True Identity In Christ

                                       TRUE IDENTITY IN CHRIST

            Here is a true story about a man who lives in an apartment in Rockville's suburbs, Maryland, USA. His name is Jay Speights. He has a modest career as a pastor. He doesn't own a car. Jay grew up in a family of African Americans in New Jersey. There wasn't much documentation about his family history, and he had spent much of his life wondering about his ancestry. Jay decided to take a DNA test through the genealogy organization Ancestry.

Within minutes of entering his information into the database, the website returned a result: "royal DNA." That changed everything for Rev. Dr. Jay Speights. Can you imagine how stunned you would be if that news were given to you? All your life, you thought you were just an ordinary person…then you discovered you had royal heritage."[1]

"In January 2019, Speights boarded a plane in Virginia and landed in Benin 36 hours later, to experience a grand Royal Welcome with great pomp and celebration. "Welcome to the kingdom of Allada, land of your ancestors," the posters said in French. He spent the next week in what he calls "prince school," learning local customs and visiting various sites and dignitaries.

He was enthroned by the King, given white lace robes to signal he is a holy man, and several crowns." "This was the most beautiful thing I have ever done," he said. "I am the descendant of slaves. I am the descendant of a family that was involved in the slave trade. And I'm just starting to make sense of that." Before he left Benin, Speights said, the King gave him a new name: Videkon Deka. It means the child who came back."[2]

Along with pastoral responsibilities, Jay Speights now accepted the princely responsibilities as well. This true, real-life story has several spiritual implications. Like Jay, we all struggle to make sense of who we really are. We take on an identity, which is either given to us by the kind of family we were born into, by education, or by vocation. But the internal dissatisfaction with our identity and a quest to find out who we really were born to be, and our true purpose, intensifies and will only end when we come to Christ; then everything changes. To your shocking surprise, you will find out you are more than what you thought you were. Today, we will learn about our True Identity in Christ and its implications. I Peter 2:9-10

I. Our Old Sinful Identity.

In our former church, an Alcoholics Anonymous group used to meet. As a pastor, I wanted to attend to get to know them and possibly minister to them. Their typical meeting would begin this way: "Good Evening, ladies and gentlemen." This is the regular meeting of the group of Alcoholics Anonymous. My name is Ken, and I am an alcoholic and your Secretary.

The group would cheer Ken, thinking that what a humble man Ken is, not hiding away his true self as an alcoholic. But was he admitting his sinful identity? How about if he introduced himself this way, "Hi, my name is Ken, and I am a Sinner and your Secretary? Well, that was not only Ken's but all of our old, sinful identity. The scriptures say, in Romans 3:22-23, "There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

As sinners, if we remain in sin and die in sin, we are destined to be separated from God and live in hell forever. But thank God, out of His abundant love for us, He sent a redeeming savior who died on the cross to take away, and never to remember our sins and declare us not guilty of our sin and grant us eternal life with Him in Heaven. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

What was our old, sinful identity like? This is how Eugene Peterson, in The Message, describes our old self:  ^"It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, easy marks for sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it.

He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there's more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this." Titus 3:3-8. Because of what Christ has done on the cross for us, and when we come to Him in repentance, our Old Sinful Self will be transformed into a New Self.

II. Our True Identity In Christ

Our True Identity in Christ begins with having faith in Him. John 1:11-12, "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." This privilege of becoming is open for all people, but only those who believe in the name of Jesus and receive him as their Savior will have the right to become God's sons and daughters.

 Apostle Peter rightly describes our True Identity in Christ. I Peter 2:9-10, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." Can you imagine what this means to us today?

In our former state of life, we experienced rejection of various kinds and lived in darkness, satisfying our sinful desires. Though we may have had an earthly family, we lived like spiritual orphans, not knowing who we truly belonged to and what our true purpose is. But in Christ all that was changed: We are chosen by God, belong to a Royal family of priests, and share the blessings of the nation of Israel. We received God's Mercy. Our true identity and purpose have always been like those who have obeyed God in the past, namely, to glorify God.

Exodus 19:5-6, "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

By having our faith in God, we too become the heirs of Abraham and share the same privileges and responsibilities with the nation of Israel. Our True Identity in Christ is that we are part of God's royal family, the children of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. As the pastor in the introduction said, how are we living out our newly discovered Princely Heritage now?

III. Living like A Child of the King Of the Universe

            By faith, we can boldly declare that we are the Children of the King of the Universe. Consider these scriptures: "Let Israel rejoice in their Maker, let the people of Zion be glad in their King." Psalm 149:2, Paul recognized his past life before Christ and his future princely standing in Christ. I Timothy 1:15-17, "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

But for that very reason, I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever." How can we honor our eternal King and live like a Prince in this world?

