Identity: My Life of Faith 78 IDENTITY: my life of faith
Who am I? You will more than likely struggle with your identity at some point in life. Not knowing who you are can really mess up where you are. I know. When I was in my early twenties, I was a passenger in life traveling without a destination. I had grown up in a great environment, but I had made a total mess of my life. Jesus changed all that. He changed me, and now my identity is wrapped up in Christ. In these six sessions you will see what God says about who you are and who you can be in Christ. Your identity in Christ shapes your identity at church, in your home, at your place of work, and well, everywhere. You never lose your uniqueness in your various roles, but those roles are transformed by your life of faith your true, defining identity. Let this study help you be sure of who you are in Christ and how you can live out that identity. Matt Brown Matt Brown is the lead pastor of Sandals Church in Southern California. It is Matt s passion to see people become real and honest with themselves, God, and others. Matt has been married to his college sweetheart for over 20 years and they have three amazing kids. Follow Matt on Twitter: @pastormattbrown. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 79
Identity: My Life of Faith Session 1 Life in Christ Luke 9:18-26 Session 2 Life in the Church 1 Peter 4:7-11 Session 3 Life at Home Ephesians 5:22-28; 6:1-3 Session 4 Life at Work Colossians 3:22 4:1 Session 5 Life in the Community Matthew 25:34-40 Session 6 Life on Mission 1 Corinthians 9:19-27 80 IDENTITY: my life of faith
1 Life in Christ What s a word or phrase that often comes up when people describe you? QUESTION 1 #BSFLIdentity BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 81
THE POINT Jesus identity is foundational to who I am. THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE Who am I? That s not always an easy question to answer. I am a husband, a father, and a friend, among other things. All of these relationships help to define me. How I define and see myself my identity affects my thoughts and actions. The world understands this, which is why it tries to shape how we see ourselves. Advertisers want us to see ourselves in a certain way and then believe their product will enhance that image. What truly affects your identity is how you see Jesus. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus asked His disciples, Who do you say that I am? How these men saw Jesus changed their lives because it changed how they saw themselves. It s true for you too. How you see Jesus shapes how you define yourself. Without correctly understanding who Jesus is, you will never truly understand who you are. Consider, then, life s most important question: Who is Jesus? 82 SESSION 1
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Luke 9:18-20 (CSB) 18 While he was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, Who do the crowds say that I am? 19 They answered, John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back. 20 But you, he asked them, who do you say that I am? Peter answered, God s Messiah. During the short period in which the disciples were with Jesus, He did amazing things. They saw Jesus feed the hungry; raise the dead; and heal the lame, blind, and diseased. Jesus had become the most famous person in and around Palestine. He had gone from an unknown carpenter in a small town in Galilee to the biggest celebrity in all of Palestine. People came from all over to just catch a glimpse of this wonder worker. Some had come to love Him, yet others despised Him. He wasn t just the most wellknown person in their world; He was also the most divisive. The conversation in Luke 9 happened in the region of Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13) located at the most northern part of Palestine at the base of Mount Hermon. Caesarea Philippi was a place of deep moral and spiritual confusion. For thousands of years various people groups were drawn to this area as a spiritual and cultic center. The Canaanites worshiped Baal-gad, the god of fortune, in this area (Joshua 11:17). Additionally, Jeroboam, the leader of the ten tribes of Israel that separated from Judah, had set up an idol to be their god (1 Kings 12:28-30). In this place of spiritual deception and confusion, Jesus asked His disciples, Who do the crowds say that I am? (v. 18). They responded with the various opinions people had about Jesus identity: some thought He was John the Baptist. Many considered Him to be Elijah, or an ancient prophet. Their opinions differed, but they all shared one thing in common: Jesus was somebody of importance. What words or phrases do people use to describe Jesus today? QUESTION 2 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 83
THE POINT Jesus identity is foundational to who I am. For you personally, it doesn t matter what other people think. The real question the one we each face is the one Jesus asked His disciples. But you, he asked them, who do you say that I am? (v. 20). Peter answered, God s Messiah. (v. 20). Peter identified Jesus as the long-awaited Christ. This answer did not affect who Jesus is truth doesn t change but it would transform Peter s understanding of himself, ultimately altering his future. Only when Peter rightly understood who Jesus is could he get his own life and identity aligned correctly. Your understanding of Jesus affects your life, both now and for eternity. It s critical that what you believe about Jesus be grounded in truth. And the truth is Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Peter knew this without a doubt, and we can too. Luke 9:21-22 (CSB) 21 But he strictly warned and instructed them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, It is necessary that the Son of Man suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day. Peter correctly identified Jesus. Yet, it is surprising what Jesus told Peter and the other disciples to do forgiven with that information. He told them not to tell anyone. What? Aren t we called to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah? Yes, and later Jesus gave these same disciples the commission to be His witnesses to tell anyone and everyone about Jesus (Acts 1:8). At this particular moment in time, though, Jesus didn t need the full truth about Himself announced. 84 SESSION 1
