LIVING IN CHRIST – Who Are You?
Ephesians 1:1-14 NIV
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of his glory.
INTRODUCTION:
How many of you enjoy the classic ‘who done it’ mystery programs? One of my favorite old time shows was “Murder She Wrote” with Angela Lansburry. Anybody remember that program? Lansburry played an elderly novelist who wrote murder mysteries but then used her intuitive sense to solve actual murders that took place wherever she happened to be. Now what is not to like about a crime fighting grandma . . . except that I wouldn’t want to spend much time with a grandma like that because everywhere she goes people end up dead?
The murder mysteries of today have come a long way since the days of “Murder She Wrote,” “The Rockford Files,” “Colombo,” “Hawaii-5-O,” “Charlie’s Angels,” and the like. What TV drama’s used to leave to the imagination, shows today portray in graphic detail. Not only is the violence of the crime shown with bloody detail, but we are even taken behind the senses and into the investigative process of autopsies, DNA testing, and so much more with shows like, “Bones,” “Law and Order” “CSI,” and it’s spin-offs “CSI-New York” and “CSI-Miami.” These shows take the ‘who done it” to a whole new level with the question ‘who are you?’ These ‘Crime Science Investigators’ often begin with an examination of the victim to discover their identity, and then through the magic of scientific investigation they identify the criminal behind the crime. It really is amazing what mysteries they can solve in an hour!
This morning I want to encourage you to set up your own CSI unit. Call it “CSI-Garrettsville,” “CSI-Windham,” “CSI-Hiram,” “CSI-Nelson,” or “CSI-wherever you live.” No we don’t have a murder to solve, but we do want to answer the question, “WHO ARE YOU.” Do you know your identity in Christ? Do you know who you are? CSI will give you the answer.
This morning we will begin a journey together through the book of Ephesians called “Living In Christ.” Through out this short letter Paul emphasizes the reality that as believers we are living our lives in Christ. The theme of our oneness in Christ is among the highest and most important truths in the Bible. And sadly for many believers it is also perhaps one of the least understood truths. Again and again Paul comes back to this all important theme of what Christians have and are in Christ. Just as Paul wanted believers in Ephesus to know who they are in Christ, so too we need to know the answer to that all important question “who are you?” Understanding our identity in Christ is essential to living in Christ because how can you live in Christ if you do not know who you are in Christ?
Over the next several weeks I want to challenge you to read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians every week. Let me encourage you to also get a notebook, not just to have handy for sermon notes, but use it as your read this letter to write out your questions and watch as the Holy Spirit leads you into all truth by showing you the answers to your questions. This short letter divided into six chapters has every important doctrine of the church included within it. If you were to rank the New Testament books in order of their importance Ephesians would have to be at or near the top of the list. The more you know and understand the letter to the Ephesians, the better you understand who you are in Christ. That’s our goal: “Living In Christ.” So together we are going to camp out in Ephesus and find out who we are in Christ. So let’s get to it as today we answer the question ‘who are you?’ by setting up our personal CSI.
I. Who are you? In Christ you are “C:” CHILDREN OF GOD.
Ephesians 1:4-6 NIV
In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
1. Let’s not miss Paul’s focus: CHRISTIANS ARE IN CHRIST.
a) We have pulled this sentence from the NIV that spans from the end of verse 4 through verse 6. And yet in the Greek Paul wrote one long run on sentence of 202 words that begins in verse 3 and continues through the end of verse 14. Yet in the NIV Paul’s sentence is translated as 266 English words forming 7 sentences and broken into two paragraphs. So in the English at the minimum we think in terms of Paul making at the minimum two points (as made in each paragraph), or as many as SEVEN stand alone points (through each of the sentences).
b) Paul has one primary thought communicated in one sentence that is illustrated in a variety of ways. What is Paul’s focus? Believers are IN CHRIST. Paul uses “in Christ” or its equivalent 11 times in one sentence. Paul is making a point that the Ephesians would not miss. Unfortunately, many of us miss Paul’s emphasis that as Christians we are united together in Christ. Throughout the letter to the Ephesians Paul ties the letter together with nearly 120 “in” references, most of which are lost in our English translations. I would encourage you when you read Ephesians this week to circle as many references to “in Christ” or its equivalent as you can find in your Bible. This is Paul’s theme from beginning to end—living in Christ.
2. The CSI question—“Who are you?” IN CHRIST you are “C” Children of God.
a) How often have you heard someone say something like: “We are all God’s children?” I know what they are trying to say—they want to make the point that as sons of Adam and daughters of Eve we are all God’s children. While God is the creator of everyone in the human race that does NOT make you and me children of God. You and I (and anyone else in the human race for that mater) are only children of God if we are IN CHRIST.
b) Paul says that in Christ “predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ.” Now don’t get hung up on that word predestined. We are going to come back to that word again next week, so for now simply understand predestined as what God predetermined or decided in advance. And what did God decide in advance? All those IN CHRIST will be adopted as his sons—that being in Christ makes us children of God.
c) Notice God’s motivation: “IN LOVE he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us IN THE ONE HE LOVES.” God’s motive is love! Paul is emphasizing what God does in love in the one He loves. In love God has adopted us as his children in His Son Jesus—the One He loves.
Illustration: The adoption of a child is the overflow of parents love directed toward their child..
3. You and I must respond to the love of the Father to be adopted as His children.
John 1:12 NIV
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
a) Your adoption as a child of God is conditional. God in His love has chosen you, but you must likewise choose to be included in Christ as His child.
b) As children of God we are to bear a family likeness.
Philippians 2:15-16 NLT
Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
II. Who are you? In Christ you are “S:” SAINTS
1. Saint, holy one—set apart.
Ephesians 1:1, 4 NIV
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
2. The timing and purpose of God’s choice: IN HIM.
3. Saints are blameless in His sight. God sees what we do not see in ourselves.
Illustration: I see my kids as my children regardless of what they may do or say. I may be disappointed by what they do but I will always love them and see them as mine.
Romans 3:20-23 NIV
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
4. Paul describes saints as “faithful in Christ Jesus.”
III. Who are you? In Christ you are “I:” INTENSE INTEREST OF GOD.
1. God cant’ take His eyes off you. You are His intense interest because in Christ we MAKE GOD SMILE
Ephesians 1:4-6 NIV
In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace.
Ephesians 1:12, 14 NIV
12 In order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory . . . 14 — to the praise of his glory
2. In Christ we are God’s pleasure . . . for the praise of His glorious grace.
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV
The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Psalms 51:15-17 NIV
15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
CONCLUSION: Who are you? CSI—Children of God, Saints, Intense Interest of God.
1. Have you responded to God’s choice to adopt you as His child? Take a step toward your Father God and receive Christ as your savior today.
2. In Christ we are saints—holy and blameless in His sight. What sin have you been trying to hide from God’s sight? Repent of your sin and let God make you one of His faithful in Christ Jesus.
3. You are God’s intense interest. One way to make God smile is through worship. Change how you start your day and put on a CD of worship and sing along with it. Let praise fill your heart in the morning and discover how praise will splash into the rest of your day as you become aware o