To do that, we may have to unlearn certain sinful behaviors and learn princely behaviors. Like the pastor in the story, we may have to go through a "prince school," in this case, the school of the Holy Spirit, who will teach us what God's Kingdom is like and how the children of the King ought to behave, etc. This is what it looks like to live like a prince of the Most High King.

We will abstain from sinful desires that wage war against our souls. I Peter 2:11 We will learn what God's Kingdom is like and its principles by reading His Word regularly. We will not return to our former sinful ways; instead, we will adopt a lifestyle that aligns with God's Kingdom. The pastor in the story "was enthroned by the King, given white lace robes to signal he is a holy man, and several crowns." Similarly, God declares us holy and clothes us with garments of salvation and wraps us with a robe of righteousness." Isaiah 61:10.

As God's chosen people, we clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Col 3:12-14. We will work hard and live honestly. (Eph 4:28). We will speak the truth, forgive one another, and above all, put on love which binds all things together.

 

 

 

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[1] https://glenelg.lutheran.org.au/sermons/sunday-25th-of-august-2024/

[2] https://ibw21.org/editors-choice/im-a-prince-after-years-of-searching-for-family-history-a-pastor-discovers-royal-ties-to-africa/

 

Complete Reliance On Him

COMPLETE RELIANCE ON HIM!

Futurologist Alvin Toffler has written an insightful book titled The Third Wave. Toffler suggests there are three eras, three periods of history, three waves in American culture. Then he reflects on the implications of these three waves for the individual, the family, the Church, and society at large. First came the agricultural wave: Little House on the Prairie, Squatters' rights, the simple pioneer lifestyle; men planting crops, building homes, and families living together.

The second wave was the industrial wave, when families moved from the country into the city. They moved from developing farms and croplands by hand to becoming part of a larger corporation, working with machinery and developing technology. The extended family was not always nearby. The family became smaller; a husband and wife with two or three children was a family in the second wave.

The third wave could be called the information wave (and technology)–the wave of computers, fax machines, cell phones, and mass media (we can add AI to the list). In this wave, we see growing affluence on the one hand, growing poverty on the other, and a shrinking middle class. The third wave makes a quantum leap from what we have known of the familiar waters of yesterday to the uncharted course of tomorrow."[1]

This third wave is like a Tsunami plunging the world into confusion. We are facing complex challenges, including the recent COVID pandemic and the current Wars in the Middle East. How do we, as followers of Christ, navigate the ever-changing world? Matthew 14:22-33

I. What Strengthens Us Amid Challenging Circumstances?

            From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus faced opposition from the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the teachers of the Law. Towards the end, those challenges were only intensified. People were becoming more skeptical (Matt 13:58). His authority was questioned in His own hometown. Though the disciples witnessed great miracles performed by Jesus and by themselves, they struggled with unbelief and fear, and their hearts were hardened. (Mark 6:52). As if those weren't enough, Jesus had a personal tragedy; his cousin John was beheaded.

If you were to face similar challenging circumstances both in ministry (workplace) and in your personal life, how would you respond? What would give you the strength and courage to endure difficulties in life? How did Jesus handle ministry and personal challenges?

When Jesus faced challenges, he often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. He fasted and prayed 40 Days and Nights before launching His public ministry. He spent all night in prayer before picking up the twelve apostles. He often prayed before performing critical miracles and healings. Prayers were the fuel for his ministry, giving him strength and sustaining power.

Let's see how Jesus was strengthened before taking on the most difficult task of his ministry: the Crucifixion (Luke 22:39-43). "Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." 41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down, and prayed.

42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him." Praying to God was an integral part of Jesus' life and ministry. If Jesus was that prayerful, and trusted God completely in all his challenges. How much more are his followers to be prayerful and reliant on God?

II. Walking In Uncharted Waters: (Matthew 14:22-29)

            The disciples were with Jesus when he performed many miracles of deliverance and healing the sick. This time, they had witnessed a spectacular miracle: feeding over 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish, and they picked up twelve baskets of leftover food.

Immediately after that, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side of the lake. After dispersing the crowds, He went up to a mountainside to pray. Later in the night, he was there all alone, and the boat was at a considerable distance from the land. An identical narrative we will find in Mark 6:45-52, with some more details.

Mark 6: 48, "He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them." Where was Jesus when the disciples were almost drowned? Jesus was on the mountainside praying. For Peter and the other disciples, being in the boat alone without Jesus must have been very frightening. The boat was already far from the land, in uncharted waters.

