I DENTITY I N C HRIST

Who Am I? clips/nanny-diaries/who-am-i

I DOLATRY An idol is anything that we look to for our identity. It is whenever something/someone besides Jesus has taken the title to your heart’s functional trust, preoccupation, loyalty, service, fear and delight.

E PHESIANS 1: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. 5 In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship 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, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

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 put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

H OLY AND BLAMELESS Eph. 1:4 ~ 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. 2 Corin 5:17 ~ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

A DOPTED AS SONS Eph 1:5-6~ In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship 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. Galatians 4:4-7~ But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

100% F ORGIVEN THROUGH GRACE ! Eph. 1:7-8~ 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. Eph. 2:8-9 ~ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

F ILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT Eph 1:13-14~ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. Galatians 5:22-25 ~ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

L OVED AND CREATED FOR A PURPOSE Psalm 139:13-16~ For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

L OVED AND CREATED FOR A PURPOSE Eph. 2:10~ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

D ISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. What are some things that you find yourself placing your identity in apart from Christ? 2. Have you found that these things let you down at times? If so, in what ways? 3. As you look at the list of attributes we have in Christ (ie: forgiven, adopted, a workmanship, loved, empowered, etc.) which truth do you find you understand and believe the most? 4. As you look at the list of attributes we have in Christ (ie: forgiven, adopted, a workmanship, loved, empowered, etc.) which truth do you have the hardest time understanding and believing? 5. What would you need to remind yourself of when you’re placing your identity in other things and forgetting truths about your identity in Christ? 6. In what things do you tend to see other NYU students placing their identity in apart from Christ? Which of the truths that we talked about do you think need to be shared with them the most to free them from placing their identity in things other than Christ? 7. Living in a culture such as NYC, it can be easy to lose sight of our identity in Christ when we are surrounded by so many cultural idols. What are some things you can do practically to keep your identity in Christ at the front of your mind?