Identity Matters

Finding our True Identity in Relationship with Christ

Introduction: Priming the pump for tonight’s discussion.

Let’s begin with our own observations. Was there a moment where God spoke to you, showed you something new, or reminded you of a familiar truth through the message this week?

Exploration: Questions to guide our group discussion.

We began our study this week by learning that many people “out there” had a perspective of the Lord’s identity that wasn’t remotely true. Sure, they all had good reasons why they thought that the Lord was someone other than His true identity, but all of them were false. On top of that, they all believed false identities about Jesus even though He was clearly teaching them about His true Identity. Has anyone ever had a false idea about your true identity…perhaps from a rumor, a misinterpretation of words or events, a false story, or even utter nonsense? What can we learn from Jesus as we consider this dynamic and also His response? Let’s note that He never wavered by even considering their false identities as His potential reality.
After hearing about how He was perceived by some people in the world around them, Jesus inquired of His own disciples about their perspectives. By this time, they had followed Jesus well over two years and were into the final year of the Lord’s incarnation ministry. Peter confessed instantly that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. We discussed Peter’s immediate confession and linked his confession to the encounters that he had with the Lord. Let’s have some fun and encourage one another with some stories about our own encounters with Jesus…an answered prayer, a time when God moved, an experience in worship…things like these. Ready, set, share!
When we come to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He speaks an identity over us that is our true identity. We’re His creation…He made us…and so the Lord rightly speaks truth over us. Just like Peter, God gives us purpose, promises, and spiritual authority. We’re carriers of the gospel, the keys that fit the lock of the door of heaven to open it for sinners everywhere. With all of this in mind, how should we be standing on this identity in Christ and how should it shape our thinking about ourselves and others in the body of Christ? Further, what’s the source of our understanding about our identity…where do we learn what God says about us? What should a Christin do when the identity that they have accepted as their true identity is in conflict with God’s Word?

Additional Scriptures for Deeper Study:

2 Corinthians 5:17-18
John 15:15
Romans 8:38-39
Romans 6:6

Application: How can I apply this to my life this week?

Some of us have been wearing identities that were laid on us by things or people from our past, from rumors that have spread about us, from misinformation about us, misinterpretation of our words or actions, and even utter nonsense…folklore made up about us. Let’s take a moment and do business with all of these false and demonic identities, cast them off, and take up our true identity in Christ. We are not who they say that we are, or even who we think that we are. We’re who Jesus says that we are…mic drop!