WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.299 How lovely it is to be with you all again this week. 00:00:05.700 --> 00:00:11.019 Just to refresh your memories of last week, in case you weren't here, 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:16.920 last week we started our series on identity and we compared the difference 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:21.920 between the identity of Adam and Eve before the fall and after the fall. 00:00:22.580 --> 00:00:27.339 And we saw that Adam and Eve were created in the image of God 00:00:27.339 --> 00:00:31.740 and that we too are created in the image of God. 00:00:32.759 --> 00:00:36.480 Adam and Eve had significance in that they had purpose in life, 00:00:36.480 --> 00:00:43.060 they had security, that they had an intimate and full relationship with God 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:49.539 and they were fully accepted and had no need to strive to be loved in any way. 00:00:50.620 --> 00:00:54.579 Then came the temptation in the garden, which Chris has already alluded to, 00:00:54.579 --> 00:00:59.339 the giving into temptation and the disobedience of Adam and Eve 00:00:59.339 --> 00:01:05.579 saw God banishing them from his presence and Adam and Eve spiritually dying. 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:09.319 This state is what we are born into. 00:01:10.099 --> 00:01:13.159 We are born physically alive but spiritually dead. 00:01:13.159 --> 00:01:20.000 We also saw that as a result of the fall, we were born with a strong desire 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:28.459 to regain the acceptance, the security and the significance that Adam and Eve had lost. 00:01:29.859 --> 00:01:37.400 Well, one of the greatest problems facing Christians today revolves around this identity crisis. 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:43.580 Many believers are not growing in Christ or experiencing fruit 00:01:43.580 --> 00:01:53.800 because they somehow have lost or never realised or appropriated their identity that comes in Christ. 00:01:54.860 --> 00:01:56.460 Well, what does that all mean then? 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:02.600 Well, we need to look at Ephesians and allow the word of God to give us an answer. 00:02:02.599 --> 00:02:09.159 And some would call Paul's letter to the Ephesians God's love letter to his church. 00:02:10.180 --> 00:02:12.900 Now, I have a special letter here. 00:02:13.039 --> 00:02:13.900 This is to me. 00:02:14.579 --> 00:02:18.799 This letter was written 36 years ago. 00:02:19.319 --> 00:02:22.579 I have treasured this letter, 12 pages of it. 00:02:22.580 --> 00:02:33.080 And it was a letter from my sister who lovingly wrote to me to give me warning to say that my life 00:02:33.080 --> 00:02:38.460 was on a road to destruction if I continued the way I was continuing. 00:02:40.020 --> 00:02:45.520 She pointed out that I was looking for love in all the wrong areas. 00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:53.740 She pointed out that the only person who could love me unconditionally was Jesus himself, 00:02:54.200 --> 00:02:58.740 the one that I had learnt about at Sunday school and at fellowship. 00:02:59.660 --> 00:03:04.980 She pointed out that I was lost. 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:11.240 And you see, I actually grew up not knowing where I belonged. 00:03:11.820 --> 00:03:14.020 I desperately wanted to belong somewhere. 00:03:14.020 --> 00:03:18.659 I didn't feel that I belonged anywhere and I didn't feel that I was loved. 00:03:19.200 --> 00:03:21.200 And so I went searching elsewhere. 00:03:21.960 --> 00:03:28.600 The words in this letter were words of life to me. 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:34.480 They were words that Jesus himself directly spoke to me. 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:37.680 And they changed my life for all eternity. 00:03:38.420 --> 00:03:41.300 Hence, I treasure this letter. 00:03:41.300 --> 00:03:49.219 Well, these days with text messaging, emails, Facebook and twexting and all of those other 00:03:49.219 --> 00:03:53.200 things that I actually don't understand, but I think that's the word, isn't it? 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:54.160 Have I got the right word? 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:54.860 Twexting? 00:03:55.100 --> 00:03:55.219 Yeah. 00:03:57.660 --> 00:04:03.660 It seems as if we've lost the joy of receiving words from someone special. 00:04:03.659 --> 00:04:14.539 So what we read today in Ephesians, I want to encourage all of us to hear the words of Paul 00:04:14.539 --> 00:04:23.180 from Ephesians with an openness and with an enthusiasm of receiving a word from someone 00:04:23.180 --> 00:04:24.680 really special. 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:31.199 Someone who loves us and who loves us beyond all comprehension. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:36.259 So verses three to six in the passage that Gus read to us. 00:04:36.259 --> 00:04:42.500 Praise be to the God of our Father or of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the 00:04:42.500 --> 00:04:48.879 heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ, for he chose us in him before the 00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:52.959 creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:59.779 In love, he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ in accordance with 00:04:59.779 --> 00:05:07.359 his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the one he 00:05:07.359 --> 00:05:07.779 loves. 00:05:08.699 --> 00:05:11.039 We have significance. 00:05:11.899 --> 00:05:16.219 We have been chosen to be holy and blameless. 00:05:16.220 --> 00:05:18.040 We have security. 00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:21.900 We have been given every spiritual blessing. 00:05:22.640 --> 00:05:24.500 We want for nothing. 00:05:25.660 --> 00:05:26.620 We have acceptance. 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:32.060 In love, we have been predestined and adopted as sons. 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:37.360 What is it Paul is talking about here when he talks about blessings? 00:05:38.220 --> 00:05:42.480 He says we're blessed with every spiritual blessing. 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:48.580 Now, Paul was sitting in a prison in Rome when he wrote this letter. 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:56.060 So I can guarantee you that he is not talking about material possessions or material blessing. 00:05:56.640 --> 00:05:59.259 It's a spiritual blessing that he's talking about. 00:05:59.840 --> 00:06:06.280 And God planned them for each and every one of us from eternity past. 00:06:06.840 --> 00:06:10.220 He planned to bless us by making us holy. 00:06:10.220 --> 00:06:14.540 Not out of obligation, but out of love. 00:06:15.840 --> 00:06:23.400 Paul's addressees were holy because God had set them apart to be his people. 00:06:24.220 --> 00:06:31.400 The focus is entirely on God's action and the reference is to God's saving work. 00:06:32.400 --> 00:06:35.280 It is the same for us as well. 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:40.219 And he planned to adopt us into his family. 00:06:40.819 --> 00:06:41.959 He didn't have to. 00:06:43.259 --> 00:06:47.399 There was nothing in us that compelled him to accept us. 00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:54.419 He accepts us purely and simply out of his eternal love for us. 00:06:54.899 --> 00:06:59.000 A love that he has had since even before he created us. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:03.100 That was his plan all along. 00:07:03.819 --> 00:07:15.040 His plan was to take us rebellious, selfish creatures and adopt us as sons through the shed blood of his son, Jesus Christ. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:26.040 Being adopted now means that we have all the legal rights of a blood-born child to the family. 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:29.200 Nothing is withheld from us. 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:35.300 We take on the name of the family and we are accepted fully in every way. 00:07:35.300 --> 00:07:38.980 He planned to bless us in Christ. 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:46.400 Bless us by adopting us and bless us by making us holy and set apart to be gods. 00:07:47.500 --> 00:07:52.660 This also means that we can have confidence in the title saints. 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:54.920 That is in verse 1. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:59.560 It is the way that Paul has addressed the Christians in Ephesus. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:02.680 And it's how we too are addressed. 00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:05.040 First, look around you now. 00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:06.439 Have a look. 00:08:07.139 --> 00:08:11.879 Have a look at the people around you because they are fellow saints. 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:17.800 You are sitting amongst the saints of our great God. 00:08:18.780 --> 00:08:25.660 I'm hoping that you're starting to see the change that has occurred for those who are in the family of God 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:34.000 is significantly different as compared to Adam and Eve and what from when they were banished out of the garden. 00:08:34.860 --> 00:08:40.100 Notice throughout the passage and all of Ephesians the term in Christ. 00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:41.620 And we have sung it. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:43.000 We have prayed it. 00:08:43.680 --> 00:08:44.940 Chris has mentioned it. 00:08:45.180 --> 00:08:46.560 The term in Christ. 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:54.579 In the 13 letters that Paul wrote, he uses this expression. 00:08:55.319 --> 00:09:00.179 In Christ, in the Lord, in him or something similar. 00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:05.519 He uses that expression 164 times. 00:09:07.199 --> 00:09:11.639 And in Ephesians the term is used 36 times. 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:15.360 There are various reasons for using the terms. 