身份
Almost two decades ago, philosopher Michael Al en Fox began a magazine article with these words,
近二十年前，哲学家迈克尔·艾伦·福克斯在一篇杂志文章中以这样的话开头：
We live in an age of self-obsession. Everywhere we look, we encounter a preoccupation with self-interest, self-development, self-image, self-satisfaction on, self-love, self-expression, self-confidence, self-help, self-acceptance … the list goes on. Michael Allen Fox
我们生活在一个自我痴迷的时代。我们所到之处，都会遇到对自我利益、自我发展、自我形象、自我满足、自爱、自我表达、自信、自助、自我接纳的关注...... 不胜枚举。（迈克尔·艾伦·福克斯）
All of this obsession with self, as Fox cal s it, is driven by an increased focus in our world on “identity.” Identity is our self-understanding of who we fundamental y are at our core. Iden ty is the way we answer the key ques on that human beings wrestled with for millennia: “who am I?”
Today back in our “Resilient” series that began last week. Last Sunday looked at what apostle Peter says in le er in NT about our future; destiny; answering Q: “where am I headed?” Today then, seeing what Peter says in 1 Peter 1-2 about our Iden ty: “who am I?”
正如福克斯所说，所有这些对自我的痴迷都是由我们的世界对“身份”的日益关注所驱动的。身份是我们对我们本质上是谁的自我理解。身份是我们回答人类几千年来一直在努力探究的关键问题的方式： “我是谁？”
今天回到我们上周开始的“复原力”讲道系列。上周日使徒彼得在新约中涉及我们未来的（命运）信中所说的。回答这个问题： “我要去哪里？” 那么今天，看看彼得在 彼得前书 1-2章关于我们的身份所说的话： “我是谁？”
There are two primary ways in society to answer this ques on about identity. For centuries, most cultures have said answer found outwardly. Your identity is defined by your relationships. So you are who your family, clan, tribe, or community, says you are. So you honoured if you fulfil the expectations of your community, and you were shamed if you didn’t fulfil those expectations. Identity found by looking outward to others.
In last couple of centuries, but increasingly in last decade or two, western culture moved away from that., and assumed your identity found looking inwardly . Don’t let other people tell you who you are; don’t give in to pressure to be what others say you should be. Look within yourself, discover true self.
This massive change in western culture is now assumed everywhere. Al around us, whether we recognise it or not. For example, think about 2013 movie Frozen.
社会上有两种主要的方式来回答这个关于身份的问题。几个世纪以来，大多数文化都说答案是 向外找到的。你的身份由你的关系所定义。所以你是你的家人、宗族、部落、社区所说的那个人。因此，如果你满足了你所在的社区人们对你的期望值，你就会受尊容，如果你没有满足这些期望，你就会感到羞耻。这是通过向外看别人而发现的自己的身份。
在过去的几个世纪里，尤其在过去的一、二十年里，西方文化逐渐远离这一点，并认为你的身份是向内寻找的。不要让别人告诉你你是谁；不要屈服于压力，成为别人说你应该成为的样子。审视自己的内心，发现真正的自我。
西方文化的这种巨大变化现在无处不在。在我们周围，无论我们是否承认。例如，想想 2013 年的电影《冰雪奇缘》。
What does Elsa sing in best-known song from Frozen? – “Let it go, let it go” – what is she letting go? The expectations that others have for her life.
Or think about 2017 movie, The Greatest Showman. Full of great songs, but undoubtedly the #1 was,“This Is Me.”
艾尔莎在《冰雪奇缘》中最著名的歌曲中唱了什么？ – “放手，放手” – 她放手的是什么？是别人对她生活的期望。
或者想想 2017 年的电影《马戏之王》。充满了许多很棒的歌曲，但毫无疑问，排名第一的是“我就是我”。
Listen to the words
听听歌词
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars
我因為我的傷疤而感到羞愧萬分
Run away, they say
「快跑走。」他們說
No one will love you as you are
「沒有人會喜歡你這種樣子。」
But I won't let them break me down to dust
我永遠不會讓那些三言兩語粉碎我的信心
I know that there's a place for us
我深深明白這裡會有我們的容身之處
For we are glorious
為了我們的輝煌
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
當那些尖銳無比的話語將要擊倒我
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
我即將會召喚洪水，將那些話語淹沒
I am brave, I am bruised
我很勇敢，即便遍體麟傷
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
我仍知道我註定要變成甚麼，這就是我
So there are these two competing ideas – where do we find our identity? Who am I?
