Living in the Light of Who You Are in Christ

This is the seventh and final post (for now) in my series on discovering our identity in Christ based on the first chapter of the book of Ephesians.

For my discussion on the meaning of the phrase ‘in Christ,’ click here.

I recommend catching up on the older posts before reading this one. To do so, click here.

This series has been centered around this confession of faith taken from Ephesians 1:

“I am a blessed, chosen, loved, adopted, redeemed, forgiven and accepted saint in Christ Jesus. I am marked and sealed with The Holy Spirit. That is how God sees me. That is who I am.”

In my last post I discussed that having received these blessings from God, we are expected to work in a manner worthy of our calling by doing good works. Good works that flow out of our salvation and new life in Christ and not works that attempt to bring about or maintain salvation. In this post we will discuss living in the light of who we are in Christ based on of each of the blessings discussed in the series.

Blessed Saints: Ephesians 1:3

You are blessed to be a blessing.

It is God’s desire to prosper you spiritually, emotionally and physically so that you can impact your world for His glory out of the abundance He has provided to you. Being a blessing includes financial provision to the needy and food to the hungry as well as impacting others emotionally and spiritually with the Word of God.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)

Chosen Saints: Ephesians 1:4,11

You were made a chosen saint to declare the praises of God and to bring Him glory by bearing lasting fruit.

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. 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit–fruit that will last–and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16 (NIV)

Loved Saints: Ephesians 1:4

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:10). He first loved us and everything we have is as a result of His love for us. Therefore, in response to His love, we should definitely imitate Him and walk in the way of love towards others.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11 (NIV)

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

Adopted Saints: Ephesians 1:5

God adopted you into His family and made you His child so that as an ambassador for Christ, you may be a light that leads others into His family.

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV)

Redeemed Saints: Ephesians 1:7

Jesus Christ redeemed you out of darkness into His light that you may live your life fully for Him and walk in his way of light.

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NIV)

Forgiven Saints: Ephesians 1:7

You are a forgiven saint because Jesus Christ shed his blood and died for you on the cross. Jesus paid the price for your sins. Therefore, in light of who you are as a forgiven saint and in response to God’s forgiveness you should,

Bear with each other and forgive one another if you have a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

Accepted Saints: Ephesians 1:13

You are a child of The Most High God, accepted in Christ The Beloved. In response to God’s total acceptance of you in Christ, you should offer the same unconditional love and acceptance to your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 (NIV)

Marked and Sealed with The Holy Spirit: Ephesians 1:13

God marked and sealed you with the Holy Spirit that you may walk in the fruit of the Spirit and that you may step out in boldness to preach the gospel and demonstrate His power by treading on serpents and scorpions and all the power of the enemy.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NIV)

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Luke 10:19 (NIV)

Conclusion

From the spiritual standpoint, God has given you everything you need to live a godly life through the power of The Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:3 NIV).

My prayer for you is that as you meditate on who you are in Christ based on the truth of God’s Word, and as you renew your mind with the Scriptures, you will live a life that truly reflects your identity through the mighty power of The Holy Spirit who lives and dwells in you.

Amen!!

Living in the Light of who we are in Christ. A Bible study on identity in Christ based on Ephesians 1:1-14

Except indicated, all Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV).

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Comments

Ifeoma Samuel says

February 21, 2017 at 4:53 am

Amen….
I’m blessed reading this, sister.
Thank you for your encouragement and support, Chizobam. I appreciate your posts and deep Bible study.
Blessings to you

Sule says

April 9, 2017 at 9:36 pm

Thanks for your writeup on beautiful in Jesus. They are quite inspiring, Did you say this was your final post for this series or your final post. Not seen any of your post thereafter.

- Chizobam Idahosa says
  
  April 24, 2017 at 9:54 am
  
  Hello Sule,
  
  Thanks for stopping by. No, it’s not my final post. I’ve been quiet for a while but I plan on continuing to write for His glory.