00:09:15.500 --> 00:09:24.580 But here the language expresses the oneness or the unity and the identity that a believer shares with Christ. 00:09:25.559 --> 00:09:28.500 It is a powerful statement in Christ. 00:09:28.980 --> 00:09:39.519 It is Christ lifting us up into him and to enjoy and to be part of all that Christ himself is. 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:44.019 It is not us bringing Christ down to our level. 00:09:45.639 --> 00:09:50.360 Many people make that mistake of bringing Christ down to their level. 00:09:50.939 --> 00:09:57.379 That everything we want and know in our limited thinking is how life should be. 00:09:58.360 --> 00:10:03.980 This pattern of belief will mess with your head and it will also mess with your life. 00:10:03.980 --> 00:10:11.060 Because you inadvertently will make yourself an impotent little God. 00:10:11.259 --> 00:10:18.139 Because you are wanting to call the tune for all things but without success. 00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:23.860 Believers have their identity in Christ. 00:10:23.860 --> 00:10:28.259 Where all that was lost at the fall is made new. 00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:32.460 And we are welcomed to be part of this new creation. 00:10:32.460 --> 00:10:35.400 All because of Jesus himself. 00:10:35.900 --> 00:10:37.660 And nothing of our own doing. 00:10:38.540 --> 00:10:43.360 We were spiritually dead and we were made spiritually alive in Christ. 00:10:43.800 --> 00:10:47.879 We have been given significance through Christ. 00:10:48.400 --> 00:10:51.240 We have purpose through Christ. 00:10:51.379 --> 00:10:54.320 And we are accepted because of Christ. 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:57.220 Verses 7 to 10 read. 00:10:57.220 --> 00:11:00.240 In him we have redemption through his blood. 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:02.000 The forgiveness of sins. 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:04.600 In accordance with the riches of God's grace. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:08.580 That he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 00:11:09.259 --> 00:11:11.920 And he made known to us the mystery of his will. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:14.279 According to his good pleasure. 00:11:14.899 --> 00:11:16.600 Which he purposed in Christ. 00:11:17.040 --> 00:11:20.779 To be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment. 00:11:20.779 --> 00:11:27.879 To bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:29.480 Even Christ. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:34.959 Apart from Christ we are slaves to sin. 00:11:35.659 --> 00:11:38.019 Which is the Bible's language for addiction. 00:11:39.019 --> 00:11:44.639 The imagery of slavery and redemption is birthed out of the book of Exodus. 00:11:44.919 --> 00:11:48.240 Where God's people were in slavery to Pharaoh. 00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:49.460 Pharaoh, you know this story. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:55.480 Pharaoh repeatedly refused to repent of his ways and to release God's people. 00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:59.200 So the wrath of God was poured out on all the households. 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:03.659 Killing the firstborn of every household in one night. 00:12:04.180 --> 00:12:09.240 Those who were spared were those who killed a pure lamb as a substitute. 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:12.680 And put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts. 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:17.340 The wrath of God passed over them and God's people were redeemed. 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:23.620 Free to leave their slavery and live as free worshippers of God. 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:30.160 All this symbolizes the fact that sin rules over us. 00:12:30.540 --> 00:12:33.360 Enslaves us and destroys us. 00:12:34.060 --> 00:12:37.060 But Jesus was the lamb of God. 00:12:37.560 --> 00:12:39.379 Whose blood was shed for us. 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:43.220 That we might be spared and be made free. 00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:47.440 In Christ you are redeemed. 00:12:47.980 --> 00:12:50.100 Whatever has enslaved you. 00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:52.680 Jesus has redeemed you. 00:12:53.160 --> 00:12:55.980 He has bought you with a price. 00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:58.379 And that price was his life. 00:13:00.620 --> 00:13:07.240 In Christ you are totally, completely and eternally forgiven. 00:13:07.840 --> 00:13:10.720 It doesn't matter what you have done or will do. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:14.940 Jesus died for it all and lives to forgive it all. 00:13:15.560 --> 00:13:16.259 You're forgiven. 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:19.160 God doesn't hold your sin against you. 00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:21.200 Isn't going to punish you. 00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:24.040 And loves you in spite of your sin. 00:13:25.180 --> 00:13:27.180 This is love and acceptance. 