well I'm an adopted person. [01:23:81]

All of us have a single common female ancestor. Did you hear what I just said? All of us have the fingerprint of an original female ancestor and we all share it unddeinished over time. [01:29:73]

If I choose to believe that and I can't do that substit substantiated by science, then that might change the way in which I react and interact with other people who may not come from my same culture or even look like me. [01:30:32]

The gospel argues you need to understand your beginning so that you can have a story after the end. Oh, but wait, there's a story before time. [01:32:68]

I understood that before the world was before time, before the beginning, God knew me. Did you catch that? If we can accept that there's a story after the end, can you accept there's a story before the beginning? [01:33:61]

My beginning is in the mind of the creator, Jesus, my Lord, before the world was. He saw me. He knew me. I was not yet, but he imagined me before the world was. [01:35:17]

You are not here by chance. You are a child of God. You are not just random. You were made with purpose. And when your purpose is complete, the Lord will usher you to your end. [01:36:74]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?