REFLECTIONS OF IDENTITY
Second in series: “Identity Theft?”
Rev. Todd G. Leupold, Perth Bible Church, Sunday May 11, 2008 AM Mother’s Day
INTRODUCTION:
I have spent most of my life listening to people tell me how much I remind them of my mother. As a boy and later a young man, being identified as a “little Carol” wasn’t quite my aspiration. OK, I often downright despised it! The adults who expressed it meant it as a compliment, but I usually received it as an insult – assuming in my insecurity and immaturity that they were saying I was more girl than boy. Of course, the fact that I often had long hair and later a mullet didn’t exactly help. Nor did knowing that up to my birth I was supposed to be “Kirsten.”
But with age, has come at least some measure of greater wisdom and maturity – especially after having children of my own. I began to realize that, while I have always had a lot of physical resemblance to my mother in certain ways, what they were really most referring to when they commented about my being so much like her was my nature, character, attitude and approach to life. While I still prefer not to be considered as a great physical resemblance of a woman, I am honored to have my mom’s ’stamp’ on my identity, privileged to carry forth the best parts of her nature, character, attitude and approach to life!
Just over 2 years ago, my mom ’graduated’ to glory where she has been given a new, glorified body and fully redeemed identity that is even that much more worthy of aspiring to – because it is that much closer to the image of Christ! I also have a daughter, who with each passing day proves to be more identical to my mother in every aspect than I ever was. And yet, to all who know her, there is no question that Tehillah is her mother’s child as well! In fact, one of her favorite phrases of late has been: “Whatever my mommy doesn’t like, I don’t like and what she likes, I like.”
THE BIG QUESTION: Whose identity do you most reflect? When others see and hear you, who do they glorify?
Last week, we began this series on Identity Theft by reminding ourselves what the Scriptures say about how our identity is to be determined. We learned that the natural identity of every human being today is far different, less attractive, and less worthy than God first created us to be. We saw together how this was the result of sin and it’s tremendous, mutating effects upon us all ever since. Yet, praise God, we were also able to rejoice in the fact that – by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross – we have been given the opportunity to reclaim that original identity God intended for us all to possess – His image!
2 Corinthians 3:18
We all, with unveiled faces, are reflecting the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
This morning, we will look more deeply at what it means to have an identity and life that is a glorious reflection of Jesus Christ! Even as a daughter almost inevitably ’becomes’ her mother, if we live in Christ, by the power of His Spirit, each of us – male and female – may continually grow and mature into a greater and truer reflection of God!
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 2:1-13
In Jesus Christ, we have a living example in the flesh, of the perfect identity God desires of us and offers to create in us! We mirror Christ and live out the identity God intended for us from the beginning when, through His grace and power, our lives are identified by:
1. HUMILITY
That is, the willingness to voluntary give up one’s own rights, individual interests, and focus on self while instead focusing upon others and working for their good. vv.3-4
The greatest problem we have in reflecting this part of Christ’s identity is that, on our own, none of us – not me, not you – is truly capable of genuine humility.
Only one who is born again (this time in spirit) and thus lives by the power of the Holy Spirit may exhibit genuine humility! Ro. 8:5-9, 26-30
A.) Jesus ’left’ heaven’s glory v. 6-7
He had everything, but He chose to leave it for a time to His own detriment but others’ benefit.
In the same way, if we are to be identified in Christ, then we must at times voluntarily give up our comforts, glory, appearance, even reputation for others’ benefit. (almost sounds like a job description for mothers)
B.) Jesus “emptied” Himself v. 6-7
In NO WAY does this mean He gave up any of His divinity, who He really is and what He is fully capable of doing!
Rather, as. J. Vernon McGee puts it, “He emptied Himself of the prerogatives of deity.” That is, He chose to come to this earth in a form that was absolutely human and with limitations on His exercise of His divine capabilities. It is very important to notice, however, that these were self-imposed limitations. He never “lost”anything, rather He chose to limit Himself for the benefit of others!
Jesus chose to live in humanity on earth, to daily depend on His Heavenly Father and His written Scriptures for instruction, and that He would do everything through the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the same way, there are times when we may best benefit others by daily depending on our Heavenly Father and His written Scriptures, living in the power of the Holy Spirit, and yet also at times wisely choosing not to exercise the full extent of our authority and capabilities.
For example, when I preach and counsel I try to choose not to use all of the flowery, academic and theological words that, through, training, I have become capable of using, could help to spare me some longer expressions, and would more fully demonstrate the vocabulary and linguistic talents that I possess and not everybody else does. Why? Because it may (and I stress may) benefit me, but it is of no benefit (and perhaps even detriment) to those who either don’t understand what I am trying to communicate and/or choose to stop listening to a form of speech they consider arrogant and unnecessary.