00:13:27.860 --> 00:13:29.980 In its absolute fullness. 00:13:30.759 --> 00:13:32.080 We cannot earn it. 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.700 Work for it. 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:35.720 Feel we deserve it. 00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:36.800 In any way. 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:38.519 Why? 00:13:40.359 --> 00:13:42.839 Because it is all given by God's grace. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:51.439 It is not possible to be in Christ in any way or to any degree apart from the grace of God. 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:54.099 Ephesians 2.8.9. 00:13:54.219 --> 00:13:57.059 A very familiar verse to many of you. 00:13:57.459 --> 00:14:00.879 It is by grace that you have been saved through faith. 00:14:01.219 --> 00:14:02.719 This is not from yourselves. 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:04.279 It is a gift of God. 00:14:04.279 --> 00:14:05.660 Not by works. 00:14:06.019 --> 00:14:08.460 So that no one can boast. 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:12.580 Don't you just love the honesty of scripture? 00:14:14.460 --> 00:14:20.940 God knows that we would want to take the glory for ourselves whenever we can. 00:14:20.940 --> 00:14:25.740 And so it is plainly written for everyone to see. 00:14:25.740 --> 00:14:28.640 So that no one can boast. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:32.960 In Christ you are graced. 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:35.680 You're chosen by grace. 00:14:36.300 --> 00:14:38.620 You are saved by grace. 00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:40.700 Kept by grace. 00:14:41.720 --> 00:14:43.320 Gifted by grace. 00:14:43.920 --> 00:14:45.580 Empowered by grace. 00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:48.020 Matured by grace. 00:14:48.540 --> 00:14:50.200 And sanctified by grace. 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:53.860 You persevere by grace. 00:14:54.420 --> 00:15:01.700 And one day you will see Jesus, the best friend that you've ever had, face to face by grace. 00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:06.140 Verses 11 to 14 read, 00:15:06.139 --> 00:15:23.799 In him we were chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 00:15:23.799 --> 00:15:27.459 And you were also included in Christ. 00:15:27.460 --> 00:15:46.519 When you heard the word of Christ, when you heard the word of Christ, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation, having believed you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession, to the praise of his glory. 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:56.699 Insecurity means depending upon temporal things that we have no right and no ability to control. 00:15:57.480 --> 00:16:06.019 It doesn't take a genius to know that our world is fragile and there will be tough days ahead. 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:14.259 Our security can be found only in the eternal life of Jesus himself. 00:16:15.319 --> 00:16:21.019 Paul in Romans declared that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. 00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:31.500 And so that you are sure in our verses, here we see that we are also sealed with the Holy Spirit. 00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:39.279 In the ancient world, owners would affix a personal seal to their possessions and God is doing that with us. 00:16:39.820 --> 00:16:47.419 By placing the Holy Spirit in us, God also places his seal upon us. 00:16:48.360 --> 00:16:50.159 We now belong to the Lord. 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:58.860 The Holy Spirit is the beginning of the blessings that await us as his possession, as part of our inheritance. 00:16:58.860 --> 00:17:08.680 Practically, this means that the foretastes of the kingdom that we enjoy in this life are only the beginning. 00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:15.480 The Holy Spirit is also the guarantee that we are being sanctified. 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:17.660 That is, we're being transformed. 00:17:19.380 --> 00:17:26.120 If the Holy Spirit is at work in us, then Christ is at work in us and we are in him. 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:31.319 Aspects of this moulding we see when we read the Beatitudes. 00:17:31.819 --> 00:17:39.119 Humility, compassion, love of one's enemies, a forgiving spirit and loving fellow Christians. 00:17:39.599 --> 00:17:46.839 It might also include accepting suffering for Christ, even to the point of death for Christ maybe, 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:51.439 as in the case in many countries where Christians are under attack. 00:17:51.440 --> 00:18:03.160 There is no doubt that Jesus expects us to be growing into this new creation, this new identity. 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:07.880 For we are to be mature, in other words, to be complete. 