An Identity Crisis

Background to passage: one of the most spectacular, all-encompassing letters in the NT regarding the church and our place in it. It puts on display God’s ultimate purpose for creation, the church, and your life. It was written to the Ephesians and possibly other churches in the region.

One of the concepts that Paul deals with right up front in this run-on sentence of his introduction is who we are in Christ. Last week for Easter, we dealt with the overarching things related to the salvation provided to God by to believers. We covered redemption, forgiveness, our inheritance, our hope, sealing of the Holy Spirit as a down payment for our ultimate restoration. However, there is so much more.

We live in a world where we are confused about how we identify. People in general, our culture, and we in particular identify ourselves by our job, or our place of birth, or our heritage, our lineage, our race, our religion, our education, our sexuality, our family, our politics, our hobbies, or other things important to us that set us apart from others. However, there is one aspect that claims preeminence for believers, who we are in Christ. It is life-transforming to rest in what God says you are, and live with its applications.

Ephesians 1:7–10 ESV

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Opening illustration: Tell a little about the conference this weekend dealing with racism, social justice, LGBTQ+ issues, creation/science/evolution, the problem of evil, abortion. We learned over and over that the main way to combat who the culture says you are or should be is to let the bible tell you who you are. Two main ways, who you are as a human being, personhood, dignity, sexuality, family; and who you are in Christ. Today we will deal with the latter.

Main thought: Today, we will look at three powerful things Christ does that help define you as a believer

1) Lavishing Riches of His Grace (v. 7-8)

Ephesians 1:7–8 ESV

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 1) Lavishing Riches of His Grace (v. 7-8)

Explanation: Paul says that we have redemption and forgiveness through the blood of Christ, but it is in accordance with the riches of grace; “these riches of divine grace are the ultimate cause of our redemption, for the preposition which speaks of the norm that governs something (= ‘in accordance with’) at the same time provides the reason (= ‘because’) for that deliverance”. It is the decisive rule/foundation/cause of the former.

Paul also uses the word lavish which means poured out with superabundance, wealth and extravagance welling up from a deep unending source and poured out on believers. This is all done according to the endless, perfect wisdom and insight of an incomprehensible, unfathomable God. Even this verse alone is deep enough to drown us in the love of God and the inability to understand why he has done so much.

Ephesians 2:7–8 ESV

7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Colossians 1:27 ESV

27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Illustration: “Perhaps the closest comparison today would be the immense amounts of money offered in the major lotteries and sweepstakes giveaways. Here, though, it is not merely “something for nothing,” but an infinity of blessing freely offered. The basic difference, of course, between this gift and all others is that it is secured only through a relationship with the Giver and that its essence is the priceless intangible of divine forgiveness.” -IVP NT Commentary, 250 years ago this year, John Newton wrote the words for “Amazing Grace” in 1772. It was not until 1788, 34 years after leaving it that he renounced his former slaving profession by publishing a blazing pamphlet called

“Thoughts Upon the Slave Trade.” The tract described the horrific conditions on the ships and Newton apologized for making a public statement so many years after participating in the trade: “It will always be a subject of humiliating reflection to me, that I was once an active instrument in a business at which my heart now shudders.” The pamphlet was so popular it was reprinted several times and sent to every member of Parliament. Under the leadership of MP William Wilberforce, the English civil government outlawed slavery in Great Britain in 1807 and Newton lived to see it, dying in December of that year.