Traditional cultures today say the answer is found outwardly – you are who your family, clan, tribe, or community says. But the problem is what if culture is wrong? What if you don’t agree? There’s plenty of examples aren’t there of people being hurt and even exploited by the views of others.
So western vulture comes and says, it’s found inwardly. Look within self. Be true to yourself. That other stuff; people’s expectations – let it go! Stand up and proudly sing, “this is me.” But what if you’re wrong?
What if feelings, desires are wrong? What if they change over me?
Listen to the words of Jesus in Mark 7:
所以有这两个相互矛盾的看法 - 我们在哪里找到我们的身份？我是谁？
今天的传统文化说答案是外在的 - 你就是你的家人、氏族、部落、社区所说的那个人。 但问题是如果文化是错误的怎么办？如果你不同意怎么办？有很多例子，不是吗，人们被别人的观点所伤害，甚至被利用。
所以西方秃鹰来了，说，身份是向内找到的。向内看。做真实的自己。其他的东西、人们的期望- “放手吧”！站起来自豪地唱着“我就是我”。但是如果你错了怎么办？如果感觉、欲望是错误的怎么办？如果它们随着时间而改变呢？
请听耶稣在马可福音 7 中的话：
What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come – sexual immorality, theft , murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person. Mark 7:20-23
“从人里面出来的，才会使人污秽。因为从里面，就是从人的心里，发出恶念、淫乱、偷盗、凶杀、奸淫、贪心、邪恶、诡诈、放荡、嫉妒、毁谤、骄傲、愚妄；这一切恶事，是从人里面出来的，都能使人污秽。”（可7:20-23）
Jesus has some really damning stuff to say about the condition of the human heart – all of our hearts.
Which means there’s problem both looking outwardly for our identity to family and friends and society; but there’s also a problem looking inwardly to our own feelings and desires and thoughts. We’re broken; we’re sinful. And that’s true as individuals – we’re sinful and broken. And it’s true as communities – we’re sinful and broken.
So that means there’s real issues looking for our identity both outwardly and inwardly. So if not wise to look outwardly at society or inwardly at ourselves, where do look for identity? For answer, “who am I?”
and what Peter is going say, in next part of his letter, is need to look upwardly. We need to look up. We need to look to our creator, our Saviour, the One who isn’t sinful and broken, to find the true sense of who we are. Need to find out identity in what God says about us in Jesus.
And that’s what we’re going to see in 1 Peter 1:22 – 2:10. Whole big idea summed up in 7 words:
耶稣对人心的状况有一些非常严厉的说法。这意味着向外看我们对家庭、朋友和社会的认同有问题；但向内看我们自己的感觉、欲望和想法也有问题。 我们是破碎的，我们是有罪的。作为个人，这是真的 - 我们是有罪的和破碎的。作为社区也是如此 - 我们是有罪的、也是破碎的。因此，这意味着向外和向内寻找我们的身份时都存在真正的问题。因此，如果向外看社会或向内看自己都不明智，那么该从哪里寻找身份呢？来回答：“我是谁？”彼得在信的下一部分要说的是，需要向上看。 我们需要抬头看看。 我们需要仰望我们的创造者，我们的救主，那个没有罪恶和残缺的人，以找到我们是谁的真正含义。需要在上帝在耶稣里对我们的评价中找到身份。
这就是我们将在彼得前书 1:22 – 2:10 中看到的内容。 整个大概念总结为 7 个字：
I am who God says I am
上帝说的我是谁我就是谁
In other words, my identity doesn’t come from people or society around me; their expectations.
My identity doesn’t come from looking deep inside myself at my longings and dreams and feelings My identity comes from the God who created me, the Saviour who loves me, Spirit who’s transforming So as we come to 1 Peter, then, in next section Peter going to tel us three core things about our identity –
who we are in Jesus. First is this:
换句话说，我的身份不是来自我周围的人或社会；或者来自于他们的期望。
我的身份并非来自于对自己内心深处的渴望、梦想和感受。
我的身份来自创造我的上帝、爱我的救主、改变我的圣灵。
因此，当我们来到彼得前书时，在下一节中，彼得将告诉我们关于我们身份的三个核心内容 - 我们在耶稣里的身份。首先是这样的：
I am a child of God (1 Peter 1:22 – 2:3)
我是上帝的儿女 （彼得前书1：22-23）
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ And this is the word that was preached to you.
