Who Are You? A Child of God - 1 John 3:1-3

This is different than the usual sermon. As each "person" speaks, I move to a different space in the chancel and the sanctuary floor to demonstrate a shift. Every story draws us closer to the Font which is where our identity is found in Christ. -JFM

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

As I was thinking about the text for this morning’s sermon, one question kept revolving around in my head, a question I want to share with you this morning. Who am I? Who am I? Who are you? I don’t mean this in some sort of existential, go find myself, midlife crisis sort of way – that’s for counselors, therapists and psychologists to help sort out. I ask the question to find out where is your identity? How do you see yourself?

So, who am I? For that matter, who are you? Better question, who does God say you are? He calls you His children, children of God! What does that mean, children of God? That means that we are the special people that God has called out of darkness into his marvelous light. Yours is a baptismal identity, uniting you in Christ so God sees you as His beloved. God sent his own Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that we can be children of God. It is Divine adoption of the holiest order and you are named as sons and daughters of Almighty God. This is what we are. This is who we are. This is what God says you are.

So, what does this look like on a Tuesday, or a Thursday? What does it look like in your life or the lives of those around you?

1. Who am I? I’m a high school freshman. School’s been underway for a few months now. Crazy year. We lost so much of our identity hiding behind a mask. It’s almost like being anonymous, but not quite. School’s going OK, anyway. I’ve got football; that’s going fine. Finishing up with a pretty good record. Basketball will be starting soon. Kinda over-lapping a little; gonna be busy. I have piano practice. So I’ve got football practice, play basketball on the weekends, play piano, I’ve still got to do my homework and I’ve got my parents dumping chores on me. You know what, I’m under a lot of pressure. Who am I? Who does God say that I am? God says I’m his child. I’m God’s son. So as these pressures are piling up on top of me; pressure to please my parents, please my teachers, please my coaches, please everyone who’s putting them on top of me, God calls me, invites me to come to him in trouble, and he’ll hear me and carry me in these times of need. Who am I? I’m a child of God!

2. Who am I? I’m a thirty-five-year-old woman who’s just been laid off. My husband and I have beautiful intelligent children, but they don’t really understand what this means. I feel like a Merle Haggard song…if we can make it through December. Christmas is going to be lean. Clothes are going to have to last. No Micky D runs after school. I went to the food bank for the first time last week. I’m worried – not only about our family, but my husband, too. He works too hard as it is and with overtime drying up, he was trying to make a little extra money on the weekends and evenings, but no one needs yard work done it seems. We don’t spend much time together anymore, and when we do, we frequently fight about money – or, we’re just too tired to even fight. My friends say “God will get you through.” I know that, but it’s pretty hard to believe it when other friends have been looking for a job for over a year.  My stomach hurts; my head hurts. I don’t know what to do.  When people asked me “what do you do?” I told them I am a professional...was, a professional. My identity was in my job. Now without a job, what am I? Who am I? Who does God say I am? God says I’m his child. That even as this pain and hurt comes flooding back in time and time again; every time I look at my children, or think about the uncertain future. Even in those times, my God, my Father in heaven, promises to be there with me, to pick me up, to see me through. To comfort me. Who am I? I’m a child of God!

3. Who am I? I’m a 70 year old man. I’ve lived the American dream. I retired at the age of 59, 11 years ago. I left the toilsome work behind, and my wife and I hit the road, traveling and seeing the country. My wife died last year. I miss her. I miss my children. The youngest moved out fifteen years ago. They all live hundreds of miles away. I still get to see them from time to time. Maybe Thanksgiving or Christmas…well, maybe not this year. It’s been a long time since we’ve all been together. My friends don’t come over very often. Stupid virus has everyone scared. To be honest, I’m just not myself. I feel like I’m the only one here. That I’m all alone. That nobody is here for me. Who am I? Who does God say that I am? God says that I’m his child. God says that even though my wife isn’t here with me anymore, I will one day see her again at the resurrection. That even though my children don’t come home as often as I would like. They’re busy, I understand. Even though my friends don’t come around; they don’t know what to say, I understand. God is here. I’m not alone. I’m never alone. My Heavenly Father promises to always be with me. My Lord Jesus Christ who went to the cross and died for me promises to never leave me nor forsake me. Who am I? I’m a child of God.

4. Who am I? I’m a ninety five year old woman lying in a hospital bed. Surrounded by my friends, family, loved ones. Pastor’s standing down there at the end of the bed. He’s spoken the rite of the commendation of the dying and commended me to the Lord. I can’t talk, just nod. He makes the sign of the cross. I have all these machines hooked up to me. I’m dying. The doctors told me I’m dying. I’m scared. Don’t get me wrong, I know what God says to me. I know I was baptized im Namen des Vaters und des Sohnes und des heiligen Geistes, but I’m scared. Who am I? Who does God say that I am? Almighty God, says that I am His child. As I look up into the faces of my loved ones, I know they’re going to miss me. But there’s hope. There’s hope that comes from being a child of God. That even though this life on earth will end. And for me it looks like it’s gonna end soon. Even though that’s the case, God promises to be where he has always been: holding me in his loving hands. My Savior Jesus Christ is coming to grab my hand and lead me home to be with Him forever. I will see these people again. It was through the waters of baptism that God almighty washed me, cleansed me and brought me into his family. Who am I? A child of God!

5. Who am I? I’m a four week old infant being brought into this sanctuary. Kicking and screaming, I’m a little baby. I’m at the baptismal font. Surrounded by the pastor, my parents, my sponsors. The pastor’s pouring chilly water over my head. He’s speaking God’s word. God is speaking, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. Who am I? I am a child of God. All of my sins are forgiven. I have just been brought into the family of the Almighty. Through the blood of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I am a son of God. Who am I? I’m a child of God!

6. Who are you? You’ve been thinking about this for some time now. Who are you? Members and guests of Zion. Sitting in these chairs. Sitting on your sofa. Sitting next to other saints of God. Listening to and hearing God’s word! God’s word for you! A Word reminding you that you are a child of God. That you are a child of God washed in the waters of baptism. That when these waters were poured over your head, you were brought into the family. As a child, you bring nothing to the relationship but solely lean on Jesus. You trust Jesus Christ died for your sins. You know He shed His blood for your forgiveness.

Who are you? Children of God, look around at each other. Really, take the time and look around at each other. Who are you? You are the body of Christ, a small part of the community of saints, and all children of God. Brothers and sisters through Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters who will, together, receive your Savior’s true body and blood. Who are you? Children of God almighty!

Children of God! Sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. Not just inside these walls in this sanctuary, but also when you step outside that door, or that door. When you go out into the world, you are sons and daughters of the Almighty. Does that mean anything? Absolutely! When we watch the game later this afternoon, we are children of God. When we go to work tomorrow, we are children of God. When you sit down at lunch, close to yet distant from your friends, you are a child of God. When we pick up our children from school, we are children of God. When we fall asleep in Christ, we are children of God. We are children of God, all the time!

Through Jesus Christ, we have been brought into that family. Together, brothers and sisters, in our same faith. In our same Lord Jesus Christ. Fellow children of God. Amen.