Sacred Identity

Ephesians 1:1–14 NIV

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 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. 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— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 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, 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. 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.

Introduction: “I identify As”

- Pictures of Funny Selfies, Oldest Selfies, and Self Portraits

How Identity is Formed.

Henry Nowen Illustration

Dave Dravecky Illustration

Post Modernism Quote:

“In addition, many people today suffer from what could be called “the Zelig syndrome.” Faced with the daunting challenge of creating oneself ever anew—of constructing a self in a world largely devoid of familiar rules or normative guideposts—they stumble to achieve some

semblance of a self. Like the main character in Woody Allen’s “Zelig”—who literally changed

shape and identity depending on his personal circumstances—postmodern nomads metamorphosize, chameleon-like, into a nearly endless string of identities to conform to the

latest fashion or to cope with the unceasing flux. The postmodern self, in short, is an “infinitely

malleable self” who takes on the constructed identities proffered by the carnival of contemporary culture.” (Theology, 2021)

Wayne Brady - Pan-Sexual, Demi Levato - giving up on non-binary pronouns.

What Does Scripture say about Identity

Our Identity was chosen in Christ before time.

In order to not be shaken by the world, We must first understand how important our identity in Christ is. Merriam-Webster defines identity as “sameness of essential or generic character in different instances,” and also, “the distinguishing character or personality of an individual” Merriam-Webster.

1 Corinthians 6:17 LEB

But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with him.

To be identified with something is to be one with or regarded as the same by association. Jesus also stated his own identity in John 10:30 when he explained that he and the Father are one.

How do we find our Identity in Christ?

God chose our Identity.

Chosen to be Adopted

Chosen to reflect the family resemblance – v4 Holy and Blameless

Chosen to work in the family business – v9, 12 On Mission

God has redemption of all Creation in mind.

Chosen to receive the family inheritance – v11

Our identity is in Christ.

Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own,1 but belong—body and soul, in life and in death2—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.3

He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,4 and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.5 He also watches over me in such a way6 that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven;7 in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.8

Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life9 and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.10

Do any of you have facial recognition on their phone. This technology allows you to unlock your phone based on the particulars of your face, in order to ensure your identity. - Similarly, once our identity is in Christ, people should be able to recognize us and know we are Christians because of our active love and service in the world.

1. In Ephesians 1:3–14, There are many things we have access to or have been blessed with by being “in him” (v. 7). To be in Christ is to share in everything that he has. For example, spiritual blessings (v. 3), redemption (v. 7), inheritance (v. 14), and the seal of the Spirit (v. 13) are all things we can be assured of by being united in Christ: this is our identity.

This foundation is what allows us to accept our true identity and reject the insecurities that come from a misunderstanding of who we are.

“Ephesians 1 helps us see who we truly are as Christians. Of course, more influences our inconsistent behavior than just negative imprinting. We are members of a fallen race, encumbered with the internal power of sin (Rom. 7). Still, if we could see ourselves more clearly and more consistently as who we really are in Christ, we would be able to live more consistently like him. That is why the Bible spends so much time telling us who we really are. If we understand and believe it, we will be better able to live it. So Paul tells the Ephesians who they have become in Christ and then prays that they might have the spiritual enlightenment to grasp who they have become. To do so is to enjoy the Christian life more completely and to live like Christ more consistently” (Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, Holman New Testament Commentary

But we might think again, “We identify as Christians.”

Our identity is not swayed by the times.

Before the Foundation of the Earth.

Two ways of thinking about this - God Chose Jesus and to have an adopted family, and then those In Christ are included. Or He chose individuals before the Foundation of the Earth.

The Point is - This is God’s will from before time began and it is God’s will for when we step out of time. - Paul an Apostle according to God’s will.

Our identity in Christ is the only Identity that was there before you were born and will be intact after you die. All other identities we try to create for a foundation - washes away.

The Impact of Identity on our Lives.

Though vicious things were said about Jesus in his time on earth, he was secure because his identity was in the Father. How often do you let the cruel words of others stick to and define you? Have there been any negative names you’ve associated yourself with? If you call yourself unworthy, in the future you will never accept a date from that interesting girl or take that cool new job. Or maybe you’ve failed, and made some personal mistakes, so now you feel rejected and give in to those emotions. These are hard circumstances to deal with, but if you define yourself in Christ, knowing you are free from the power of sin and worthy of love, you will have absolute freedom in moving on from your “failures” or mistakes and have the confidence to live life fully.

Barb MacKinney Illustration

Conclusion: