Who Am I

Who am I?  This is the question the Psalter asks in Psalm 8:4.  The question is still one for the ages,

“what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?”  

(Psalm 8:4 ESV)

Well that Psalter was David and that text is definitive of the adoration, meditation and thoughts of how David perceived God.  His glory was beyond the shepherd’s comprehension, and his own perception of his smallness compared to the Lord’s majesty left him in awe.

Identity Crisis 

Identity matters.  In fact, identity can be the most important perspective to the life of an individual.  Thankfully the Christian doctrine of adoption gives one an identity of a life truly worth living.

We are told in Ephesians 1 these words “In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” and this truth defines a Christians identity.  It was Paul who was taken from his own zealous persecution and destruction of the church and into this adoption as a chosen child that would redefine his life.  To Paul, and to all Christians, being a child of God carries weight and significance beyond the world’s power. 

Father in Heaven

Christ teaches His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount how to pray.  He says Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9).  Why father?  Because, as a child of the Lord  we have access and privilege beyond our soul’s delight to the One over all things.  It’s revolutionary for one to believe that they can come, and be heard exclusively, before the Lord of Hosts, but that is what we are told.  This truth is echoed into great detail in Romans 8:14-17 – 

“¹⁴ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

There are liberal theologians that want to teach Paul taught a new concept of Christ and His identity, but they are truly mistaken, and the scripture reveals this fact.  As we can see here in both the Sermon on the Mount, and in Paul’s beautiful crescendo in Romans 8, a child of God is a privilege and it is bestowed upon those led by the Spirit into discipleship with Jesus.

Peace and Hope 

Letting this truth sink into the life of a believer can have monumental effects upon our life and the way we live.  The word of God drives home the understanding of God’s sovereignty and His foreknowledge and maybe in no better place than the end of Romans 8, echoing the verses prior we’ve already read, the apostle says:  “³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? …³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 8:31, 37-39 ESV)  

At HBC we know that having this comprehension can sustain the believer with a peace and hope that surpasses all understanding (see Philippians 4:7.)  We hope that you would consider joining us on the Hill soon.  Come on Sunday morning at 9:15am for some Small Group Bible Study, or maybe visit with us at 10:30am for a time of worship, prayer and the reading and preaching of God’s Word.  We meet every  Sunday evening at 6:00pm, and each Wednesday evening at 6:30pm to do the same, fellowship and meditate upon the Word of God.  Our body prays the Holy Spirit will use the gifted teachers to speak truth, contextually teach us the Word, and preach hope into the lives of dead bones.  If you are looking for peace and hope, there is no better place than the Church, the body of the living Savior, Jesus Christ!

Come Grow in Christ with us!