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 1:22 – 2:3
“你们既因顺从真理，洁净了自己的心灵，以致能真诚地爱弟兄，就应当从清洁的心里彼此切实相爱。你们得了重生，并不是由于能坏的种子，却是由于不能朽坏的，就是借着 神永活长存的道。因为“所有的人（“人”原文作“肉体”），尽都如草，他们的荣美，都像草上的花；草必枯干，花必凋谢，唯有主的道，永远长存。”所传给你们的福音就是这道。
所以要除去一切恶毒、一切诡诈、虚伪、嫉妒和一切毁谤的话，像初生婴孩爱慕那纯净的灵奶，好叫你们靠它长大，进入救恩；因为你们已经体验过主是美善的。”（彼前1:22 - 2:3）
I love the imagery in this passage – you’ve been born again (v.23), as newborn babies (2:3). It’s picking the language of Jesus in John 3 in talking needing to be re-born or born al over again to enter the kingdom of heaven. The rest of NT picks up this language again and again, of us being born again when put faith in Jesus, as new creatures, new creations, new beings. Listen these passages.
我喜欢这段经文中的意象 - 你们已经重生（第 23 节），就像新生的婴儿（2:3）。这是引用了约翰福音第 3 章中耶稣的话语，即需要重生才能进入天国。 新约的其余部分一再使用这种语言，即当我们相信耶稣时，我们会重生，成为新造物、新人类、新生命。 看这些经文：
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God. 1 John 3:1-2
“你们看，父赐给我们的是怎样的爱，就是让我们可以称为 神的儿女，我们也真是他的儿女。因此，世人不认识我们，是因为他们不认识父。亲爱的，现在我们是 神的儿女。”（约壹3:1-2）
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:14-16
“因为蒙 神的灵引导的，都是 神的儿子。你们接受的，不是奴仆的灵，使你们仍旧惧怕；你们接受的，是使人成为嗣子的灵，使我们呼叫“阿爸、父”。圣灵亲自和我们的灵一同证明我们是 神的儿女。”（罗8:14-16）
But what’s beau full in this passage, and others going to look at, is that not just individual, but communal; it’s not just ‘my’ identity, but its ‘our’ identity.
这段文字让他人看到的优美之处不仅在于个人、而且在于社区；这不仅仅是“我的”身份，而是“我们的”身份。
I am a child of God and part of His family (1 Peter 1:22 – 2:3)
我是上帝的儿女并且是祂家庭里的一份子（彼得前书1:22 - 2:3）
I am individually a child of God, deeply loved by my heavenly Father, and I’m part of His family. That’s this passage has commands about how we treat each other. Look back at v.22, “love another deeply from the heart.” Or 2:1, “Therefore, rid yourselves…” and Peter talks specifical y about sins we commit against other people. Why? Because not just my identity – I’m part of something bigger.
The other thing I want us to notice here in this sec on is centrality of the Word of God. Peter reminds us we were born again through the preaching or proclamation or hearing the Word of God. And quotes from Isa 40, that God’s Word stands forever. And he’s going to go on in next paragraphs, and quote from the Scriptures more extensively than anywhere else in the letter.
Why is that important? Because identity is built on the objective truth of God’s Word. How do I know what God says about me? Because the Bible clearly teaches that if put faith in Jesus, you are children of God.
My identity, and your identity, is based on what God has clearly said in His Word.
