1. Finding our Identity in Christ
Motherhood
The Secure Mother
Finding our Identity in Christ

2. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
The Meaning of Sin
What is the doctrine of sin in the Bible?
Breaking God’s laws
1 John 3:4
Psalm 51:1-4
Sin is law-breaking, but it is more.

3. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
The Meaning of Sin
Where does sin come from?
Some outside force?
“The devil made me do it.”
Temptation?

4. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
The Meaning of Sin
Consider this source of sin:
Sin is seeking to establish an identity – being distinct and valuable – apart from God.

5. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
The Meaning of Sin
In the Garden of Eden:
Satan didn’t say, “Hey, let’s go break God’s law!”
He appealed to their sense of identity – Genesis 3:4, 5

6. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
The Meaning of Sin
Now consider these commandments:
Exodus 20:1-6
Deuteronomy 6:4, 5
Matthew 22:35-40

7. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
The Meaning of Sin
If we want to serve God, there can be no other God before Him.

8. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
The Meaning of Sin
When we sin, we are motivated by a form of idolatry.
Something else gives us:
Significance
Purpose
Happiness

9. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
The Consequences of Sin
Personal consequences:
Identity apart from God is unstable.
Identity apart from God leads to form of addiction.

10. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
The Consequences of Sin
Personal consequences:
A life not centered on God leads to emptiness.

11. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
The Consequences of Sin
Social consequences:
A fragmented society.
A destruction of social relationships.

12. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
Ephesians 1:3-14

13. Ephesians 1: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. (NAS)

14. Ephesians 1:3-14 – (cont.) 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. (NAS)

15. Ephesians 1:3-14 – (cont.) In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. (NAS)

16. Ephesians 1:3-14 – (cont.) 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. (NAS)

17. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
Ephesians 1:3-14
The blessings:
Vs. 3 – He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing
Vs. 4 – He chose us in Him

18. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
Ephesians 1:3-14
The blessings:
Vs. 5 – He predestined us to adoption as sons in Him.

19. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
Ephesians 1:3-14
The blessings:
Vs. 7 – We have redemption through His (Christ’s) blood

20. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
Ephesians 1:3-14
The blessings:
Vs. 9 – He has made known to us the mystery of His will

21. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
Ephesians 1:3-14
The blessings:
Vs. 11 – We have obtained an inheritance

22. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
Ephesians 1:3-14
The blessings:
Vs. 13 – You were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise

23. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
Ephesians 1:3-14
God’s emotions:
Vs. 4 – In love
Vs. 5 – according to the kind intention of His will

24. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
Ephesians 1:3-14
God’s emotions:
Vs. 6 – [His grace] which He freely bestowed upon us in the Beloved

25. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
Ephesians 1:3-14
God’s emotions:
Vs. 8 – [His grace] which He lavished on us
Vs. 9 – His kind intention

26. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
Ephesians 1:3-14
God’s purpose (vs. 9-14):
God revealed His mystery to us

27. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
Two things included in the revelation of that mystery:
Vs. 10 – The “summing up” of all things in Christ both in heaven and on earth.

28. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
Two things included in the revelation of that mystery:
Vs. 11, 12 – That we have obtained an inheritance – “to the praise of His glory”

29. Motherhood – Finding our Identity in Christ
What Do We Do About It?
The point:
God has given us these blessing …
Your receiving them doesn’t depend on your role as mother.

30. God valued you before you became a mother.
God called you to be part of His intentions and plans on earth before you became a mother.
And God called you to be His servant before you became a mother.

31. Do you think it would be wise to accept God’s identity for you, to accept the value that God places on you?
Do you think that accepting God’s view of you would be wiser than thinking your worth only comes from the success of your children, and making them the god you serve?