Session 03

Gospel Identity

Who You Are in Jesus

Child of God

First and foremost: You have been adopted into God’s family (Eph 1.5; Gal. 4.1-7; Rom. 8.14-17).

• TO GOD: You are a child of the Most High God (Gal. 3.26-29). He is your Dad, Jesus is your older brother (Heb. 2.11-15), and the Spirit of God fills you (Rom. 8.14-16). You are brought into the fellowship of God—the relationship at the center of the universe to be co-lovers with God.
• TO THE CHURCH: Being in God’s Family also means that every other believer is in the relationship at the center of the universe and is, thus, your sister or brother! You are not to walk this life alone, you are a part of a family which forms the temple that God lives in (Eph. 2.19-22). You are His child in His family—which we call “the church” (ekklesia means “gathering” or “assembly”).
• TO THE WORLD: Through faith, God adopts humanity into His family and brings them to participate in His communion so that we can reflect His love and kingdom into the world (Jn. 13.34-35). As children of God, we are to reveal our heavenly Father. One of the many ways we do this is through the Beatitudes (Matt. 5.3-10). By living in realization of our need, mourning the pain and death that is in the world, humbling ourselves below others, seeking justice for the oppressed and marginalized, enacting mercy upon others, revealing who we truly are in Christ, being peacemakers, and being self-sacrificial without retribution or revenge. It is through these means that we act as lights and salt to the world (Matt. 5.13-16).

 

Understanding that we are children of God means that we are to act as agents of God’s kingdom here on earth. We are citizens of heaven—the place God reigns. This does not mean that our “true home” is in heaven and we are waiting to return to our “home”. It means that we are to live as under God’s reign, in His family, until Jesus returns to set all things right and where heaven and earth will be united together in Jesus our Lord (Eph. 1.10; Rev. 11.15).

Reflect Upon Being a Child

Read John 17.1-26 and reflect upon it. What stands out to you in relation to being God’s child?

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
John 17.1-26 (NIV)

Disciple of Jesus

‘Disciple’ simply means ‘learner’, it is someone who models their life after another person who is the ‘Master’.

• TO GOD: That means Jesus is your Lord and Teacher. His way directs your path and life. This does not mean that your wants and desires are not important to Him, it simply means that He is your everything. He is the center of your universe—what your life and way revolve around (Luke 14.25-35). This does not mean that there is one path that you must follow in your life, God has given you freedom, but wherever you go, whichever decision you make, Jesus is your Lord and His Way of living guides your path.
• TO THE CHURCH: You are a part of a gathering of people (the church), whom God has formed and who are led by Jesus the Head (Eph. 1.22-23; Col. 1.18). The church is a community of Jesus followers who work together to enact new creation under the single leadership of Jesus. Jesus has created leaders in the church purposefully so they can be living examples to others and help them, not follow their way, but to follow the Way of Jesus.
• TO THE WORLD: It also means that you teach others the Way of Jesus—He is the true king of the world and will be in its fullness again (1 Cor. 15; Rev. 21). We do not “gain followers”, but disciple people so that they can be disciples of Jesus. Then they go and disciple others (Matt. 28.18-20). As we go through life we announce Jesus’ way, help others understand the way of Jesus and who He is, and encourage those who are walking in ways that Jesus wants us to walk in!

Reflect Upon Being a Disciple

Read Luke 6.17-49 and reflect upon it. What stands out to you in relation to being Jesus’ Disciple?

17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.
23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24 “But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

43 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Luke 6.17-49 (NIV)

Servant of the Father

From the very beginning God established humanity to serve Him as priests. Priests are to mediate between God and humanity: drawing humanity and all creation into the praise and worship of God and also reflecting God’s image and purposes out into humanity and all creation.

• TO GOD: In the beginning God called humanity to cultivate (abad) and care for (samar) creation (Gen 2.15).  When God sent Moses to speak to Pharaoh, Moses told him, “Let my people go, so that they may serve [abad=worship] me in the wilderness” (Ex. 7.16). Samar is often used for keeping, protecting, and fulfilling the relational covenant with God (Ex. 20.6). The only other time these words are used together is in relation to the work of priests (Num. 3.7). All that we do can be worship. There is a deep connection between everyday work and it being used to worship and reveal God. As a priest of God you are to serve God through sacrifice (offering up yourself) as your spiritual form of worship (Rom. 12.1-2).
• TO THE CHURCH: You are not alone though. You are a part of ‘a priesthood’, the church (1 Pet. 2.9-10). You, and the church as a whole, facilitate worship through serving God and drawing others into serving and worshiping God. God has imparted his gifts upon the church (Eph. 4.7-16) to fulfill this calling. It is the gathering of God’s people where His reign is to be revealed and experienced (1 Cor 14.25).
• TO THE WORLD: You are also to humbly serve others just as Jesus did (Mk. 10.45; Phil. 2.3-11); placing yourself beneath others and thinking of them as important as yourself and worthy of God’s love. And through this draw them into the family of God and worship of God.

Reflect Upon Being a Servant-Priest

Read Mark 10.32-45 and reflect upon it. What stands out to you in relation to being the Father’s Servant?

32 They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

39 “We can,” they answered.

Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10.32-45 (NIV)

Sent by the Spirit

You are a “Sent One” (Missionary), commissioned to “Go”.

• TO GOD: The Holy Spirit has empowered you to be a partner in God’s mission (Mt. 28.19-20; Lk. 24.44-49; Jn 20.21-22; Acts 1.8) to redeem and restore all creation by reflecting his nature and kingdom so that the whole earth will be full of the glory of God (Eph. 1.22-23).
• TO THE CHURCH: The church is an ambassador of God. An ambassador is someone who journeys into a foreign country to communicate the desires of the ruler of their homeland: Paul shares this as a “message of reconciliation”. That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. The message is one of forgiveness, peace, love, and hope. (2 Cor. 5.17-21).
• TO THE WORLD: It is to the world that you and the church as a whole have been sent. It is the world that in need to come into the Family of God, come under the Kingship of Jesus, and receive their true purpose as Priests of our Father and thus live in the New Creation that God is forming through Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit. Through the five-fold marks of mission—teaching, evangelizing, justice, compassion, and creation care—the church acts to teach the way of Jesus, reveal his kingdom, serve the oppressed, love the marginalized, and care for God’s good creation.

Reflect Upon Being a Sent One (Missionary)

Read John 20.19-23; Matt. 28.16-20; Luke 24.44-49 and reflect upon it. What stands out to you in relation to being Sent?

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
John 20.19-23 (NIV)

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matt. 28.16-20 (NIV)

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Luke 24.44-49 (NIV)

Conclusion

In summary, you are a child in the family of God: who are disciples of Jesus sent, in the power of the Spirit, as servants of the Father to share and reveal the gospel of the reign of God. There is an individual and community calling upon us. If the people of God are not living out these aspects, we still have the responsibility to; but it is when the people of God live it out in unity, love, and peace, as a community, that the fullness of God’s work and person is revealed. This identity is something that we live into in our everyday lives. We don’t “add” this to us, we simply take it with us wherever we go. Wherever we live, work, and recreate; whoever we’re around; however others treat us—we live as children of God; learners and teachers of Jesus’ Way; priestly-servants of our heavenly Father; and sent-ones in the Spirit.

Print off a copy of “Your Identity in Christ” to read through and consistently be reminded about your identity.

In the next session we shift to how this identity is encapsulated in living an Up-In-Out Gospel Lifestyle.