Thesis: In order to view death properly, we must see life biblically.
Notes:
“A person is not ready to live unless he is ready to die” –Steven Cole
Paul wrote to the Philippians from prison in Rome.
Each one of us–Paul, Jeremy, you, and me–is expendable
–and yet God delights to work through us, despite the fact He does not need us.
Am I so comfortable with this life that I feel no longing for the next life?
However, seeing death as gain does not mean to hate this life.
2 Corinthians 4:16, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away,
our inner self is being renewed day by day.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13, “…that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope”
The Right View of Life In Christ
I am here to glorify God by experiencing and extending joy in Him
Not just to experience joy in Christ–but to share and spread that joy to others
“Joy apart from God is idolatry”
Not to say we cannot enjoy family, work, or recreation
–but we enjoy them as gifts that God has given, not ends in themselves
I am here to magnify Christ through both life and death
When we cling to this the way unbelievers do, then what is so great about Christ?
I am here to serve others for their spiritual progress and joy of faith
God has left you here for a purpose–and for a time
I am here by the sovereign will of God
Psalm 31:15, “My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!”
Death is gain because its the pathway to the fulness of eternal life
2 Corinthians 5:1-4, “…a tent…a building”
Tent: a temporary dwelling [this life]
Building: a permanent dwelling [the next life]
“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy,
the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” –C.S. Lewis
Death is gain because it ushers me into the presence of God
Death is gain because it frees me from my corrupt body and world.
Death is gain because it cannot hinder God’s will or work
We are freed from propping up ourselves or others–apart from Christ–because Christ “needs” us
Live It Out!
Live life by and for Christ, without fear
See death biblically instead of the way the world does
Finding our identity in Christ allows us to relate to others around us in a Christ-like way.
Three Truths:
Rooting our identity in Christ releases us from our past
“…you were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked….”
“…among whom we all once lived….”
“…even when we were dead in trespasses and sins….”
Our past reminds us that:
We can’t earn God’s love
“I know God loves me–but I don’t think He likes me”
It can be tempting to think that we can do something to “earn” grace
“I did these things, so God kind of owes me a good day”
“This bad thing happened, I must not have done enough to please Him”
If we think God treats us this way–offering grace provisionally or based on works
(i.e., not grace), we will relate to others in this same way
How can you reflect God’s grace if you don’t feel God is full of grace–
but that He is severe and usually disappointed?
God loves us, not because we are intrinsically or potentially lovely
God makes lovely that which He chooses to love, i.e.,
He loves us because of of what He has done, not because of what we have done
Growing up in a Christian home you often are protected from committing certain sins that unbelievers harm themselves and others with
“The big ones”
But the closer you grow to Christ, the darker you understand your own sins to be–no matter how socially acceptable those sins might be
God’s desire for us to mourn over our sin is not a call to wallow in shame–it’s a call to accept His offer of grace, repent of our sin, and be made new
At salvation you have been given the resources to be free from sin
It doesn’t mean that some sins may take more time and effort than others to be free from
Sins you are painfully aware of
Sins you are unaware of
Rooting our identity in Christ allows us to rest in His present grace
The call of legalism is often harsh and unforgiving
“This bad thing happened, I must not have displeased God.”
It can also be seductive
“This good thing happened, I must be really righteous”
But the truth is that God loves us with a covenantal love–where God loves us because He has promised to love us–based on the merits of Christ–not because of how you have performed.
Q: Won’t people just feel a license to live as sinful as they want, penalty-free?
A: People truly saved by grace will betransformed by grace.
You need not be pulled here and there by the exhausting sins of:
pride (look what I have done for God)
despair (look what I have done to God)
We must remember that God has entered into a covenant with His people:
By His own initiative
Utterly aware of every one of our sins
And God is for us!
Rooting our identity in Christ restores us to purpose
Theme: What Does the Bible Say About Identity: Who Am I In Christ?
Personal Identity
Social Identity
Restored Identity
Notes:
Questions:
How did I get here?
Who am I?
Why am I here?
What is true?
How do I know right from wrong?
What happens when I die?
Ecc 3:11, “…He has put eternity into man’s heart….”
Questions of Identity:
The answers to these questions will determine who you are and what you do with your life
Who am I?
Why am I here?
Personal Identity
Your individual personality and characteristics
How you perceive yourself
What distinguishes you from others?
Social Identity
Your shared values with others
How others perceive you
How are you alike with others?
If we tie either our personal identity (what I think about myself)
or our social identity (what others think of us) to the wrong things,
we are going to have a flawed view of our identity
Since God is the author of who we are, He has the authority to rightly describe who we are
The structure of the book of Ephesians points to the issue of identity
As believers, our identity is inextricably tethered to Christ
Every other source of identity is a false foundation of shifting sand:
Being a spouse
Being a parent
Being wealthy
Being creative
Being an American
Being employed
Being successful
Am I still who I am when I lose one or more of these things?
Am I still OK when I lose one or more of these things?
The “Disney problem”: when a protagonist looks inward to find truth, and lives out their own subjective truth apart from their any other truth
But we are born without any indwelling truth
We must find truth outside of ourselves
Eph 2:1, “…you were dead in trespasses and sins….”
Our will is by nature bound to oppose God
Apart from the regeneration of the (external) Holy Spirit, we will not come to the truth
Sin distorted our identity
But through Christ, we have been given a new identity
Our old identity has no power over us
1 Cor 6:11, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified….”
Eph 2:1-2, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked….”
1 Tim 1:13, “though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent…”
We don’t define ourselves by how we feel or how well you do:
I’m doing great–I’m better than those other sinners
I’m doing terrible–I will never change or improve
A right perspective on our identity as believers:
I am loved
Not because I am inherently lovely
But because Christ has made me lovely
We don’t derive our identity from what we say about ourselves
We derive our identity from what God says about us
We are freed from either shame or pride because
God acknowledges our sin,
Christ atoned for our sin,
God accepts Christ’s sacrifice,
God transforms us,
God calls us His own
Live It Out!
Root out false ideas with the truth:
2 Cor 10:5, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”
Meditate on truth of God’s word
Pray that God would empower your future through hope in what Christ has done
