My Identity
2 Corinthians 5:16-21, NIV
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Introduction: A woman of Korean descent asked this question in French,
“Who am I?”
1. The identity of unbelievers.
(Existential philosophy)
1) The hopelessness of sin and guilt.
2) The anguish of emptiness and lack of meaning in life.
3) The sorrow of death and nonexistence (Heb 9:27).
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2. The identity of Christians.
1) The identity held in the Cross of Jesus Christ.
① “I” am forgiven (Eph 1:7).
② “I” am with the Holy Spirit (Tit 3:6-7; 1Co 3:16).
③ “I” have the grace of healing (Isa 53:5).
④ “I” am free from the curse (Gal 3:13-14).
⑤ “I” have resurrection and eternal life in heaven (Jn 11:25-26; 14:2-3).
2) The fourfold position (1Pe 2:9).
① “I” am a chosen people (Eph 1:4-5; Jn 15:16).
② “I” am a royal priesthood (Ro 5:17; 1Pe 2:5).
③ “I” am a holy nation (Col 1:13; Ro 12:1).
④ “I” am a people belonging to God (Mal 3:17; Ps 100:3).
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3. The way to stand firm in identity.
1) Remember that you are a new creation (2Co 5:17).
2) Imagine that you are a new person (Eph 4:23-24).
3) Believe (Gal 3:26-27).
4) Confess it with your lips (Ro 10:10).
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Conclusion: If you have an uncertain identity of yourself, the devil will rule your life. However, if you have a clear identity, you will always live a life of hope and victory.