Identity In Question

Identity in Question - A Gospel Presentation

Ephesians Ch. 1-3

The letter of Ephesians found in the New Testament guarantees an awesome identity that believers possess in Jesus Christ. In a world of lies and blurred truth, it’s easy to become lost and confused about our identity. On the other hand; Christians enjoy a permanent identity through the person of Jesus Christ. We are given the right to be called children of God by adoption and our identity is permanent.

In this message; I will identify the “ways of the world” which will ultimately leave us lost and compare them to the “way of life” which gives us a secure identity in the person of Jesus Christ.

This was our identity in the “way of the world”

Alienation: Without an identity in Jesus Christ we were left clawing at drifting identities that couldn’t anchor us because only God could give our lives meaning and purpose. We searched for a permanent identity to stand upon but found sinking sand instead. People we loved moved away or died, youth was fleeting, athletic ability diminished, culture reinvented itself with the new generation, globalism made us feel invisible, friends and family failed us, social media buried authentic friendship, finances went sour, health deteriorated, that job that once fulfilled us became a burden, children grew up and moved out, marriages became loveless, spouses died or abandoned us, hobbies and passions lost their appeal. Worst of all though; sin was our master and condemnation our companion. Jesus said He came to give us life that we would have it in abundance.

Guilt: We longed to be justified by someone greater than ourselves. We harboured guilt and hated our own sin as we experienced its bitter fruit. We suppressed or denied God existed in order to pacify our guilty feelings. We turned to unhealthy habits and addictions in order to self medicate the pain caused by our sinful lifestyles. The Bible says that Jesus came to set us free.

Hopelessness: Finally; our life without Jesus Christ became increasingly hopeless. What would happen after we died? Would life just end in “nothing”?  Was there a judgement and was hell real? These questions left us hopeless and afraid about the future. We even tried to construct a god of our own imagination and placed our hope on an impotent idol. – That was the most hopeless thing in all. Jesus said anyone who calls upon my name will be saved.

Speaking of our lost condition; God puts it this way…

Ephesians 2:1-3 2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the ^[a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Our Identity in Jesus Christ… “The way of Life”

Ephesians 1:7 ⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

1)    Redemption from sin – salvation (Saved from our sin and the wrath to come)

Ephesians 1:5 ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

2)    Adoption into God’s forever family (Permanency as a child of God)

Ephesians 2:18 ¹⁸ For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

3)    A real relationship with God through the Holy Spirit (True Fulfilment and a life of purpose)

Ephesians 1:13-15  ¹³ In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who^[a] is the ^[b]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

4)    A  good resurrection which is guaranteed by the indwelling Holy Spirit (A hopefulness that eclipses the trials of this present life)

What future identity does the “way of the world” promise us and what is the truth concerning death and afterlife?

Our culture today is mostly ignorant about absolute truth that governs death and afterlife. Belief in heaven and hell is vague and confused. Most people think they will go to heaven but they are not sure how to get there.  Canadians used to view funerals as a Christian celebration of the heavenly reward that was awarded to their deceased loved ones. Now; instead of looking heavenward where the Bible promises Christians an eternal weight of glory for a life well lived; “Celebrations of life” attempt to fossilize loved ones in the past. Funerals no longer anticipate the glorious resurrection that Jesus Christ promised us, but instead seek to glorify past achievements, passions, and hobbies as the great legacy that will enthrone our deceased loved ones into eternity. The “way of the world” will offer you no eternal life, no eternal security, and no eternal home.

But what is the truth concerning death and afterlife?

The Bible warns people that if they do not repent (turn away from their sins and turn to God instead) they are already lost and condemned because they have not believed on the one and only Son of God. We deny our human nature (all have fallen short of the glory of God) when we deny that we are sinners and that Jesus Christ made a way for us to be forgiven and reconciled to Holy God. Without an identity in Jesus Christ; The Bible makes very clear that people will be severely punished for their sins in a permanent, horrible, fiery place called hell. Hell is the worst place imaginable and the work of every Christian minister is to warn people to escape hell by hearing and believing the gospel message. The book of Revelation records this terrifying judgement and it is called: “The Great White Throne Judgement”.

Revelation 20:11-14

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before ^[a]God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. ¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second ^[b]death.

Our future identity in Christ…”The way of life”

Our future identity in Jesus Christ has a bright future! God will make us co-heirs of the kingdom he is preparing for his Saints. God is waiting to show his surpassing goodness and kindness to those who honour his son. The Bible promises that God will gloriously recreate the heavens and the earth as a permanent habitation for his children. Our body dies in dishonor, but the Bible says it will be raised in glory. Our new bodies will be fit for heaven and never die.

Ephesians 1:11 ¹¹ In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

Ephesians 2:7  ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For those who want to become children of God by adoption

1)    Repent of your sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ! He died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day. He was seen by many witnesses. Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe that he paid your sin debt in full by dying on the cross for you.

Closing Prayer – Benediction

Ephesians 3:20-21

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.