00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:12.980 We will not be perfect whilst we live on this earth, 00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:23.140 but we look to the Holy Spirit to keep changing us and moulding our identity into conformity with Christ. 00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:27.980 Romans 12.2 says, 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:36.039 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:42.940 Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good and perfect will. 00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:46.960 How much more secure can we get than this? 00:18:48.360 --> 00:18:54.579 You are given assurances as well, that you are significant and that you have a purpose. 00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:59.940 Our purpose is that we might glorify this great God. 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:07.180 The verses 6, 12 and 14 all say to the praise of his glorious grace. 00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:13.680 Our role in life is to glorify God in all that we do and say. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:18.320 Does that mean that we have to join full-time ministry? 00:19:18.860 --> 00:19:20.039 Definitely not. 00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:27.700 We need Christians in the workplace and in the community who are going to be lights for Jesus. 00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:36.440 Giving words in season and living lives that are attractive to someone who doesn't know Jesus as yet. 00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:41.460 So that your life will point them to Jesus. 00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:50.400 Whether you are an executive in business, retired, a stay-at-home mum with all the duties that calls for. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:58.660 No matter what your day-to-day role is, our purpose is to glorify God in all that we do. 00:19:58.660 --> 00:20:09.759 That is, we do everything knowing that we represent the King of Kings and out of a thankful heart, we serve the best to our ability. 00:20:10.820 --> 00:20:17.279 Friends, there is much to say about our identity in Christ, in Ephesians and elsewhere. 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:25.279 And as per usual, we can take it all on board and know it intellectually, know it up here. 00:20:26.119 --> 00:20:29.460 But we need to live it, as mentioned at the beginning. 00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:35.779 We need to appropriate all that Christ has done for us in our day-to-day lives. 00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:41.240 That is, we need to live what we believe. 00:20:42.059 --> 00:20:45.460 Or another way to say, we need to walk the talk. 00:20:45.460 --> 00:21:04.900 Now, I want to give you a whole bunch of examples that might give you a hint of whether you have your security and where your identity in Christ might lie. 00:21:05.460 --> 00:21:10.900 And when I speak of these examples, I'm giving great generalisations. 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:19.000 But I'm hoping that you will apply the little bits that are relevant to you and extrapolate where necessary. 00:21:20.780 --> 00:21:22.480 So, example one. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:28.280 There is nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight and dress in a presentable manner. 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:39.019 But if losing weight and how you look is attached to what will people think of me, or someone will love me if I look different, 00:21:39.579 --> 00:21:46.879 or I was always told that I was fat when I was a child and that no one will love me, 00:21:47.399 --> 00:21:50.839 and I have believed that lie my whole life, 00:21:51.379 --> 00:21:55.480 then you may have a problem with your identity. 00:21:55.480 --> 00:22:03.420 If you feel a failure as a person when your marks are not what you were hoping for, 00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:08.000 because the lie that you believed is that marks make the person, 00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:14.559 rather than being disappointed in the marks but knowing that you are secure in Christ, 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:16.740 irrespective of any report, 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:19.860 then you might have a problem with your identity. 00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:26.959 If you are a parent and your children, be they adults or little ones, 00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:34.559 they make foolish mistakes or go off the rails or fail at school, 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:40.539 and you think that you're a failure as a person because you should have produced kids 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:45.740 that make all the right decisions and achieve in just the way that you want them to, 00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:51.720 and so you speak negative messages to yourself about yourself, 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:55.240 you may have a problem with your identity. 