The wind and the waves were beating on the boat, threatening to drown them. At around 4:00 A.M., Jesus came to them walking on the Water. They couldn't even recognize Jesus; they were terrified and said it was a ghost. Have you ever had a midnight or early-morning scare?

I had recently! It was like walking in uncharted waters! "Phrases such as uncharted territory or uncharted waters figuratively describe a situation that is unfamiliar or has never been encountered before."[2] One Sunday morning, before preaching in the Church, I experienced acute abdominal pain like never before. Eventually, in the middle of the night on three occasions, I was driven in an ambulance and a car to the emergency room for treatment.

During such unearthly hours, I was frightened for my life! I cried out to God for mercy. He answered my prayers! I felt Jesus' calming presence with me. Coming back to our story, the disciples found themselves in uncharted waters. Everything looked frightening and unfamiliar. Amid such threatening circumstances, how did they navigate through uncharted waters? What gave them the courage to continue their journey across the lake safely to the other side?

III. Complete Reliance On Him.

Matthew 14:27-33, 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Here are a few takeaways from this very familiar story.

First, when facing unfamiliar and frightening circumstances, it is okay to cry out to God out of fear. When King David faced uncharted waters, he cried out to God. Psalm 34: 6-7"This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;  he saved him out of all his troubles. ⁷ The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Ps 34:17, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles." When the disciples cried out, Jesus assured them, saying, "Take courage, do not be afraid."

            Second, we may all be encouraged by God's assuring words, but only a few would step out boldly into uncharted waters. Verse 28, "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus." What kept Peter steady on course is what keeps us steady as well.

Peter did not look at the high waves or the wind at first. He simply recognized his Lord, stepped out of the boat in faith, and walked on water. As long as Peter kept his focus on Jesus, he could walk on the water towards him.

 

But the moment he saw the wind, he was afraid, began to sink, and cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt? They both climbed into the boat; the wind died, and those in the boat worshipped Him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." They got to the other side safely.

The followers of Christ are walking in uncharted waters. We are facing unfamiliar circumstances, such as wars in the Middle East, economic instability, and a lack of security. We can only navigate successfully through these uncharted waters by completely relying on Him. God is in the midst of this troubled world and inviting us to come to Him. We step out by faith into these uncharted waters. As long as we look to Jesus, we walk steadily, but when we look at our circumstances and get overwhelmed, we will go underwater. Even then, when we cry out to God, He saves us from fully drowning, walks with us, and takes us safely to the other side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/preaching/sermon-illustrations/third-wave-family-structure/

[2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/uncharted-vs-unchartered-waters-usage 

Forgiveness And Kingdom Living

                                              FORGIVENESS AND KINGDOM LIVING 

            In his book "What's So Amazing About Grace," Phillip Yancey tells the story of Ernest Hemingway, an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. Hemingway grew up in a very devout evangelical family, and yet there he never experienced the grace of Christ. He lived a life of no morals that most of us would call "dissolute"… but there was no father, no parent waiting for him, and he sank into the mire of a graceless depression.

A short story he wrote may reveal the grace he hoped for. It is the story of a Spanish father who decided to reconcile with his son, who had run away to Madrid. The Father, in a moment of remorse, takes out this ad in El Libro, a newspaper. "Paco, meet me at Hotel Montana, Noon, Tuesday… All is forgiven… Papa." When the Father arrived at the square in hopes of meeting his son, he found 800 Pacoes waiting to be reunited with him.

Was Paco such a popular name? Or is a father's forgiveness the salve for every soul? This story conveys one of the most powerful aspects of God the Father's love expressed in forgiveness. Just like Paco in the story, we all have sinned against God and run away from home, starving for our heavenly Father's love and affection. On the other hand, God graciously invites us to come back home in repentance, and all will be forgiven.   

For the past several weeks, you have been reflecting on the Lenten Series: From Cross To The City. Last week, you looked at the Humility of Christ and how it is an essential aspect of Kingdom Citizens. Today, we will look at the Biblical Significance of Forgiveness and how Kingdom Citizens should practice it regularly. Matthew 18:21-35.

I want to explore the following question: What does the Bible say about forgiveness? Why do we need forgiveness? Is forgiving and forgetting Biblical? How often should I forgive? What happens when I don't forgive? What are the practical implications of forgiveness?

