Our Identity in Christ
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Ephesians 1:1-23
Ephesians 1:1-23
Go back to Genesis 32:28
In this passage, Jacob is wrestling with God.
We talked about this last time I spoke.
The wrestling equipped Jacob to persevere in trial.
The lesson last time was to allow the Lord to build within us character to equip us to prevail in times of trial.
I want to start this morning by talking about verse 28.
Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
In this verse, we discover that a result of the wrestling with God brought about a name change.
Jacob’s name was changed in this verse.
He went from Jacob: meaning Heal Grabber or supplanter.
He got this name, because at birth Jacob held onto the heal of his brother Esau.
The name indicates Jacob’s motivation in much of what transpired in his early life.
He sought to take the blessing of the firstborn from Esau.
The name Jacob refers to the old-self.
The person Jacob was before his encounter with God.
In this verse, Jacob’s name changes to Israel.
Israel means: One who struggles with God.
This name speaks to the character of the nation that has come to be known as Israel.
God often refers to them as a stiff-necked people.
Which may be a good thing because their resilience has preserved a heritage of faith.
Pray that the people will open their eyes to see the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Jacob becomes Israel.
The name change indicates a change of character.
A change of identity.
Jacob one who sought to steal a blessing to Israel, one who struggled with God.
Remember last time we talked about the struggling with God.
This does not mean that Jacob saw God as an opponent.
The struggling indicates the battle between our flesh and the authority of God in our lives.
Jacob struggled and he prevailed, meaning that he was changed.
He was different.
God built character within him.
Just like us, God builds within us character through trial.
Jacob, through this struggle was identified by a new name.
Jacob is now Israel.
Jacob is no longer identified with the old self.
He was given, by God a new identity.
He is called by a new name.
A name, an identity that has been given and upheld by God Himself.
This speaks to the transformation found in Salvation for all of us.
When we enter into covenant with God through our declaration of faith in Jesus Christ,
We become a new person.
At least we should be.
Click #1 and #2
1. The old-self, our sin nature must be put to death.
Baptism is the symbol of this transformation.
We put the old self to death and we are raised into the new self.
We are raised into an identity given by God.
We are raised and we have the opportunity to learn how to walk in our new identity.
God is calling us to be the person that He sees us as.
No longer are we the person that is identified by the fallen sin nature.
2. We have been delivered.
Transformed and healed.
Redeemed into hope of His promises.
We are going to spend some time this morning talking about our new identity.
Maybe a better way to put it is our true identity.
The one that was not stolen at in the garden of eden.
We will be identified differently.
We are to be different no longer identified by the names of this world, but identified in terms God uses
Turn to the book of Ephesians chapter 1
Remember this chapter.
This is a wonderful section of Scripture given to us by God as He speaks to us about our true identity.
Underline or highlight the things we are going to talk about, if you write in your Bible.
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Paul is addressing the people of Ephesus in this letter, but in this address, he indicates the identity of God’s people.
How does Paul address the people?
3. Ephesians 1:1- I am Holy, set apart.
Some versions of the Bible use the word saint.
To the saints of Ephesus.
Or to the saints of God.
What does it mean to be a saint or to be called holy?
It means we are different.
We are set apart.
We are utterly distinct from sin and the corruption we face in this world.
We have been delivered, rescued and saved from the curse of sin.
We are called saints and holy.
This is how God sees His people.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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.
How are we identified in this verse?
We are blessed.
4. Ephesians 1:2-3- We are blessed because of Jesus.
We are blessed because He has saved us.
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
5. Ephesians 1:4-5- We are chosen.
We are His.
Jesus came to this world to die on the cross so that we can be Redeemed and delivered because HE first loved us.
We are holy and blameless.
As we submit to the authroity of Jesus, walking in repentance, we are blameless.
This does not alleviate us from responsibility.
We are sinners who must seek repentance when we sin.
We are not given a free pass.
We have been predestined for adoption as children of God.
Predestination does not mean a select few.
There are people who believe this.
Predestination for them suggests that God has chosen a few who will be saved.
The rest of us are out of luck.
In this verse predestination occurs outside of time.
Just read what it says.
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
We have been chosen before the foundation of this earth.
Before God formed the earth, He predestined His creation to be in fellowship with him.
This is God’s will for humanity.
For the whosoever call upon the Name fo Salvation.
Not a select few.
Have you ever set a goal for yourself?
We set the goal before we start to work to achieve the goal, correct?
Predestination is similar.
God predestined humanity to be conformed to His image and Saved by His grace.
God says, here is the goal, now run to it.
We cannot set a goal as we run the race.
The goal, or finish must be determined from the start.
Thidea comes from corrupt church leaders. MAybe take out the origin of predistination?
to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
6. Ephesians 1:6- We are recipients of His glorious grace.
He freely gives us the gift if Salvation which is an act of His grace.
We are loved.
Some versions use the word Beloved.
I like that word.
It means dearly loved.
The word speaks to the focus of the one loving upon the one who is loved.
We are beloved of God.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
7. Ephesians 1:7-9- We are redeemed.
Covered by the blood of our Messiah.
Forgiven in the Name of Jesus Christ as an expression of grace.
He revealed to us the Name of Salvation, Jesus our Lord.
to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
8. Ephesians 1:10-12- We are part of God’s redemptive plan.
God is in control and through His power, all things will be conformed to His authority.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
9. Ephesians 1:13-14- I am sealed by the Holy Spirit.
We are promised an inheritance.
In faith, we are God’s possession.
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
10. Ephesians 1:15-17- I have been given wisdom and discernemnt.
God gives us this wisdom so that we can know Him better.
He instructs us.
Equips us to walk along the path that he has set before us.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
God has enlivened us to know hope.
Ephesians 1:18-21-
11. I know the hope I have in the Lord.
12. In faith, we have a glorious inheritance.
13. I can stand in the power and authroity of God to overcome.
And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
All things are under the feet of our King.
He is the supreme authority.
14. Ephesians 1:22-23- I am a member of the body of Christ.
15. We represent Him upon the earth.
Benediction: Proverbs 3:5-8
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.