John 10:1-4, 11-15 NIV – “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Inadequate Ways To Discover Identity
In Older Cultures & in Non-western Cultures Today– Community.
In Western Cultures Identity– Individualistic
Reasons The Modern Approach Discover to Identity Doesn’t Work
- “Personal Identity” is INCOHERENT
Jeremiah 17:9 NIV – The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
- “Personal Identity” is UNSTABLE
- “Personal Identity” is an ILLUSION
Matthew 6:24 NIV – Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
We all have a Grid
- “Personal Identity” is CRUSHING
We Need Somebody from Outside to Give Us Identity
John 10, Jesus says that the Good Shepherd…
He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. … and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Galatians 2:20 ESV – I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
How Do We Center Our Identity in Christ?
2 Corinthians 5:17-18 ESV –Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. And all this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself…
2 Corinthians 5:16 ESV – From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. (as the world does). Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard Him thus no longer.
