WHO AM I?

What Scholars Say Rene Descartes: Je pense, donc je suis (I think, therefore I am) Sri Ramana Maharishi: Nan Yar? (Who am I?) I am the awareness that remains after negating the senses, the mind, and the body Carl Rogers: Self concept – self-image, self-esteem, ideal-self

Moses – and his identity struggle

Exodus 2:22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.”

Luke 2: 10-11 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

We are Created Beings Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

We are Created Beings Dominion over all earth Utterly dependent on God Physically fragile Spiritually vulnerable Moral accountability

We are Created Beings

Living Union “In Christ” John 15:5 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Identity in Christ Jerry Bridges: “As Christians our identity is found in our relationship with Christ, not in our subjective and sometimes negative life experiences. Neal Anderson: “Your understanding of who God is and your relationship to Him is the critical foundation for your belief system and your behavior patterns as a Christian.”

John 8:12 …Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

What Bible teaches about our Identity Created beings (in the image of God) Identity in Christ Glorious truths and traits of our identity

Identity in Christ 6 Chapters 155 Verses 51 Sermons May 2, 2010 - Jan 8, 2012

Identity in Christ Ephesians 1 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love,  5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,  7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 

Identity in Christ Ephesians 2 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility  18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God

4 “E”s of Not Living Out Our Identity Expectations 1. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 3:11 2. “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 3:13 Enemy 3. “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” 4:1 Experiences of past 4. “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 4:10 Existing challenges

Invite God back into places of “brokenness” I am not yet perfect…

Not Yet Perfect “I am not yet perfect…” “Already, but not yet“ Jerry Bridges: “I am not yet perfect…” “Already, but not yet“ 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

Invite God back into places of “brokenness” I am not yet perfect… …but I am already accepted

Already Accepted Neil Anderson: “We don’t serve God to gain His acceptance; we are accepted, so we serve God. We don’t follow Him to be loved; we are loved, so we follow Him. It is not what we do that determines who we are; it is who we are that determines what we do.”

Invite God back into places of “brokenness” I am not yet perfect… …but I am already accepted Reminisce on God’s hand Power of community

I AM IN HIM!