If I gathered a variety of people from your life and polled them how would they describe you? What do you believe people think about you?
Ironically, the answer to that question is your Self-image = the way you think about yourself – your personality, abilities and appearance.
I think we all know just how crucial a self-image is to your daily life.
Our self image, strongly held, essentially determines what we become. Maxwell Maltz, M.D.
· a strong, positive self-image (I’m smart, attractive, witty, strong) acts like a self-fulfilling prophecy…you become what you think.
· Likewise a weak, negative self-image can do the same - Many life failures and debilitating disorders begin with a poor self-image.
o “I’m a nobody” turns into a reclusiveness
o “I’m fat” becomes an eating disorder
o “I’ll never amount to anything turns into…never amounting to anything
Low self-esteem is like driving through life with your hand-brake on. Maxwell Maltz, M.D.
Of Course, you know all this. But did you know that your spiritual self-image is just as powerful, or even more powerful a predictor of your lifestyle and impact on this world?
One of the most powerful things about you is your spiritual self-image. It is the single most important factor in your moral lifestyle. And, it is the single most important factor in your witness to others.
Knowing who you are, in Christ, will affect how much you sin and how much you shine.
And that’s why John included this section in his letter in I John 2:12
· before I read it imagine the tone by which it is delivered – like a coach preparing his team for the game or a military commander his army for battle.
· Dwight Eisenhower – June 5th 1944 – on the eve of DDay
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen…You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.
But …I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory.
With that tone in mind listen to how it might have sounded read aloud:
2:12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 13 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Who is he talking to? And why does he repeat himself?
Ø why the children/father/young men references?
o literal children, young men and father?
o older and younger members of the church?
o 3 stages of Christian growth?
Ø No one knows but likely a tactic to imply “everyone” …similarly the repetition was to make a stronger point. (you know the father, you know the one who is front the beginning, you know him)
Essentially…everybody, young, old…all of you who are followers of Jesus listen up…let me remind you who you now are!
2 Gap illustration – the person to the right of the sin gap.
To all of you old, young, novices or veteran Christians: I remind you that:
(full screen)
This is who you are…
Your sins are forgiven!
You know God!
You’ve overcome the evil one!
You are strong!
The word of God lives within you!
Before you walk out the door and face pressure, temptation, decisions, the desire to be a witness or just the confusion of life remember who you are!
Knowing who you are, in Christ, will affect how much you sin and how much you shine.
Now, before we look in depth at the facets of our spiritual identity let me point out something important in the grammar… every one of these phrases is written in the perfect tense…
…a past event that has present consequences
…something that occurred but is also still happening
… e.g. not sins were forgiven…not sins will be forgiven…but sins were and are still being forgiven…
5 facets of your spiritual identity:
1. You have been forgiven.
Vs. 12 – 2:12 I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
· This truth is the great shame eliminator.
· When Jesus said “it is finished” and his head dropped to his chest…
o your disgrace was eliminated
o your humiliation was wiped out
o your dishonor was removed
o your shame was purged
· And the disgrace, humiliation, dishonor and shame are still gone and are still being eliminated daily – such is the power of the cross!
So, on account of the name of Jesus stop working so hard to make God like you
o stop beating yourself up
o stop with the fear and the constant anxiety about acceptance
o confess…repent…and move on…
Now, we all know there will be ongoing consequences for your sin, especially if you’ve sinned against someone … but in God’s eyes you are forgiven.
5 facets of your spiritual identity:
2. You are a child of God.
Vs. 13 - I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.
Ø you have known God is not about the intellect
o not like you know math or history or geography
o it means to know through experience or relationship
o like the way you know your spouse or child or friend.
Ø this is one of the great distinguishers of religions – for instance…A Muslim would never tell you they’ve come to “know” God. But you have!
Ø this weekend we’ve baptizing little kids who are beginning to “know God”!
Ø you are in relationship with the one who is from the beginning – the God of the universe.
o He is eternal - he is immortal, he is powerful – and you know him!
o In all things above all things, through all things. – and you know him!
o He created you and sustains your every breath – and you know him!
Ø You are not worshipping in some start up religion with a God who is some concoction of humanity – some crutch to get you though a tough time
Ø You know God and he is your father…
o he is the climb up in his lap and let him hold you father
o he is the jump into the pool and he’ll catch you father
o he is the sit down and pick his brain because you want advice father
o he is the kick your butt cause you need it father
o he is the tear in his eye because he is so proud of you father
You are a child of God – he loves you – now live like it!
5 facets of your spiritual identity:
3. You have overcome the evil one
Vs. 13 - I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
Ø “the” evil one is in masculine form no doubt referring to Satan. Not some force, not a system, not a generic malevolence - but a real person bent on your destruction.
Ø “you have overcome” Him! (perfect tense = you won and you are still over Him)
o You conquered him and are still in the prevailing position
o You subdued him and still have the upper hand
o You knocked him down and still have a foot on his neck
Look, it is time you take a stand in your battle with sin…it is DDay for your soul…
Ø you are not a spineless wimp…you are no sissy, pushover, patsy, sucker, pawn
Ø you are not frail, pathetic, effete, feeble…
You are an overcomer. Now start acting like one. Which leads to ….
5 facets of your spiritual identity:
4. You are strong.
Vs. 14 – I write to you, young men, because you are strong,
Ø young men – you are strong! …you can do this!
Let me stop for a moment and get real with you…somebody right now hearing me speak is beat up and overwhelmed
…could be pain, sin, loss, set back, disappointment
Let me give you the word of God to you – you can do this!
Imagine God sitting you down and saying “here is what I see in you…”
· you’ve been forgiven, you are a child of God, you have overcome the evil one and you are strong.
Get up. Confess and repent if you need to, seek restitution if you need to, do your do diligence…but get up. get dressed. and get back in the game…you are strong.
And…don’t forget
5 facets of your spiritual identity:
5. The Word of God lives in you.
Vs. 14…and the word of God lives in you,
He’s not necessarily talking about the Bible.
Ø the “word” – logos- that which gives order to the universe – the rational principle which pervades all reality, providing meaning and order to persons and the universe
Ø this Word abides, it stays, it has taken up residence, it has pervaded your soul – we’ll talk about this in more depth next week but…
Ø you are possessed of the very reality that defines all of the universe. – Jesus himself!
This is who you are…
Your sins are forgiven!
You know God!
You’ve overcome the evil one!
You are strong!
The word of God lives within you!
Now, here’s why he hammers into them their identity…
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Despite all the wonder of your new identity you are still earth-bound. you have one foot in this world and one foot beyond the veil in the heavenlies.
Ø you have one foot in the world of craving, lust and pride
Ø and one foot in the world of God
Live your life by your new identity. You do not have to say yes to the world.
Knowing who you are, in Christ, will affect how much you sin and how much you shine.
As you learn how to live out your new self-image as a strong child of God you will cause a stir among the people around you. You will get attention. you will shine.
When this person… (gap illustration with far left person highlighted) sees you…they are going to want to know how to get a piece of that action.
Knowing who you are, in Christ, will affect how much you sin and how much you shine.
People need to know they can live without shame. – you can show them that with your life
People hunger for a Father to love them. – you can show them that with your life
People need to know how to overcome temptation. – you can show them that with your life
People need to see a real form of strength – you can show them that with your life
People are hungry for some kind of truth to define their lives… you can show them that with your life.
Know who you are in Christ!
Start living without guilt and shame!
It’s time to shine!