Our Identity in Christ
Ephesians 1:13
Our Identity in Christ
We live in a world that is full of people who are lost… where many believe that they simply don’t fit in.
We live in a world were many people are searching for a sense of belonging to someone or something…
We live in a time were many are experiencing an identity crisis…!
The same problem is facing many Christians today
In other words, we don’t know who we are…!
We’ve lost our identity…
Too many young people gain their identity from the latest fashions, trends or popular expectations from their peers.
Many Christians gain their identity more from their family background, work or human relationships than they from who they are in Christ.
No wonder Paul emphasized that we are in Christ throughout his epistles.
Understanding our identity - Eph 1:1-9, 11-13 NIV
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ , might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
Could it be today that one of the greatest problems facing Christians today revolves around an identity crisis?
#1 result of a identity crises
1. We have been conditioned to expect the ordinary, the routine.
When life seems to be filled with the routine. And the possibility of some extremely good thing happening to us seems remote. Sadly, we not only can’t believe it when it does happen, we can’t believe it may happen.
We easily find ourselves saying, "I can’t believe it!"
We may not be able to believe it, but it is true.
2. We have been conditioned to believe we are less than God says we are.
In Christ We Are Significant
When Christ died on the Cross, He paid the penalty for our sin.
He died there to put to death our old self.
He died to enable us to receive His life.
As we surrender to Him, He gives us His life in exchange for ours.
He becomes our life. We live by His life. He is in us, and we are in Him.
Now we live from this new level of life. His righteousness is made ours. When God looks at us, He sees us in Christ.
3. We have been conditioned that we have nothing to offer
In Christ We Are Sufficient
As we enter into a relationship with the shepherd - he empowers us to speak and act - as he himself spoke and acted.
As we diminish - he increases in us.
As we let go of our own understanding - his truth grows in us
As we acknowledge our weakness - his power is magnified in us.
As we follow him - his life giving word is able to go forth from us,
And as he was able to expose and cast out the unclean spirits,
So we too will be ones who bring healing to and wholeness to the world..
4. We have been conditioned to see everything familiar and ordinary.
And when things become ordinary they sometimes seem to lose their importance.
And when things begin to lose their importance, there is the temptation for them to be neglected.
there is the temptation to do just enough to get by.
There is the temptation to do thing with our eyes “half-open” . . . to do them “half-heartedly” . . . and to go only “half-way.”
There is this lifelong and pervasive temptation to do things “half-way.”
And that temptation not only affects our work, but it affects our relationships, our church, and our spiritual condition.
Summery
1. The goal of the enemy is to steal the identity of the believers.
Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Illustration: Spiritual struggle of
churches
Why we are a threat to Satan
Satan is threatened by our mission statement
Demonstrating the love of God to all people
Transform our community by demonstrating God’s heart,
Enabling people to enjoy a more abundant life through fellowship with God.
Satan is threatened by what are accomplishing
Satan is threatened by our generous giving to hurricane Rita relief
Satan is threatened by the S.S. classes that have started
Satan is threatened by our identity.
2. The demonic forces of Satan’s army are deployed everywhere in our culture.
They infiltrate every segment of society, both secular and ecclesiastical.
They have but one purpose: to destroy God’s work.
Their attack takes many forms. They attack God’s work directly and indirectly.
They are after you and your walk with God.
They are after your family and your relationships with others. They attack you through your emotions and your circumstances. And they do not sleep.
It is a very real and personal struggle. In our own strength we are over-matched.
3. You see, there are armies armed for battle that are not of this earth.
While the threat of the Soviet Union eliminated, and the fear of nuclear holocaust reduced, there is a much more dangerous enemy with whom we must contend.
This is no new foe. This enemy has been around since the beginning of time.
And in this conflict there is more at stake than there was in all our wars combined.
Because our enemy is armed and dangerous, we must learn how to be armed and dangerous ourselves.
This is the battle that counts. This is the battle we must make certain we win. It is the spiritual battle against the demonic forces of Hell.
Application
Now, let me ask you some important questions
How do you see yourself as a Christian?
Do you see yourself as powerful? Or do you see yourself as impotent?
Do you understand the true extent of what it means to have the Son of God living inside of you?
Do see yourself as a person who can do all things through Jesus Christ?
Do see yourself as a person who will do all things through Jesus Christ?
Do see yourself as a person who has the same mission as Jesus Christ?
