Identity Components

Identity Components

-Identity (ī-ˈden-tə-tē): the truth of who I am (including who I myself to be) that alerts me to my personal value, directs my personal choices, and determines the direction of my worship.

I. Our in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22)

1. Remember Your Previous Condition. (Ephesians 2:11-12).

-Before Christ, we were:

A. (11, 12a) – Gentiles…without Christ

B. Orphans (12b) – alienated from the commonwealth of Israel

C. (12c) – strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

*A healthy remembrance of our previous condition leads us to appreciate and embrace our current identity in Christ.

2. Realize Your Current Standing. (Ephesians 2:13-16)

-If Jesus Christ is my Savior from sin, I am currently:

A. through His blood (13) – ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

B. At with God despite my sin (14-16) –He is our peace…abolished in his flesh the enmity…that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

3. Recognize Your Community Membership. (2:17-22)

-Our identity in Christ comes with a Gospel community that:

A. Knows compartmentalization (17) – preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh

B. Enjoys access to God (18) – through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

C. Is a relationship (19) – ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

D. Is permanently founded and built (20) – built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone

E. Is organically growing for God’s use and glory (21-22) – In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the LORD: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

II. Our Calling in Christ (Ephesians 3:1-13)

1. Our position and privileges in the Body are equal (1-6).

2. God calls us to take the Gospel message to the (7-11).

3. This calling comes with supernatural enablement (12-13).

A. because of access (12) – In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

B. because of access (13) – Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

III. Our in Christ (3:14-21)

1. Our identity in Christ comes with privileged communion with Him (14-19).

*In this communion with God, we can and should seek:

A. Inner to keep going (16) – to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man

B. Comprehension and application of the love of Christ (17-19a)

C. Complete equipment for of life (19b) – that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

*God’s grace is of such singular generosity that he holds back from his people nothing of Himself that will be to their spiritual advantage. It is no less than all the fullness of God that is brought to us in the covenant of the gospel. (R. Ross)

2. Our identity in Christ is designed to attribute to God (20-21).

*Adapted from Ephesians: Your Identity in Christ by Tony Merida