Remember who you are

We are going to begin a series through the book of Ephesians.

The book is split into two sections. The first section talks about who we are in Christ. We will spend the next few weeks learning/remembering what Jesus has done for us. Next week, we will look at the first part of chapter 2.

Prayer

The Lion King (Mufasa speaking to Simba)

As believers, it can be easy to forget who we are because our enemy wants to keep us from knowing the potential God has for us.

Satan has been up to the same trick from the beginning of time.

The church in Ephesus was struggling with their identity.

Paul wrote the letter while in prison

Churches were struggling with unity

In Revelation 2:4, we see they lost their first love.

Paul begins his letter with telling the Ephesians what God has done for them.

(Read Ephesians 1:1-14)

There are four statements the begin with, “In Christ”. These statements tell us what God has done for us.

In Christ, we are chosen

God already decided that whoever calls on Him will be saved

Extreme Calvinists claim this verse as proof of predestination. This verse does talk about the sovereignty of God, but we cannot only look at one part of the whole Word of God. God has given every person an ability to choose.

We need to live within the tension between the Sovereignty of God and Free Will

He wants us to choose Him because He already chose us.

Illustrate with Deciding Parenting habits before having kids

Doesn’t always work, but with God it always does.

In Christ, we are adopted

Adoption definition in biblical times ()

Illustrate with adoption of Joseph

Adoption brings benefits of being heirs with Christ

In Christ, we are redeemed

Redemption (or salvation) is deliverance from some evil by payment of a price

On the Cross, Jesus paid for all our sin and provided a path for salvation.

Illustrate with Paul’s Conversion

Throughout the chapter we see the work of our salvation being done by the Holy Spirit.

The Father chose us

The Son, Jesus, Redeemed us

The Holy Spirit protects/seals us

In Christ, we have security

If something was sealed, it meant it was secured for protection and showed ownership.

Our security is also because of our adoption and redemption

Illustrate with Notarizing a document

Since we know who we are in Christ, take a moment and think about the people who are not saved. They feel rejected, orphaned, lost, and without a secure future. Because of what God did for us, we should share what God has done for us. It all comes down to one key point.

BECAUSE OF JESUS…WE ARE ADOPTED INTO GOD’S FAMILY

Our family has expectations when in comes to how we act and think. In my wife’s classroom, they create a social contract at the beginning of the year that sets the expectations on behaviors. God sets out the expectations for His family throughout the Bible.

Expectations of being in God’s Family

A Child of God honors the Father

How we can honor God

Obey His Commands

Imitate God

1 Peter 1:14–16 “as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.””

Live like God’s children

A Child of God loves the Family of God

John 13:34–35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””

We should work together with each other. We are not competing with other believers. When we start to see other gospel teaching churches as competition, we are going to be going down a dangerous road.

No family is perfect. The thought of being part of the family of God can be difficult for some people if they have a rough family background. A beautiful part of God’s family is we have a common ground that is found in Christ.

Personally, I have seen moments that the family of God is more present and loving than biological family.

Life group in Garden City with the Payne’s

“Family of God” hymn

A Child of God shares with those outside of the family

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

Being a child of God comes with responsibility. God wants us to tell others about what He has done for us. Satan will attack us by reminding us about our past. However, we need to understand our identity is in Christ. Society is full of people that are struggling with their identity. There are many aspects of our life that shape us, but they are not our identity.

God has told us our identity is a child of God. He redeemed us, chosen us, sealed us, and adopted us. When people are struggling with who they are, we can tell them what God did for us. We can impact others with our testimony.

How do we do it?

Life before Christ

How I came to Christ

How life is different

Give my example

It is important to know that our story is important regardless of if we believe it is not interesting. Our story might be something they can relate to.

As we begin to see what Jesus has done for us, the first part that we need to understand is we are adopted into God’s Family. We need to live like we are in God’s Family throughout our daily lives.