Today, We continue our sermon series called THE SAME.  THE SAME will destroy two myths. Myth1: you are different or weird because of your problems. Myth2: That God is inaccessible to you.

Truth1: We are all THE SAME. We all messed up!

Truth2: God eagerly and lovingly awaits your attention. (PERIOD)

The church is a hospital. A community where people can find healing and new life. A community where we are healed and then heal others. We were found. We are a found people that find people. Come as you are. You don’t have to pretend that you are ok. You can belong before you believe. You are welcomed to show us your issues because that is the way to healing.

Today, we are going to talk about “The Same….Clothes”  Turn to your neighbor and ask: “I like your outfit. Who are you wearing?”  (Red carpet conversations)

My wife has told me repeatedly that she is going to overhaul my wardrobe. I know I’m getting old because I love to keep clothes and do not care at all that I’m wearing jeans that I had in college…17 years ago. I’m wearing shoes that I have holes in them. I don’t care. They are covering my parts.

Clothes are meant to cover up some things. We wear clothes to cover up our literal nakedness.

The style of what you wear and how much you wear reflects who you are and who you think you are.

Your clothes GIVE OFF a persona. They define who you are:

I brought some pics with me today since you liked the ones so much last week:

Your identity is who you are. It is who you think you are. Who others think you are.

The definition of identity (dictionary.com)

1. the sense of self, providing SAMEness and continuity in personality over time     
2. the state or fact of remaining the SAME one, as under varying aspects or conditions

It’s so interesting how the word “same” is in the definition of identity. Your identity is basically what ever your sameness is. What is your sameness?  What is your identity? Where does that come from?

It comes from your genealogy, our family name, DNA, experience, education, what you have made of yourself. What you have done and what has been done to you. These influence who you see yourself as being. These elements generate who you are.

Most of the time we are working on our identity.  We aren’t quite what we want to be so we are working on our identity. Like an artwork.

Just as we clothe our physical body with clothes to shape our outward persona and hide certain body parts, we learn over time that we can also clothe our spirit and soul with habits and activities to hide what we are uncomfortable with down deep inside.

The Gospel of Jesus brings Good News and a change of clothes.  Jesus offers you a new identity and self-worth generated from a completely different source.  The bible uses words like adopted and grafted in. It uses words like new life, born again, new creature.  This new life is Good News in that it orginates from a new sources. Your track record is not referenced. Your past is not the determining factor.

The Bible gives us clear guidance to freedom where we can say with confidence: “God has changed me or is changing me.”

Galatians 3:26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Children of God – identity language

Faith in Christ Jesus – eligibility language

27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

United with Christ in baptism, like putting on new clothes – baptism is the act of going into a new family name and with that new family name comes a new identity. (adoption)

28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

All the mitigating factors (evidence and information) used to define you and determine your worth are now changing because of verse 26 (faith in Jesus)  You are no longer American or Hispanic or black. Wait a minute, buddy!  You are no longer democrat or republican. Not conservative or liberal.  You are no longer tough construction worker guy or smart, educated guy.  You look like that and that might define your personality and persona, BUT those things don’t provide the definition of who you are.

When we surrender to Jesus as our lord and savior, those titles or identities take a distant second place, third, fourth place finish to

FIRST place: I am a son or daughter of Jesus the messiah, owner of the world, creator of all good things, the one who loves me and knows the number of hair on my head.  OH yeah, you might know me as Sam the drunk or Donna the brains or Steve the hot head, but I have been given a new name and identity by my savior and lord, Jesus Christ.

From now on I will be clothed with a new identity.  I don’t talk the same, I don’t act the same, I don’t even look the same. I have a smile and shine!

29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

Colossians 3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

Sameness is now changing! Previously you have set your sights on what you have been told about who you are from your parents, your coaches, spouses, professors. Paul is saying here that things are changing and it is time for you to start having a new set of expectations about life. From now on God is going to take care of you. (period)

2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

So, let’s change our clothes. We change the way we act now because we have new living arrangements and a new heavenly Father that loves us dearly, we have his attention and we don’t have to hide our brokenness any longer. WE ARE ACCEPTED BY HIM. He loves us. He will provide and protect, satisfy and bring contentment.

Foster Kid – Their “badness” behavior problems were really tied to their identity as a person. They would act out, yell, physically harm people. I remember sitting a couple of the boys down and saying you don’t have to yell in our house. Erica and I are going to listen to you. You can act different here because the old way isn’t necessary anymore. When you live in our home you have a new identity. You are a son of mine and I love you and will listen. There was a change in the way they acted because of their identity change.

KEY: They didn’t have to act that way to be accepted. They changed their behavior because this is the new arrangement. They had to learn who they were. Accepted, loved, a son.

It is with this precept that we read on:

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.  8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language.

These aren’t you any more.

These habits used to get a result that was necessary for your survival. You needed to shortcut or tear others down or use words to prove yourself. That is not who you are any more. You are the son and daughter of the creator of the world. He approves of you. He gives you the cred you need.

9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Romans 13:12 …remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. That is not who you are any more. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

 

Ephesians 4:19 They (Gentiles) have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,  22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.  23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

If you are needing to change clothes today. You have entered this service struggling with your identity. Take on a new identity Today through Faith in Jesus!

BE united with Christ through baptism.

If you are believer but not really acting like it or feeling like it, then be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Let him renew your thoughts and attitudes. You are a new person!!