Christ ID

“Christ ID”

Scriptures: Eph 1:15-23; Eph 2:4-10

Bro. Devin Stagg

Kobe Union Church

17 August 2025

Today we’re going to talk about our identity and how that changes as believers.

Who are you?

If I were to show you my driver’s license or passport, what kind of information could you find out? My name, age, height, address, etc.　Does that tell you who I am?　What if I were to show you my resume or CV? Perhaps you can learn about where I went to school, what I studied, some papers I wrote, and whether or not I have a teaching license.　Does that tell you who I am?　Not really, so who am I? Who are you?　Last one, if someone were to walk into your home unannounced, the first thing you would want to know is who they are… and probably how did they get in…

So this question about identification, who we are and how we see ourselves as Christians is very important.

Although an abstract idea, how we view of ourselves will shape our worldview and what we are capable of. For example, if I tell myself I’m fat, or too dumb. Or agree with the things that other people say about me, too lazy, slow. You begin to frame your worldview and this blocks you from being able to see who you truly are.

This is why the family unit is so important in the establishing of identity. Families should provide love, safety, comfort, discipline, and reassurance that they are accepted in the family. If I have a good self-image, I will strive to achieve greater things. If I have a bad self-image, my subconscious will limit my action and perception of what I am capable of, ultimately limiting what I can achieve.

In Ephesians 1:6 it shows that we have been adopted into a family.³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, ⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He ^[a]made us accepted in the Beloved.

This verse is great because not only does it show that we are adopted, but also that this plan for adoption has been in place since the beginning. We were always meant to be part of the family. 

Every family is different. They have their own customs, traditions, and way of thinking. If you were to visit my grandparents’ home in the US, when you come in, feel free to keep your shoes on and grab a drink from the fridge take a seat and relax. But oh boy, whatever you do, don’t sit in my pop’s chair, or you’ll get hit. Haha, I learned that the hard way. But nevertheless, I had a place with the family

God, the Father, who sits in Heaven, raised Jesus from the dead and placed Him (Jesus) to sit at His right side.

Let’s read it. Eph 1:19-23

• ¹⁹ and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰ which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all principality^[g] and ^[h]power and ^[i]might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.²² And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

And because we have been adopted, we also have a seat with the family in Christ. Let’s read Eph 2:4-6

• ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 

Can you picture it?(Demonstration)

Ephesians is such an amazing book and my explanation alone can’t do it justice so I encourage you, read it for yourself, don’t rely upon my teaching, but go back and grasp it for yourself. And even join the Sunday School discussions afterwards or talk about this with a friend.

It’s reaffirming to know that we are part of the family. So my last question for us today is, how do you see yourself? 

As we grow in our relationship with Him, staying connected to the family. He begins to reveal the truth of who we are and we begin to change. This is how He talks to me… “Devin, you have a voice, you are not shy, you walk with me and I have placed my words in your mouth. When you speak and share my love, I speak through you and lead them to Me!”

Through this process we begin to see who we truly are and who we were made to be. But this process takes time.

Japanese Mirror Video YouTube “What the Ancients Knew part 1 of3 Japan” Timestamp: 32:30-34:20

In 1 Corinthians 13 it says:

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

As a child grows into the image of their parents. Likewise we grow into the image of Jesus. The process of refinement takes time. It’s ok, be patient. Just remember who’s image you bear. It will transform your life. You are destined for greatness. You are destined to take that very culture of the house you were adopted into, out into the world. You just need to remember who’s image you bear.

So, here’s your homework. In the beginning God created man in Who’s image?

H.W. – Read: Gen 1:26-27