06.26.2022 | BELOVED
BELOVED
Luke 3:21-22 – “When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.’”
Identity answers the question, “Who am I?”
Matthew 16:25 – “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”
I HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER WHO LOVES ME!
Luke 3:22b – “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
I AM A BELOVED SON/DAUGHTER OF THE MOST HIGH GOD THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.
How do we come to the place where we know (in our hearts) that we are beloved children of God?
1. Say Yes to Grace
Ephesians 1:2 – “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23a – “For the wages of sin is death.”
Ephesians 2:1 – “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
Ephesians 2:4-5 – “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”
Ephesians 2:6 – “And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
In Christ we’ve been given a new identity, a new location, and a new life.
I BELIEVE JESUS DIED FOR ME AND ROSE AGAIN. I RECEIVE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.
2. Say Yes to the Word
1 John 3:1 (NIV) – “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
I AM WHO HE SAYS I AM!
“What God says about you is true and eternal whether you feel like it or not.” – Joe McIntyre
“One of the greatest revelations for your life is that in Christ you are a beloved child of God.” – The Kendrick Brothers
John 3:16a – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”
Jesus loves me; this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
3. Say Yes to the Blood
Hebrews 12:24 – “To Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
Because of the blood of Jesus, I am a born again, beloved child of God.
Because of the blood of Jesus, I am a saint!
Ephesians 1:1 – “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus.”
Saints – holy ones, set apart for the glory of God
2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
“When your encounter with Jesus becomes your identity, being a witness isn’t something you do – it’s who you are.” – Tanner Peake
I HAVE A HEAVENLY FATHER WHO LOVES ME!
Discussion Questions:
1. Where do most people try to find their identity?
2. Where have you tried to find your identity?
3. Do you believe in your heart that you are a beloved child of God? Why or why not?
4. Do you find yourself believing your feelings or believing the truth of the Word?
5. Do you believe that you are a saint?