Your Identity in Christ

 

Ephesians 1:1-14

The faithful in Christ Jesus…defines the “saints” and could be rendered “that is, the believers in Christ Jesus.” These saints were in Christ Jesus, not in Adam or the goddess Artemis of Ephesus. While believers have geographical locations (e.g., “Ephesus”), spiritually they are positioned “in Christ” (cf. “in Christ at Colosse” in Col. 1:2). Paul used “in Christ Jesus,” “in Christ,” or “in Him” quite frequently. In Ephesians 1:1–14 the phrase occurs nine times! Christians have their very life in Christ.^[1]

If you have felt dismissed or even regarded as unacceptable by others, there is something our Father wants you to know as one of His children. God is also interested in who you are not just what you did or didn’t do. He spells out our identity in several places in the Scriptures, but especially here in Ephesians chapter 1. Beloved, you will never need to wonder if you belong or if you are wanted. Jesus Christ made all the difference concerning our present situation and our future. I encourage you to recognize, confess, admit, declare, or acknowledge these realities to God daily for a month. Watch God’s truth transform your life.

      1.     I have a gracious heavenly Father-God, and I am his precious Child (Eph. 1:2)

      2.     I presently have all spiritual blessings (my union with Christ and seat with Him) as a part of God’s eternal plan (Eph. 1:3)

      3.     I am selected by God my gracious Father; He wants and treasures even someone like me (Eph. 1:3)

      4.     I am part of God my Father’s wise plans; I have an incredible role assigned directly by Him (Ep. 1:5)

      5.     I am adopted into my spiritual Father’s amazing family; I have a place where I belong as an adult (Eph. 1:5)

      6.     I am accepted by God my Father and it is Christ Jesus who affords me this amazing status (Eph. 1:6)

      7.     I am redeemed by God and overjoyed with gratitude because it’s through the staggering blood of Christ Jesus my Lord I am so privilege (Eph. 1:7)

      8.     I am astronomically forgiven by God through my stunning Lord Jesus Christ which evidenced God’s indescribable grace (Eph. 1:7)

      9.     I am included in God’s grand purpose; He did not renounce or disassociate Himself from me (Eph. 1:8)

      10.  I have a continuous inheritance prescribed by God my Father as part of His design and intentions for all His people (Eph. 1:11)

      11.   I am sealed (preserved and delivered) by the Holy Spirit because I heard and believed the glorious gospel message (Eph. 1:13)        

      12.   I am currently awaiting final and full redemption of my person, and this motivates me to live for the praise of God’s glory (Eph. 1:14)

Notice, too, that these are spiritual blessings [Eph.1:3]. The simplest way to explain this is to contrast them with the blessings of Israel under the law. In the OT, a faithful, obedient Jew was rewarded with long life, a large family, abundant crops, and protection from his enemies (Deut. 28:2–8). The blessings of Christianity, in contrast, are spiritual, that is, they deal with treasures that are nonmaterial, invisible, and imperishable. It is true that the OT saints also enjoyed some spiritual blessings, but as we shall see, the Christian today enjoys blessings that were unknown in previous times.

Our blessings are in the heavenly places, literally “in the heavenlies.” Instead of being material blessings in earthly places, they are spiritual blessings in the heavenly places.^[2]

With these insights believe God and not your ever-changing emotions. Believe God and not the mere opinions of other people. Place your confidence in what God said in the Word and reject your feelings as misinformed or incomplete.

Secondly, live for the glory of God and seek to evidence His grace each day (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14).

Since salvation is all of God’s grace, Christians certainly ought to praise Him for it! And that is why they were chosen: to give Him praise (cf. “Praise be to … God,” v. 3).^[3]

There is no greater purpose or reason for existence than His glory and nothing motivates us like the grace of God. Make this your focus and pursuit in all things, and when you stand before Christ at the judgment seat for rewards, He will honor you because you lived to honor Him.

Lastly, I am asking you to accept these statements and promises. Take them personally and intimately to recognize, confess, admit, declare, or acknowledge them as living truthful realities to God your Father daily for at least a month. Personally witness God’s truth setting you free from rejection, insecurity, fear, and inadequacy as you interact with others! God is a God of the living and not the dead; transformation is what He desires for you and me.

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^[1] Harold W. Hoehner, “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 615.

^[2] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1906.

^[3] Harold W. Hoehner, “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 617.