Erased: More than Meets the Eye

I want you to turn around to your neighbor and share with them your nickname.  This morning, we’re going to learn about how our identity, what people say and think about us become who we are. In the first week of ERASED “Subject One” claimed that he was a Christian. He knew that he believed in God, but he tried to hide it because he didn’t think he would be able to fit in because of it. In the life that he had the opportunity to trade, he was afraid of his faith, but in this episode he quickly learned that his identity was totally in God and if he gave that up then there was nothing really left of him. In week two we watch as “Subject Two” struggled with her identity. She put a bunch of pictures of herself online only to find that everyone made fun of her style. She began to take those comments to heart and it began to shape her view of herself. She started to believe what others were saying about her. Let’s flip that situation around. Do you take to heart, the things other people think about you? Here’s a funny story I want to tell you. A long time ago, I was walking along and somebody told me, “hey you, you’re cute.” And I was so happy. Then, this person said to me, “but your clothes don’t fit you well, your fashion sense is off.” I was so blown away! Write down, who do others tell you and think you are?

 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. 9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. 12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him. (Ephesians 1:4-14)

The Apostle Paul says that God “chose us” to emphasize that salvation depends totally on God. Underline that in your notes: chose us. We’re not saved because we deserve it but because God is gracious and freely gives salvation. We did not influence God’s decision to save us. He saved us according to HIS plan. It’s hard to understand how God could accept us, but what we learn right away is that God “decided in advance to adopt us.” You see, when you think about it, God thinks of us so highly that He wants to bring us into His family. It gave him great pleasure! I’m going to give you a quick history lesson– in Roman law, adopted children had the same rights and privileges, if not more, than biological children. This is an incredible thought. You can impress your history teachers with this factoid – the last few kings of Rome were adopted by their predecessors, they weren’t related to the Caesars. In the same way, God adopts us, even though we might not be anything like Him, yet… God purchased our freedom and paid for it by the life of His one and only Son.I want you to circle this verse and next to that circle, I want you to write down: THIS IS TRUE LOVE. Are you noticing a pattern here? Not only does God CHOOSE you. He LOVES you in a way nobody else in this world, not even your parents can ever love you. God loves you so much that He allowed His only Son die for you even though you didn’t do anything to deserve it. This is where it becomes interesting. It’s interesting because not only does God choose you. He loves you. Then, because He’s God, He gives you a plan for your life that none of your friends or the people in your life can ever say or dictate to you. His purpose is not only to save you and me. But it is to do it in a way to show the whole world that you are exactly who God says you are. When your life seems chaotic, know this: Jesus is Lord and God is in control. God will not be thwarted no matter what your life brings. Write this down: GOD HAS AN UNBELIEVABLE PLAN FOR MY LIFE. I want you to write this down: The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee. We’re going to talk more about the Holy Spirit, but for those of you who know what that spiritual power is like, I want you to know that when you experience that transformation, there’s a taste of what is to come. It is like a down payment for what the inheritance that is next. With all of that being said, Who do you think God says you are? Write this down: You are not your own. You belong to God. You are His.