Your Identity in Christ

Ephesians 2:19 KJV 1900

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker

A local pastor uses a standard liturgy for funerals. To personalize each service he enters a “find and replace” command into his word processor. The computer then finds the name of the deceased from the previous funeral and replaces the name of the deceased for the upcoming one.

Recently, the pastor told the computer to find the name “Mary” and replace it with “Edna.” The next morning, the funeral was going smoothly until the congregation recited the Apostles Creed and read the part where “Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Edna.”

Today in our message we will learn the importance of Identity

Introduction

You don’t have to look very far to discover that Identity is important. You need to verify your identity to use your bank card. You need it to access your computer or your email account. You need it to vote. So many things require you to know your identity. But nothing may be as important as knowing your identity in Christ. So many Christians live like powerless, sickly, improverished tresspassers rather than heirs and joint heirs with Jesus.

In our text today the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Ephesus and helps them to not think too highly or too lowly about themselves. Let’s look at our text together and see who we are and are not in Christ.

Body

We are not Foreigners

Ephesians 2:19 KJV 1900

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Ephesians 2:12 KJV 1900

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Isaiah 59:2 KJV 1900

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

We are friends

Ephesians 2:19 KJV 1900

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

James 2:23 KJV 1900

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

James 4:4 KJV 1900

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

We are Family

Ephesians 2:19 KJV 1900

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

John 1:12 KJV 1900

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Galatians 4:7 KJV 1900

Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.