Gladiator: My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius

The pompous and evil Emperor Commodus heads down to the Colosseum to meet the "Spaniard" gladiator who has risen to fame and respect because of his deeds inside the area.

Refusing to tell the Emperor his real name, the "Spaniard" turns to walk back and join the other gladiators.

A deeply offended Commodus yells out, "How dare you show your back to me! Slave, you will remove your helmet and tell me your name."

Having failed to kill the Emperor with a severed arrow head because his nephew, Lucius was standing in front of him, Maximus slowly removes helmet and turns around to face the Emperor.

Standing firm before his enemy, the "Spaniard" declares, "My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next."

The Emperor is scared and worried because in an instant, the "Spaniard" turned from being a lowly gladiator into a stalwart warrior.

By declaring who he was, Maximus regained himself and drew strength from it.

He was:
1. a Commander
2. a General
3. a Servant
4. a Father
5. a Husband
6. and a man seeking vengeance

Who Are We?

We all have various roles and positions that we live out during the course of our lives.

Some of these roles we might consider more noble or more valuable than others.

Outside of Christ

A created being: Genesis 1:26a, 27 states, "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Lost / wandered off: Isaiah 53:6 declares, "All we like sheep have gone astray;we have turned — every one — to his own way;and the Lord has laid on himthe iniquity of us all."

A Slave: In John 8:34 "Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.'"

Condemned: John 3:18b tells, "whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."

Dead: Ephesians 2:1-2a declares, "And you were dead in the trespasses and since in which you once walked."

As Believers, Who Are We In Christ?

We are a child of God (John 1:12)

We are Jesus’ friend (John 15:15)

We are no longer a slave, but a son/daughter (Galatians 4:5-7)

We have been forgiven of all our sin (Colossians 2:13)

What It Means In Our Daily Lives

We are forever from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2)

We are able to resist the devil and he will flee from me (James 4:7)

We are assured that all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28)

We can be confident that the good work God has started in me he will see through to completion (Philippians 1:6)

How Will It Change Our Actions and Thoughts?

We are the salt and light of the earth (Matthew 5:13-14)

We have been purchased with the imperishable and precious blood of Jesus (1 Peter 1:19)

We are God’s workmanship, created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10)

We are a temple – a dwelling place of God. His Spirit and His life dwells in me (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Our Declaration

By declaring who we are in Christ, we can draw strength from Him.

1 John 4:4b tells us, "he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."