What does Jesus death and resurrection teach us about His identity and purpose? QUESTION 3 Jesus had a precise appointment with death, and He would not die a moment too soon. The word Messiah had become a term that was full of political significance. Many would-be revolutionaries saw themselves as messiahs. While many eagerly awaited the Messiah, others saw the Christ title as a threat. So, if the disciples went around declaring this new information about Jesus, the political expectations or fears of people would have limited His ability to travel freely and preach the good news of God (Mark 1:14). It wasn t yet time to publicly proclaim Jesus as the Christ, but it was important for the disciples to know the truth there and then. Since they acknowledged their full awareness of who Jesus was, He told them, It is necessary that the Son of Man suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day (v. 22). At that point, the disciples probably believed, as most Jews did, that the Messiah would be a political leader who would free them from the oppressive rule of Rome in some type of military victory. The disciples likely were crushed to hear that Jesus would not lead them to military victory, but instead He would suffer and die. Any political leader might expect opposition and death, but Jesus did not expect just to die; He told the disciples He would be raised again. Jesus told them before it happened so they would not be surprised, as if the work and ministry of Jesus had all been a mistake and for nothing. It was all part of God s plan that Jesus would die but He would also rise again (Acts 2:23-24). BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 85
THE POINT Jesus identity is foundational to who I am. "We can choose to be full of ourselves and die, or we can choose to die to ourselves and be full of Him and live the life He provides the full, abundant life! " MATT BROWN What does it look like on a practical level to deny ourselves and take up Jesus cross daily? QUESTION 4 WHO AM I? Our identities are grounded in Christ. Make a list of Jesus qualities followed by a list of your own. Because Jesus is, Sample: Without sin I am. Forgiven of my sin 86 SESSION 1
Luke 9:23-26 (CSB) 23 Then he said to them all, If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will save it. 25 For what does it benefit someone if he gains the whole world, and yet loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and that of the Father and the holy angels. If we want to call ourselves Christ-followers, we must say yes to Jesus, which means we must also say no to ourselves at times. It means we are to pick up our cross die to self daily. Every day we must say no to our selfish desires and our wishes that don t coincide with what God has for us, and say yes to His lordship over our lives. We live in a world that caters to self. By the world s standard, everybody is in it for himself and everyone is drowning. Some drown in broken relationships because one or both people have selfish demands. Some drown in debt because of the desire to have it all. Some drown in illness and disease because of unhealthy pursuits from trying to experience it all. Jesus calls us to live differently. We can t find the secret to happiness in life in anything or anybody but Jesus. Whoever loses his life because of me will save it (v. 24). Jesus came so that we could experience life to the fullest (John 10:10). We can choose to be full of ourselves and die, or we can choose to die to ourselves and be full of Him and live the life He provides the full, abundant life! How does losing your life for Christ result in saving your life? QUESTION 5 We must understand who Jesus is, so that we can understand who we are. Then our decision to follow Jesus and to follow Him daily changes everything. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 87
THE POINT Jesus identity is foundational to who I am. LIVE IT OUT Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. What will you do with that truth? Identify what you believe about Jesus. Have you come to the place where you can say Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? If not, what questions do you have that would help you more fully understand who Jesus is? Share these with your group leader or a mature Christian friend. Pray boldly. Ask God to show you areas in which you need to pick up your cross daily in order to be more effective for the gospel. Ask Him to help you surrender yourself to His desires. Learn more about Jesus identity. Over the next two weeks, read through the Gospel of Luke to gain an understanding of Christ s life and what He said about Himself. Your personal identity can be shaped by your family, hobbies, friends, and your job. Ultimately, your identity is rooted in Jesus. When you understand who He is, you get a clear perspective on who God made you to be in Christ. My thoughts 88 SESSION 1 Share with others how you will live out this study: #BSFLIdentity