我自己就是上帝的孩子，天父深爱我，我是祂家庭的一员。这就是这段经文关于我们如何对待彼此的命令。回顾第 22 节，“从心里深深地爱另一个人”。或者 2:1，“所以，你们要摆脱你自己……”彼得特别谈到了我们对他人所犯的罪。为什么？因为不仅仅是我的身份（需要约束我们）- 更因为我是更大的家庭的一部分。
在本节中，我想引起大家注意的另一件事是上帝的道的中心地位。彼得提醒我们，我们通过讲道、宣讲或听到上帝的道而重生。并引述以赛亚书第 40 章，上帝的话永远立定。他将在接下来的段落中继续，并在书信中比其他任何地方都更广泛地引用圣经。
为什么这很重要？因为身份是建立在上帝的道的客观真理之上的。我怎么知道上帝对我说了什么？因为圣经清楚地教导说，如果信耶稣，你就是上帝的孩子。我的身份，和你的身份，都是基于 神在祂的道里清楚地说过的话。
I am who God says I am
上帝说我是谁我就是谁
Now, if watching this at Central campus, either morning or at night, there should be s sticker on seat with a pen. (If you’re at Gracecity at My Place, or watching from home, obviously won’t be one there). Just want you to hold that sticker un l end of message.
But these are stickers you wear at event where don’t know people – conferences, seminars, whatever. And I have three of them with me here; the first one has the words “I am a child of God” Who am I? What is my core identity? Wel , first of all , I am a child of God, and part of His family. [Put on sticker]
现在，如果在中区教会听今天讲道，无论是早上还是晚上，在座位上都应该有贴纸和笔。 （如果你在恩典之城家庭会场，或者在家观看，就不会有纸笔了）。 只希望你拿着那个贴纸直到宣讲结束。
但这些是你在不认识彼此的活动中、你贴上的贴纸 - 在会议、研讨会等等场所时用的。我这里有三个； 第一个有这样的话“我是上帝的孩子”。
我是谁？ 我的核心身份是什么？ 嗯，首先，我是上帝的孩子，是祂家庭的一份子。
I am a child of God and part of His family (1 Peter 1:22 – 2:3)
我是上帝的儿女并且是祂家庭的一份子（彼得前书1:22 - 2:3）
Before we move on to another core part of our identity in Peter’s le er, let me just explain why this is so powerful. NY pastor Tim Kel er talks about the fact that our identity as a child of God is, in his words,“received not achieved.” What means is that you look outwardly or inwardly for your identity, for you to feel good about yourself, need to live up to whatever iden ty you’ve embraced.
在我们继续讨论彼得信中我们身份的另一个核心部分之前，让我解释一下为什么它如此强大。纽约的提摩太·凯勒牧师谈到，用他的话说，我们作为上帝孩子的身份是“领受的而不是赢得的”。这意味着你向外或向内寻找你的身份，为了让你感觉自我良好，需要活出不辜负你所领受的任何身份的样式。
So if you look outwardly to family or friends or community for identity, you need to work hard to live up their expectations. So if outward expectation is that you are a mother, to feel good about yourself you have to work hard to be a good mother. And if your kids are well -behaved, you feel good. But if having a tantrum in middle of Countdown, you feel shame, because you’re a failure at who you are.
因此，如果你向外寻求家人、朋友或社区的认同，你需要努力工作以不辜负他们的期望。如果外在的期望是你应该是一位母亲，那么为了让自己感觉良好，你必须努力成为一个好母亲。如果你的孩子表现得很好，你会感觉很好。但如果在自己超市中发脾气，你会感到羞耻，因为你是一个失败者。
Or it you look inwardly , to your own feelings and desires, you may decide that you are at your best in business – that at your core you’re a business person, an entrepreneur. But now have to work hard – and if success, then feel great. But if business fails, you feel a failure, because that’s your identity.
And what Kel er explains is that if your iden ty is based on your expectations or others’ expectations, there is always a pressure to keep working, to keep achieving, to keep living up to those expectations.
But if your identity is upward; if found in who God says you are –that you are His beloved child – that’s an identity that is received, not achieved. You don’t work for that; you accept His love in Jesus. Jesus worked for it; we don’t have to. Finding your identity in who God says you are takes pressure off.
