Ephesians 1: Your Identity in Christ-Part 1

As followers of Christ, it is extremely vital that we know and understand our identity in Christ.

 

We may know all about God and be keenly aware of how we are expected to walk by faith and live holy lives as Christians. But if we are shaky and tossed by the waves with regards to our identity, it will be an uphill task. Knowing who we are in Christ gives us the boldnessto face life’s issues, stand our ground against the wiles of the devil and live holy lives worthy of our calling. This happens through renewing our minds with Scriptures regarding our identity and what God has done for us in Christ.

 

As a teenager and young adult, I struggled with low self-esteem and I will admit that even now, there are times when I over-crave approval, acceptance, affirmation and acknowledgement. (Yes, all four ‘A’s.) The difference between my past and present is that I now know who I am. When I am denied the affirmation I crave and I am tempted to “lose it,” I meditate on Scriptures regarding my identity and we all know the Word of God works. I have learned to base my identity on nothing else but my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

To discover who we are as children of God, we need to understand the phrase ‘in Christ.’  For an explanation of this phrase, click here to be directed to my post titled “Included in Christ.”

 

Although the Epistles are full of Scriptures that teach us about our identity in Christ, I will limit my discussion to Ephesians chapter 1. It’s my favorite because it’s power-packed with the truth of God’s Word regarding our identity. This is not an exhaustive study on Ephesians 1. It is a concise study focused on the verses that highlight who we are in Christ.

 

Grab your Bibles and study with me!!

 

You are a Saint

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 1:1 KJV

 

Paul described the Ephesian believers as God’s holy people (NIV) or as saints (NKJV or KJV). If you are a believer in Christ Jesus, you are a saint. (Period.) The Greek word ‘hagios‘ translated as saint means “set apart and dedicated as holy unto the LORD.” That is what we are as Christians (see 1 Peter 2:9,10).

 

Therefore, the word saint does not refer only to deceased super-Christians who did many acts of kindness for the poor. A saint is anyone who is in Christ. What makes you a saint is the fact that God has set you apart as His child in Christ Jesus. He separates us unto Himself at the new birth and makes us holy in His sight.

 

So rejoice in the truth that you are a saint in Christ Jesus.

 

 

You are Blessed

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

 

We have been blessed with EVERY spiritual blessing in Christ. Every means ALL, which means without exceptions. The best part is that the “blessed” is in past tense meaning that it is a done deal. This is not something that’s yet to happen. Instead, God has blessed us with all these blessings that Apostle Paul goes one to enumerate in this chapter and so much more! If you belong to Christ, these blessings are yours.

 

Next time you are tempted to despair, remind yourself that you are a blessed saint in Christ Jesus.

 

 

You were Chosen by God

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4

 

We were made “chosen saints” in Christ Jesus before the creation of the world. Obviously, if God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world it must mean that we had absolutely nothing to do with this act of God’s infinite grace since we were not alive when the world was created. He did not chose us because we were good, nice, kind, well behaved, sweet, cute or smart. He did not choose us because He looked at us and realized we would be pillars of faith.

 

His choice had absolutely nothing to do with our good works but absolutely everything to do with his GRACE. His unmerited favor!!!

 

He chose us to be holy and blameless before the foundations of the world. Our holiness is because we are in Christ. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. We are not holy because we are good. We are made holy at the new birth when we accept Jesus Christ and become believers (“For it is by grace we have been saved.” Ephesians 2:8). Because God sees us in Christ, we are made positionally holy by His grace and made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

 

However, having been justified and made holy, we are to walk and abide in Him by living a sanctified life through the help of the Holy Spirit as we abide in Christ. Living a sanctified life is also not possible without the grace of God.

 

Selah! Stop and Ponder!!

 

Say out loud: I am a blessed and chosen saint in Christ Jesus.

 

 

Conclusion

I will pause my discussion here and will continue this study in my next post. In the meantime, I’ll strongly encourage you to study Ephesians 1 till the Scriptures are etched in your spirit.

 

My prayer for you is that through the power of the Holy Spirit, the eyes of your heart will be opened to the reality of who you are so that you will stand your ground in faith against the schemes of the devil and live a holy life worthy of your calling in Christ Jesus.

 

Amen!!

To read the whole series on Identity in Christ, click here

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