Tonight we concluded our series on ‘The People of God’, which has looked at our identity as God’s people, seeing ourselves through God’s eyes rather than through our own eyes or other people’s. It’s important that we grasp our identity in Christ because this helps to root us in truth rather than in feelings which change so easily.
God calls us His chosen, treasured possession (see 1 Pet 2:9-10), and over the past two years we have explored different metaphors used in the Bible to describe God’s people. We are loved (1 John 3:1), born again into God’s family (John 1:12) and now can call God our Father and Jesus our brother (see Romans 8 ). God has redeemed and forgiven us (Eph 1:7) and as a God of blessing, has blessed us with every spiritual blessing. (Eph 1:3) Through Christ, we are more than conquerors (Rom 8:37) and have been raised to heavenly realms, having dual citizenship on earth and in heaven. (Eph 2:6, Phil 3:20).
We are followers of Christ who have been called to holiness, obedience and to be fishers of men (see Romans 1:5, Matt 4:18-20). We have purpose since we are God’s handiwork, created to do good works and given the Great Commission of making disciples of all nations (Eph 2:10, Matt 28:18-20). God knows us by name (Is 43:1) and wants us to live in freedom (Gal 5:1) and in confidence (Phil 1:6).
The Bible uses many metaphors to describe the church, including soldiers of Christ (2 Tim 2:3), the bride of Christ (Rev 21), the body of Christ (Rom 12/ 1 Cor 12) and the house or temple of God (Heb 3:6, 1 Cor 6:19-20). We are jars of clay containing the treasure of God (2 Cor 4:7, Is 64:8) and are also called God’s sheep! (see Ps 100:3) We are pilgrims on a journey to God (Ps 84:5) and have the privileged role of being ambassadors for Christ. (2 Cor 5:20) We are agents of transformation (who are being transformed ourselves and who are agents for change in society as we are salt and light, reflecting God’s glory.) (2 Cor 3:18, Matt 5:13-16) God calls us to be filled with His Spirit so we can soar like hot air balloons. (Is 40;31)
As we meditate on these verses, we must:
Hear God’s word.
Believe God’s word.
Apply God’s word.
Do God’s word.
Live God’s word.
Become who God made us to be.
Live as the people of God.