或者，如果你向内看，按着自己的感受和愿望，你可能会认为你在业务上处于最佳状态 - 你是一个商人，一个企业家，现在必须努力工作 - 如果成功了，那就感觉很棒。但如果生意失败，你就会感到失败，因为那是你的身份。
凯勒牧师解释说，如果你的身份是基于你的期望或他人的期望，那么总是有压力要继续工作，继续取得成就，继续不辜负这些期望。
但如果你的身份是向上的，如果在上帝所说的你是谁 - 你是他心爱的孩子 - 中找到了自我，那是你所领受的一种身份，而不是赢得的身份。你不为此做什么，你接受 祂（上帝）在耶稣里的爱。耶稣为此做工，我们不必这样做。在上帝所说的你是谁中找到你的身份可以减轻压力。
So, firstly, I am a child of God and part of His family. The second part of my identity in 1 Peter is this:
所以，首先，我是上帝的儿女并且是祂家庭的一份子。彼得前书描述我的身份的第二部分是：
I am a worshipper of the Almighty (1 Peter 2:4-8)
我是全能者的敬拜者（彼得前书2:4-8）
Listen to 1 Peter 2:4-6:
看一下经文：
As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him –you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ 1 Peter 2:4-6
“主是活石，虽然被人弃绝，却是 神所拣选所珍贵的；你们到他面前来，也就像活石，被建造成为灵宫，作圣洁的祭司，借着耶稣基督献上蒙 神悦纳的灵祭。因为经上记着：“看哪，我在锡安放了一块石头，就是所拣选所珍贵的房角石，信靠他的人，必不致失望。”（彼前2:4-6）
And then in vv.7-8 it goes on to talk about those who reject Jesus.
接下来，第7-8节继续谈到那些弃绝耶稣的人。
Now the imagery here is, of course, a building. What kind of building? Well , v.5 talks about “a spiritual house;” “a holy priesthood;” “offering spiritual sacrifices.” So Peter is using imagery here about the temple where for centuries God’s people had come to worship Him. It was the place where they met God, worshipped Him, glorified Him.
But Jesus Himself taught that me had come when God wouldn’t be located in just one building, one location in world. Instead, God now resides in His people by His Spirit. That means we are now the new temple of God if the Spirit is in us. So Paul would write in 1 Cor 6:
这里的画面上是一座建筑物。什么样的建筑？ 嗯，第 5 节谈到“属灵的房子”、“神圣的祭司”、“献上属灵的祭物。”所以彼得在这里使用的画面是关于几个世纪以来上帝的子民来圣殿敬拜上帝。这是他们遇见上帝、敬拜祂、荣耀祂的地方。
但耶稣自己教导说，上帝不会只位于世界上的一栋建筑物、一个固定的地点。相反，上帝现在藉着祂的灵住在祂的子民里面。这意味着如果圣灵在我们里面，我们现在就是上帝的圣殿。所以保罗会在哥林多前书第6章中写道：
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“你们不知道你们的身体就是那位住在你们里面的圣灵的殿吗？这圣灵是你们从 神那里领受的。你们不是属于自己的，因为你们是用重价买来的。所以你们务要用自己的身体荣耀 神。”（林前6:19-20）
In other words, the same God that once fil ed the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem with His glory; that same God now dwells in you. He lives in us. We are living temples. This means that God is with us wherever we go, and whatever we do can be an act of worship to Him.
So the classroom where we teach is a place of worship.
The building site where we construct and shape is a place of worship.
The university lecture hall and the study desk can be a place of worship.
The changing table in your baby’s room can be a place of worship.
Everything that we do can now be an act and expression of worship and adoration and praise to God.
But again, that’s not just true of us as individuals – I am a worshipper of the Almighty. That’s also true of us corporately as the church. Not just “me”, but also “us”
换句话说，就是这位曾用荣耀充满所罗门在耶路撒冷建造的圣殿的上帝；同一位上帝而今住在你里面。祂住在我们里面。我们是活的圣殿。这意味着无论我们走到哪里，上帝都与我们同在，我们所行的一切都可以成为对 祂的敬拜。
所以我们授课的教室是一个敬拜的地方。
我们工作的建筑工地是一个敬拜场所。
大学的课室和学习桌可以成为敬拜场所。
宝宝房间的换尿布台可以成为敬拜场所。
我们现在所做的每一件事都可以成为对上帝的敬拜、崇拜和赞美的行为和表达。
但同样，这不仅仅是我们个人的真实情况 - 我是全能者的敬拜者。 我们作为教会团体也是如此。不只是“我”，还有“我们”。
I am a worshipper of the Almighty and part of His temple, the church (1 Peter 2:4-8)
我是全能者的敬拜者，并且是祂的圣殿 - 教会 - 的一部分（彼前2:4-8）
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives among you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
“难道不知道你们是 神的殿， 神的灵住在你们里面吗？如果有人毁坏 神的殿，神必要毁坏这人，因为 神的殿是圣洁的，这殿就是你们。”（林前3:16-17）
See, Peter’s language is describing Jesus as the cornerstone of a new temple cal ed the church, made up of people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And I am one brick, one living stone, within this living, breathing temple that God is building.