00:22:55.839 --> 00:23:02.019 If you are someone who is still hanging on to the past and telling people about your achievements in exams, 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:03.720 even though they were years ago, 00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:08.579 or you are sharing with people the position you had some years ago, 00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:10.960 which was earning a huge salary, 00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:13.159 and yet you do not have it now, 00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:16.000 you may have a problem with your identity. 00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:21.460 If you have been part of something that you believed was important, 00:23:22.179 --> 00:23:26.439 but changes are made that that position is no longer needed, 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:32.699 and your response is that you believe that you are no longer loved, 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:35.960 or needed, or acknowledged, 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:38.299 you might have a problem with your identity. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:43.259 If you have had a parent or a close friend 00:23:43.259 --> 00:23:46.380 who has told you that you are a failure, 00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:48.160 or that you are useless, 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:51.259 and you believe these statements to be true, 00:23:52.100 --> 00:23:54.279 you might have a problem with your identity. 00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:59.259 If you're a child and you know that your parents are not happy with your marks 00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.779 or your choice of career, 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:04.079 and that you take on that lie, 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:07.920 that you are useless or that you are a failure, 00:24:08.619 --> 00:24:11.059 then you may have a problem with your identity. 00:24:12.119 --> 00:24:14.500 If you are made redundant at work, 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:16.759 and you become deeply depressed 00:24:16.759 --> 00:24:19.579 because you were totally wrapped up 00:24:19.579 --> 00:24:23.119 in the position and the kudos that work gave you, 00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:26.399 then you may have a problem with your identity. 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:30.560 And friends, I could go on and on and on 00:24:30.560 --> 00:24:35.460 with illustrations that will challenge your identity. 00:24:36.860 --> 00:24:43.080 But being in Christ gives us full and total significance, 00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:45.560 security and acceptance. 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:48.080 Not because of anything that we have done, 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:53.220 but because of everything that Christ has done on our behalf. 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:59.539 Being in Christ means that we reflect the values of the kingdom, 00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:03.160 apply these values to society in which we live, 00:25:03.259 --> 00:25:06.640 and show these values in our relationships with others. 00:25:07.620 --> 00:25:11.600 We are members of both Jesus' kingdom 00:25:11.600 --> 00:25:14.480 and the community in which we live. 00:25:15.460 --> 00:25:17.140 As a member of Jesus' kingdom, 00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:21.360 we should also make a stance in our community for our faith. 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:25.439 In this way, we can have some impact for the kingdom, 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.799 its presence and its values. 00:25:28.579 --> 00:25:30.359 And in these practical ways, 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:35.219 we will be giving evidence of our new identity status 00:25:35.219 --> 00:25:38.419 as members of the kingdom of God. 00:25:39.799 --> 00:25:43.439 Christ has given us everything that we need 00:25:43.439 --> 00:25:44.819 for a new identity. 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:52.379 It is now time to appropriate all that is in Christ 00:25:52.379 --> 00:25:54.200 to our lives 00:25:54.200 --> 00:25:59.559 and to encourage each other to live in Christ. 00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:05.059 We can be sure that in Christ we have security, 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.679 we have significance, 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.179 we have acceptance. 00:26:09.159 --> 00:26:10.939 Let's be the church 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:14.799 that lives with our identities 00:26:14.799 --> 00:26:20.279 securely grounded in Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:21.140 Amen.