W6D2 Knowing Who I Am

READ THE BIBLE

1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 15:7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

REFLECT ON WHAT IT MEANS

It’s never too late to experience something wonderful – and this includes being reunited with a long lost brother. Norman and Gerry Cooper experienced this first hand when family research done by Gerry’s son, Ian, led the two brothers to a moving reunion after 85 years of separation. Neither brother had any previous knowledge of the other, and as Gerry commented after their first meeting, finding you have a brother after 85 years is “the most amazing feeling you can have in this world.” Knowing who I am in God is like these long lost brothers finding each other after 85 years - stirring, moving, wonderful. They finally find out who they are, they are not alone, they have someone else like them, part of them, in the same family. Finding out who we are in God is even more amazing that this! Our first Bible reading tells us that God “lavishes” his love on us - just as a loving parent would love and care for their children. When we truly give our lives to Jesus, he loves and accepts us. The way the Bible says it in our third passage is, “Christ also accepted us.” In the original language it is a complete and finished work in the past. There is nothing more to add to it or that any of us can do even to try and make it any better. Jesus accepted us, totally, for all time.

We are accepted by him for who we are - even with our past life, even with our sinful past, even with our imperfections today, Christ accepted us. That’s who we are.

You will notice that once we are accepted this much it provokes a change in us, to be like him, to purify ourselves and our lives. This is a really important and essential response to his love.

The second passage tells us we are his “adopted” children and refers to the customs of the day. In those days adoption was very different to today. You did not “adopt” babies. You could take them on from someone else and look after them as your own, no problem. However, you adopted a son for one, single purpose - to make him your heir and carry on the family name, honour and tradition after you. This was done by families who needed a child for this purpose. Not just anyone could be adopted. First, you had to be a free person and not a slave. Slaves could never become adopted sons.

Then you had to become a full citizen of the kingdom or empire of Rome. That required the right birth or a large payment. People would look for a suitable older child to adopt who had the right character and values of the family. When someone was adopted in this Roman way there were two other requirements: you left behind all your old family ways, history and property and you changed your name to the new family name. When you entered your new family you took on their ways and took part in their family business. You came under the authority of a new father and obeyed him from now on. When the father of that family died you became the heir of all his wealth, riches, titles and position. That was really worth leaving your old life behind.

No wonder the Bible says we are not slaves but “adopted” children of God! The same process has happened to us. Jesus died for us on the cross. He forgave all our sins and freed us from slavery to sin. He made us full members and citizens of God’s Kingdom. He gave us a new nature, his nature. That’s what the new name represents. (In Jewish society, your name was associated with your nature. So, the first Christians changed their names to show that they had a new nature. It became known as their “Christian name.”)

Who am I? You are accepted by Jesus. Period. You are a fully adopted, grown-up child, ready to enter the family and family “business” of God. You have left behind all you once had. You have a new nature and a new father to govern your life. You get to inherit all of God’s riches - because Jesus has died on the cross.

So how are you going to walk down the street today? How about, shoulders back, chin up. You’re not a nobody, you’re a son or daughter of the living God.

RELATE IT TO YOUR LIFE

Understanding this brings a new level of confidence to all parts of our lives. So how are you going to walk out the door and into all life holds for you today? How about, shoulders back, chin up, big smile, deep breath, confident stride and off you go. You’re a son or daughter of the King. You own this place, so go present yourself today like you believe it!

RESPOND WITH A DECLARATION

“I’m the son/daughter of the king!”