Opening Story:
Many of you are familiar with the story of “The Lion King.” You might remember when Simba couldn’t decide whether or not he should return to the Pride Lands. He has some heavy baggage he has carried, including a tremendous guilt about his father’s death. As Simba was growing up though, his father had taught him much about his role in life and how he should act. But when things became difficult, he ran. Now his past has caught up with him. When Rafiki finds him, Simba is challenged about his identity and what to do next. The critical point comes when Rafiki literally raps him on the head and says, “You don’t even know who you are!” (Illustration derived from Jeffrey Kellum and Paul Decker)
Who I Already Am In Christ:
1. Sought.
- vv. 1 and 2 - “called.”
- Christ called for me/He sought me out.
- v. 2 - we call on His name, but He is the one who initiated the conversation.
2. Sanctified.
- v. 2 - “sanctified.”
- what does it mean that we are “sanctified. . ., called to be saints”?
- generally, when the NT speaks of sanctification in reference to Jesus, it is speaking of positional sanctification (that we have already been made right with God through the sacrifice of Jesus); when it speaks of sanctification in reference to the Spirit, it is speaking of practical sanctification (the ongoing process of actually behaving and acting and being more like Jesus).
- “sanctified” comes from the Greek word hagiazo, which means “to make holy.”
- “saints” comes from the Greek word hagios, which means separated, different, set aside for God, pure.
3. Saved.
- v. 4 - “the grace of God which was give to you by Christ Jesus.”
4. Supplied.
- v. 5 - “enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge.”
5. Showcase.
- v. 6 - “the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you.”
- I am part of God’s example to the world of what He can do through Christ/I am part of God’s masterpiece/I am part of His showcase to the world.
6. Spiritually gifted.
- v. 7 - “you come short in no gift.”
7. Sure.
- v. 7-8 - “eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Jesus has told us He intends to finish what He started in us.
How Can I Be Confident In Each Of These Things?
- v. 9 - “God is faithful.”