I. Forgiveness of Our Sins Opens the Door to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Let's admit that when it comes to confessing our own wrongdoings, we seem to struggle with short-term memory, but when it comes to pointing out others' wrongs, we seem to have endless memory, at times with very specific details. A few years ago, I was counseling a couple, where the husband wanted to show me the angry behavior of his wife, which he proudly video recorded for me to believe that he was innocent and that all was his wife's fault. Where is love in that marriage? I wonder how long a marriage would last without love and forgiveness.

John the Baptist called for people to repent of their Sins, and those who repented were baptized in the river Jordan for the forgiveness of their sins. Matt 3:5-6. Jesus, after He was baptized not for the forgiveness of his sins but to set a model for us, preached the same message of repentance, "Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven has come near." Matt 4:17.

Later on, his disciples picked up the same message and called people to repent of their sins and be baptized to receive eternal life. After preaching a powerful message on the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter urged the convicted group to do this. Acts 2:38-39, Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

All these scriptures point to one truth: that only through the forgiveness of our sins can we enter into Heaven. During this Lenten season, God is inviting us to reason with Him: "Come now, let us settle the matter," says the Lord."Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Isaiah 1:18. If you haven't yet received God's forgiveness of your sins, you can receive it today by asking Jesus to forgive your sins. Jesus told a parable to help the Kingdom Citizens live a life of forgiveness.

II. The Importance of Forgiveness For Kingdom Citizens. (Matthew 18:21-35)

            Jesus was addressing how to deal with a brother or sister who sins, particularly against you, in the Church. In that context, Peter came to Jesus with a question, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times? (Vs 21). Peter must have been proud, thinking, "I am pretty tolerant of forgiving someone seven times." Jesus must have humbled him, saying, "not seven times but seventy-seven times, a total of 490 times. To further drive this point home to his disciples, he told the following parable: (The Message)

Matthew 18:23-35,  "The kingdom of Heaven was like a king who wanted to settle his accounts with his servants. As the settlement began, one servant who owed him ten thousand talents, approximately $ 10 million, was brought to him. To put it into perspective, "if one denarius was what a man like the ungrateful servant could earn in a day, in those days, he would need to work 6,000 days to earn one talent. Ten thousand talents would equal 60 million denarii or 60 million days of work.[1] A million days is approximately 2,738 years.

You could only imagine whether that servant would ever be able to pay back what he owed to the king. So, he begged the king to be patient with him, and the king took pity on him, canceled the debt, and let him go. He goes and finds a fellow servant who owed him only 100 denari100 denarii. He forced him to pay the whole amount back. How much would that cost in dollars? "When the NASB was translated in the 1960s, a denarius was worth approximately $0.20. Therefore, 100 denarii was about $20, which doesn't seem that big in the 20th/21st century."[2] The servant begged him to be patient, but the unmerciful servant handed him over to be put in prison.

That unfriendly and unmerciful act of the first servant infuriated the king. The king called him and said, "I forgive your huge debt, which you will never be able to pay, since you begged me so." Then should you not have mercy on your fellow servant as I had mercy on you? In anger, the king handed the unmerciful servant over to be tortured until he should pay back all he owed. Then Jesus proclaimed: "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart." Let us pay attention to this proclamation!

III. Forgiveness And Kingdom Living

 Here are a few suggestions on how to practice forgiveness as Kingdom Citizens: First, our sins are like a huge debt we could never repay in a lifetime. When we beg Jesus's mercy, he takes pity on us and cancels our debt (forgives our sins). If Jesus mercifully forgave our huge debt, then should we not be merciful to our brothers and sisters who may sin against us or hurt us (like owing a small debt)?

Second, when we forgive others, let us do it wholeheartedly, which means not to say I forgive you in words but not to hold any more resentment or bitterness in our hearts toward them. Three, how many times should we forgive those who sin against us? Seven times or 490 times? Maybe the right question here is how many times you want God to forgive your sins?

Four, our Lord taught us to pray. "And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors." Matthew 6:12. After the conclusion of that prayer, Jesus further qualified it by saying, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14-15. Finally, is forgiveness optional or a command for the Kingdom Citizens?

It is a command for all Kingdom Citizens with repeated action, which means we need to forgive those who have sinned against us continually. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32. So dear friends, as we leave, let us not hold on to unforgiveness, forgive them as Christ forgave you.

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.grandrapidscoins.com/how-much-was-a-biblical-talent worth/?doing_wp_cron=1772824076.6065869331359863281250

[2] https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/50919/was-the-100-denarii-owed-by-the-second-servant-in-jesuss-parable-supposed-to be#:~:text=When%20the%20NASB%20was%20translated,big%20in%20the%2020th%2F21st%20century.