Never Going BackExemplo

Who We Are

Scripture Reading: Acts 5:32, Luke 13:3,5, 1 Peter 2:9-10, Col 1:13-14, 1 Peter 4:8-11, Rev 3:19

Who we are and who we were are one of the things causing a lot of confusion in the faith. On Day 1, I discussed who we were. Today, I want to discuss who we are. Who are you? Are you a sinner? Are you a saint? Are you confused about your identity? Is who you were and who you are today the same? An answer to all of these questions is this: Who you are today should be who God called you to be. Every single day we need to be who God has called us to be. To be who we were called to be, we need to know what "calling is." Throughout the Bible, God has called us to be and do many things; In today's lesson, I'll address just 3 of many things that define who we are and what we are called to do and be:

1. God has called us to be a people of repentance. Acts 5:32 reads, "…but now commands all men everywhere to repent…."

This scripture is essential to understand. In fact, this is a command from God. If we are not a people of repentance, then we are not being who we are called to be. The word repentance means to turn away from sin. This doesn't mean doing a 360-degree turn. That would put us right back where we started, which would be who we were. We need to do a 180-degree turn, like turning in the opposite direction and living out the call opposite of who we were. Jesus tells us throughout many scriptures to repent for the forgiveness of our sins so that we might be saved. Without being a people of repentance, we will perish. In the book of Luke 13:3 and 13:5, Jesus told the sinners, "…but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." It doesn't get any more direct than this. We must be a people of repentance.

2. God has called us out of darkness into the light. 1 Peter 2:9-10 reads, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."

Once again, we are called into the light from the darkness. We are called into the light from the sinful nature we once had. We are called from darkness into truth, obedience, and love. We are called into this marvelous light of God, which means He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have been saved through His blood, the forgiveness of sins (Col 1:14). You are called to be a light in darkness. I remember when I was in a room full of darkness, surrounded by people who were not of the faith, living just as they were. But when God called me into the light, I went back into that same dark room, and I could see now. Once the light that was in me entered that room of darkness, it did just what light does in any dark room. The light in me lit up the room and caused the darkness to go away. Let me break this down a little further. The light of Christ that was in me provided light for those that were in darkness. This little light of mine shined by me sharing hope, grace, love, righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, which is the kingdom of God. Some people in those dark rooms wanted more of the Light I had, while others wanted to stay in darkness, which meant they had to leave. They left because it's impossible for an eternal Light that shines in us to be hidden by darkness. In short, light always drives out darkness. The only way darkness will affect your light is if you turn off your light. No matter what you face in this life, never turn off the Light that's shining inside you.

3. God has called us to be good stewards and love one another. 1 Peter 4:8-11 reads, "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

God wants us to be passionate about our love for one another. He's called us to love each other as true brothers and sisters of the faith. When we see each other in the faith going through or struggling, He wants us to be there for each other. This does not mean allowing your brother or sister to live in sin if you notice it. Fervent love requires rebuke and help. In fact, in the book of Revelation 3:19, God said, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent." We must hold each other accountable, sharpen, love, and minister to each other. We were each given gifts and abilities from God that we should use to glorify God. In other words, all things spoken and all things ministered should be unto the Glory of God. For example, our testimonies of how God saved us from who we were is just one way we glorify God. This could be shared through apparel, singing, dance, rap, acting, writing, and even gaming. God has given each of us these abilities to glorify Him. We must also be good stewards of these gifts. This means we should avoid using these gifts to go against the Will of God. Good stewards understand that every gift they've been given is from God and is used to glorify God. Good stewards don't allow people to misuse their gifts in a way that doesn't justly represent God. Lastly, good stewards will not misuse others' gifts to gain the whole world and lose their souls.

As previously mentioned, who we are today should be who God has called us to be. Who God has called us to be is written throughout the entire Bible in both the old and new testaments. Our job is to understand who we are and apply that to our lives and others' lives. We are to be good stewards and lights in the darkness. We are not called to return to who we were but to become what He desires. We must never go back to a life without Christ. I'll end with this scripture:

My brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things that are in the past and moving forward towards those things which are before. ~Paul The Apostle~