DEFINING
OUR IDENTITY
Part
1
1.
How do we define our identity as God's people - the church?
2.
How does the world
view us?
These
questions we will answer from the scriptures
We
are not identified by where we meet
Acts
5:12-13 The church initially
met in the open on Solomon's porch.
Notice
- These 5,000 were "esteemed highly" by those
outside
of the body of Christ.
Acts
5:42 They met in the temple & every house.
Acts
19:5-10 At Ephesus - they first met at the synagogue
then in a school
At
the time Paul wrote to the church at Corinth from Ephesus: (57AD?)
1
Cor. 16:19 "The
churches of Asia greet you. Aquilla and Priscilla greet you heartily in
the Lord, with
the church that is in their house."
At
the church at Colosse:
Phil.
2 "to
the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church
in your house."
Notice
- They met in the house of Apphia (probably
the wife) &
Archippus who
was a minister of the gospel:
Col.
4:17 "And
say to Archippus, 'Take heed to the ministry which you have received
in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.' "
We
can become preoccupied with concern about what the world thinks about
us
What
we need
to be concerned about is: What does the world think about Christ.
Mt.
16:13-16 "Who do men
say that I am - who do you
say that I am?
1
Jn. 3:1 "Behold
what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should
be called
Children
of God
! Therefore the
world does not
know
us,
because
it did not know Him."
If
we want the world to know who we
are, we need to let the world know who Jesus Christ is.
This
should be our emphasis
Num.
14:1-19 When Israel refused to enter Canaan, God was ready to destroy
them, but Joshua pleaded on their behalf.
Notice
- he was concerned for what Egypt & the people of the land
would think about God if He destroyed the Israelites.
We
need to be concerned about what the world thinks about Jesus Christ based
on our example as His people.
We
can bring reproach upon Christ by improper conduct:
Examples:
at Corinth:
1
Cor. 5:1-2 The sexual sin that even Gentiles (the
world)
did not condone
1
Cor. 6:1-8 They went to the worldly courts to hear their own cases which
they should have been wise enough to judge.
As
His children our conduct is to be "honorable
among the Gentiles"
(world)
1
Pet. 2:11-ff Our conduct as individuals
is to be honorable & patterned
by Christ's example.
As
His children - individually
- we can bring Christ to open shame.
Heb.
6:4-6 "For
it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted
the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
(5) and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the
age to come, (6) if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance,
since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and
put Him to an open shame."
INVITATION
Our
concern should be that for which Paul prayed on behalf of the church
at Colosse:
Col.
1:9-14 "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed
us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we
have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."
vs.
18 "He is the head of the body, the church, who is the
beginning, the
firstborn from the dead, that
in all things He may have the preeminence."
DEFINING
OUR IDENTITY
Part
2
Past
questions we asked:
1.
How do we define our identity as God's people - the church?
2.
How does the world
view us?
Past
points we covered:
1.
We are not identified by where we meet.
2.
We can become preoccupied about what the world thinks about us.
3.
What we need to be concerned about is what does the world think about
Christ.
4.
If we want the world to know who we
are, we need to let the world know
who Christ is.
5.
The world needs to see Christ through our example as His people.
We
are God's own special people - a spiritual
house - a holy priesthood
1
Pet. 2:9-10 A peculiar
(kjv)
people - intended to offer up spiritual sacrifices
Peculiar
- [peripoiesis]
"An obtaining, an acquisition, purchased possession."
Acts
20:28 to
the Ephesian elders: "Therefore
take heed to your selves and to all
the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to
shepherd
the
church of God, which He purchased with His own blood."
1
Cor. 6:20 "For
you were bought
at a price;
therefore glorify God in your body and
in your spirit, which are God's."
God
makes a distinction between His own possession & the world
Consider
the example of His people (Israelites)
in
Egypt:
1.
God made a distinction between Israel & Egypt in the plague of
flies:
Ex.
8:20-23 There
were no flies in Goshen - showing who God was with.
2.
God made a distinction between Israel & Egypt in the pestilence:
Ex.
9:1-6 None
of Israel's livestock died.
3.God
made a distinction between Israel & Egypt in the plague of
darkness
Ex.
10:21-23 While
all Egypt was in darkness, Israel had light in their houses
4.
God made a distinction between Israel & Egypt in the plague of
death:
Ex.
11:4-7 By
this final plague, Pharaoh would know God distinguishes between
His people and the people of Egypt.
Because
God made this distinction - did this mean Israel was better?
Consider
what God warned them before entering Canaan:
Deut.
6:10-7:5 They
would be distinct from the nations around them by their submission
to God's law which demanded a separation from
the
people of the land.
We
are to be distinct from the world in action and in purity
Jas.
1:27 "Pure
and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans
and widows in their trouble, and
to keep oneself unspotted
from
the world."
We
are to be distinct from the world by a different mindset:
Rom.
12:1-2 "I
beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which
is
your reasonable service. (2) And do
not be conformed to this world, but
be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove
what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Deut
7:6-11 God
had chosen Israel & separated them from the nations because
He loved them & keeps His promises.
1Pet.
2:1-10 We have come to Christ as a living stone In
this we are distinguished from the world that rejects Him.
How
do we define ourselves as God's people - the church?
Ezek.
37:15--ff Ezekiel's vision looked to both fleshly
Israel & the church. The
world would know that God sanctifies
(distinguishes)
His people.
Compare
this to Jeremiah's prophecy:
Jer.
31:31-34 A new covenant wherein is taught forgiveness of sins.
Tit.
2:11-14 "For
the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, (12)
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should
live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, (13) looking
for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ, (14) who
gave Himself for us, that He might redeem
us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special
people, zealous for good works."
