Book of Ephesians
EPHESIANS 1:1-2
WHEN YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST, IT CHANGES HOW YOU LIVE FOR CHRIST.
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Ephesians 1: Know who you are.
Ephesians 2: Know what grace has done.
Ephesians 3: Know the purpose of God's plan.
Ephesians 4: Walk worthy of your calling.
Ephesians 5: Live a life of love and light.
Ephesians 6: Stand strong in the Lord.
BEFORE WE CAN WALK LIKE CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST.
one of the greatest struggles in the life of a believer is understanding their identity.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, YOU WILL LET SOMEBODY ELSE TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE
You can spend your entire life trying to become somebody in the eyes of the world while overlooking who God has already made you in Christ.
EPHESIANS 1:1
1. YOUR CALLING COMES FROM GOD, NOT PEOPLE.
YOUR PAST MAY BE PART OF YOUR TESTIMONY, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO REMAIN YOUR IDENTITY."
There is a difference between what people assign to you and what God calls you to.
You cannot build your identity on people's approval because people's opinions change.
GALATIONS 1:15-16
1 Timothy 1:12-16
2. GOD DOESN'T JUST SAVE YOU FROM SOMETHING; HE CALLS YOU INTO SOMETHING.
"saints" - the Greek word - hagios - meaning holy or set apart
HOLINESS IS NOT ABOUT THINKING YOU'RE BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE. IT'S ABOUT BELONGING TO SOMEBODY GREATER THAN YOURSELF.
1 PETER 2:9-10
3. YOUR LOCATION DOESN'T HAVE TO DETERMINE YOUR IDENTITY.
they have a physical location, but they also have a spiritual identity.
Your greatest identity isn't what you do, where you live, or what you own. It's who you belong to."
GALATIONS 2:20
EPHESIANS 1:2
4. YOU NEED GRACE BEFORE YOU CAN EXPERIENCE PEACE.
Grace is God's undeserved favor toward us
Ephesians 2:8–9
GRACE IS NOT GOD REWARDING YOU FOR BEING GOOD. GRACE IS GOD LOVING YOU WHEN YOU COULD NEVER EARN IT.
Romans 5:8
5. PEACE IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF TROUBLE. IT IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
IF YOUR PEACE DEPENDS ON EVERYTHING GOING RIGHT, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE PEACE FOR VERY LONG.