So am an individual worshipper, created to bring Him glory wherever I go and whatever I do. But I’m also part of bigger temple, the church that He is building around the world. [put on 2 nd sticker]
So why is this 2 nd sticker, this 2 nd part of my identity, so important?
Because if this is true, that I am a worshipper made to glorify and honour and reflect my God, then it reminds me that I’m not actual y at the core of my identity. If I’m created to be a worshipper, then ultimately my life isn’t actually about me – it’s about the God I have been created and saved to worship.
The honour is His; the glory goes to Him. It’s not about me!
So I am a child of God – part of His family; and I am a worshipper of the Almighty – part of His temple.
Then thirdly:
看呐，彼得的话将耶稣描述为一块新圣殿的基石，这个新圣殿名为教会，由来自各个部落、语言地区、民族和国家的人组成。而在上帝正在建造的这个生生不息的圣殿中，我是一块砖，一块活石。
作为个人敬拜者也是如此，无论我走到哪里，无论做什么，都是为了荣耀祂。但我也是更大的圣殿的一部分，祂正在世界各地建造的教会。 [贴第二张贴纸]
那么为什么第二张贴纸，我身份的第二部分如此重要？
因为如果这是真的，我是一个敬拜者，是为了荣耀、敬重和映射出我的上帝，那么这就提醒了我，我实际上并不是我身份的核心。如果我被造就是为了成为一个敬拜者，那么最终我的生活实际上并不是关于我，而是关于造我和拯救我、以使我来敬拜祂的那位上帝。荣耀是祂的，荣耀归于祂。这不是关于我的！
所以我是上帝的儿女 - 祂家庭的一份子；我是全能者的崇拜者 - 祂圣殿的一部分。
然后第三个：
I am an ambassador of the King (1 Peter 2:9-10)
我是王的使者(彼得前书2:9-10)
Look at vv.9-10.
看经文：
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10
“然而你们是蒙拣选的族类，是君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国民，是属 神的子民，为要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。你们从前不是子民，现在却是 神的子民；从前未蒙怜恤，现在却蒙了怜恤。”（彼前2:9-10）
Now, if you don’t know background to these words, these phrases that Peter uses, it’s easy to miss point.
They come from book of Exodus, when nation of Israel standing at foot Mt Sinai. Been delivered from slavery in Egypt – redeemed. And in Ex 19, God offers Israel an opportunity to enter sacred covenant with Him; be His special people, His unique nation on earth. Here’s what God says,
现在，如果你不知道彼得使用的这些短语的背景，很容易错过重点。它们出自出埃及记，当时以色列民站在西奈山脚下。从埃及的奴隶制中被解救出来，被赎回。在出埃及记19章中，上帝给了以色列一个与祂立圣约的机会，成为祂特别的子民，在世上独一无二的国家。这是上帝所说的，
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all na ons you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy na on. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. Exodus 19:5-6
“现在你们若是实在听我的话，遵守我的约，你们就必在万民中作属我的产业，因为全地都是我的。你们要归我作君尊的祭司和圣洁的国民。这些话你都要对以色列人说。”（出19:5-6）
God was inviting them to be His special people. But it wasn’t just about them. With this great privilege came great responsibility – they were agreeing to obey His laws, inc. ‘10 Words’. Agreeing to be holy, to represent God in how lived among the other nations. Would represent God as His ambassadors.
Peter now picks up this language and applies readers in v.9 – “ chosen people, royal priesthood, holy nation, God’s special possession ” – this is all coming from Ex 19. And doesn’t mean church replacing Israel, but stepping into same story, same responsibility to be ambassadors for One redeemed us.
But again, not just individual, but corporate. Not just “me”, but “us.”