OR, both my wife and I have the capacity to physically (and even mentally) beat our children into at least outward submission and conformity to our absolute will. But do we? . . . No, because it is not what would most benefit them. So, at times, we need to ’empty’ ourselves of that capability.
C.) Jesus “humbled Himself” v. 8a
Usually, when we talk about a person who is humble in a particular manner, we refer to someone who has become humble because they were humbled!
And when we see that an individual exhibits pride rather than humility, we talk about how what that person really needs is for someone or something to make them humble.
But, none of that is the character of Jesus! Nobody ever had to humble Jesus nor did He ever have to depend on anyone else to ’make’ Him humble – He chose to humble Himself!!!
In the same way, humility in our lives and identity should not have to wait or depend on the impact of others or circumstance. It is something that, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we too should pro-actively choose for ourselves!
This humility, is then the foundation and basis for the rest of the identity that Christ has exemplified for us to mirror and reflect!
2. SERVANTHOOD vv. 7-8
In the Jewish understanding, being ruled by a foreign power was slavery and that, in turn, was a well-deserved punishment for breaking God’s laws.
Jesus, God-in-the flesh among us, became a slave by voluntarily submitting Himself to a foreign (and far lesser) power – the human rulers and influencers of Judea.
In other words, though He alone was completely innocent, He chose to share the curse of the law that had rightfully fallen upon God’s people! Gal. 3:10; 4:3-4.
In a similar way, as His called-out image and representatives on this earth, we are to choose a life of servanthood, sympathy, and empathy for God’s ’least of these.’
3. CHARACTER OF OBEDIENCE v. 8
Neither obedience nor death is natural to a human race that is born in sin.
Our sinful nature abhors obedience, seeking instead absolute reign of self.
And God did not create humanity for us to die. Sin results in death. Ro. 6:23
Jesus, however, chose to do both for our gain!
First, having ’emptied Himself’, He chose absolute and unwavering obedience to God the Father’s Word and will in order that we might see and know that this is the ONLY means by which any of us may truly reflect His image!
Second, He carried this out even to the point of a horrible, disgracing and unjust trial, torture and death! He was determined in mind and practice that absolutely nothing, no matter how terrible, wrong or humanly ’avoidable’ would interfere with His utter and uncompromising obedience to the Father, His Word and will!
Such is to be the identity to all who bear His name and image!
4. SACRIFICE vv. 3-8
Jesus gave of Himself completely for those who needed His help (everyone)!
In the ancient Roman world, crucifixion was known as “the slave’s punishment” that was used as a particularly graphic warning to all those who rebelled against the world’s established rules, requirements, and ideas of societal status.
Yet, Christ willingly and lovingly sacrificed Himself for the good even of those who spurned, denied and cursed Him!
What limits do we put upon our voluntary sacrifices?
5. SOURCE OF POWER
In the flesh, ’emptied’ of His divine prerogative, Jesus demonstrated that for us all humanity in the flesh may yet powerfully serve God IF they are connected to His source of power – the Holy Spirit and God’s Word!
When we too are identified in Christ, we have access to this same source of power! Jn. 14:12-14
6. PURPOSE vv. 9-13
Jesus = the LORD-the Savior
For Jesus, as Savior, to be exalted to the glory of God the Father!
Similarly, we are told that through our obedience and reverent striving to become ever more identified in Him and His salvation, the purpose of our lives is to exalt Christ and glorify the Father!
7. POSITION
Though equal with God in personhood, Jesus – God-in-the-flesh – chose first of all to take a position of lowliness and subjection.
He used this position to bring salvation to the lost when The Day comes, they may be exalted with Him in a heavenly position – in the eternal presence of God Almighty!
This is in stark contrast to the first man, Adam, who rejected His God-ordained position to seek to be in God’s position only to fall instead.
When our identity is in Christ, we too, sometimes need to accept a lowly position in order to bring salvation to the lost in His name, that they too may rise with us to His eternal presence.
We can do so with confidence and assurance, because it is only a voluntary, temporary change of position with our place in God’s Kingdom eternally secured through the sacrifice and grace of Jesus Christ!
CONCLUSION: THE IDENTITY THAT COUNTS FOR ETERNITY
In the end, Christ’s life proved to be one of unimaginable triumph over all creation and in every sphere! To the degree, that our identities are in Christ, we too may share in this indescribable triumph!!!
Momma always used to say: “you can do anything you set your mind to do.” Too often, the realities of life’s injustices and our own frailities have proven that this is not true – in our own power. However, the Bible says, and Jesus and countless of His followers have proven, that when we first have the mind of Christ, then we really can do anything! Phil. 4:13.
Whose identity do you most reflect? When others see and hear you, who do they glorify?