上帝邀请他们成为祂特别的子民。但这不仅仅是关于这些人。有了这个巨大的特权，就有了巨大的责任 - 他们同意遵守祂的律法，包括“十诫”。 愿意成为圣洁的子民，代表上帝在其他国家中显示他们如何（按 神的话）生活。将代表上帝作为祂的使者。
彼得现在引述这些话并在第 9 节中让读者看到这些话的应用 -“选民、君王的祭司、圣洁的国家、上帝的特殊产业”- 这一切都来出埃及记第19章。这并不意味着教会取代以色列，而是与以色列一样成为选民，同样的责任，成为那个救赎我们的上帝的大使。
但同样，不仅仅是个人，而是团体。 不仅仅是“我”，还有“我们”。
I am an ambassador of the King and part of His local embassy (1 Peter 2:9-10)
我是王的使者，也是祂大使馆里的一员（彼得前书2:9-10）
See, in sense every local church is an embassy representing God’s kingdom in this world. We are first and foremost citizens of another kingdom, another nation, representing our king both as individuals but also together as church.
Who am I?
看呐，在某种意义上，每个地方教会都是代表上帝国度在这个世界上的大使馆。我们首先是另一个王国、另一个国家的永驻公民，作为个人，也作为教会共同代表着我们的王。
我是谁？
I am who God says I am
1. I am a child of God, part of His family
2. I am a worshipper of Almighty, part of His temple, the church
3. I am an ambassador of the King, part of embassy [put on 3 rd sticker]
1.我是上帝的子女，是祂家族的一员
2.我是全能者的敬拜者，是祂的圣殿，教会的一员
3.我是王的使者，王的使馆里的成员[贴第三张贴纸]
And what this means is that my identity is received, not achieved – I am loved by God, and called by God, and chosen by God, to represent and glorify Him, because that is who I am as a new creation.
So as we finish today, who are you? Where do you find your identity?
Where do find your meaning, purpose, and identity in life? Where are you looking?
You can look outwardly to family, community, tribe – but their expectations can weigh you down.
You can look inwardly to own desires, hopes, feelings – but they can change, and Jesus warns us about how broken and sinful we can be.
Or you can look upward , to a Father and Creator who passionately loves you, and choose to find your iden ty in what He says.
这意味着我的身份是领受而来的，而不是赢得的。我被上帝所爱，被上帝呼召，被上帝拣选，代表着上帝并且荣耀祂，因为这就是作为一个新造的人的我。
所以今天我们结束时问一问，你是谁？ 你在哪里找到你的身份？
在哪里找到你生活中的意义、目的和身份？ 你在看哪里？
你可以向外看家庭、社区、部落，但他们的期望会让你失望。
你可以向内看自己的欲望、希望、感受，但它们可以改变，耶稣警告我们，我们是多么破碎和罪恶。
或者你可以向上 仰望一位热烈地爱你的父和创造者，并选择在祂所说的话中找到你的身份。
I am who God says I am
上帝说我是谁我就是谁
That means
I am a child of God, part of His family
I am a worshipper of Almighty, part of His temple
I am an ambassador of the King, part of embassy
我是上帝的子女，是祂家族的一员
我是全能者的敬拜者，是祂的圣殿，教会的一员
我是王的使者，王的使馆里的成员
As we finish, which if these three parts of our identity do you need to hear today from God?
Which of these truths needs to be planted again into the soil of your soul?
Which of these do you sense God wan ng you to hear and grasp and believe today?
If you’re at Central, either in morning or night, want invite you now pick up your sticker and pen, and write whichever one of these three phrases you need to hear the most.
I am a child of God // I am a worshipper of Almighty // I am an ambassador of the King
And if watching online or at gracecity at My Place, grab a piece of paper and write out the statement that you believe God wants you to hear the most today.
讲道接近尾声，我们的这三个部分，你今天需要从上帝那里听到哪一个？
这些真理中的哪一个需要重新植入在你灵魂的土壤中？
你觉得今天上帝要你听到、抓住和相信哪些信息？
如果你在中区教会，无论是早上还是晚上，都想邀请你现在拿起贴纸和笔，写下你最需要听到的
这三个短语中的任何一个。
我是上帝的子女//我是全能者的敬拜者//我是王的使者
如果在线观看或在恩典之城家庭会场观看，请拿一张纸，写下你相信上帝今天最希望你听到的是那部分。
Because I am not simply who people say I am.
I am not who I hope and feel I am.
I am who God says I am.
因为我不仅仅是人们口里所说的我。
我不是我所希望成为或者感觉到的那个人。
上帝说我是谁我就是谁。
