Who We Are In Christ~Julie

​To the saints who are in Ephesus and the faithful who are in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 1:1
 
Identity is such a catch phrase these days.  Everyone is talking about knowing who we are and knowing our identity.  There is also so much confusion about identity.  Wouldn't it be helpful to know, to really know, who we are?  Especially as Believers?  Who am I?  And, how do I find out?


Well, maybe the answer is somewhere we wouldn't expect.
 To the saints who are in Ephesus and the faithful who are in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 1:1

These simple words at the beginning of Ephesians that you can read in chapter 1 verse 1 that are so easily skimmed over actually contain some important answers to the above questions.  If you are diving into a reading of this letter from Paul to the Ephesian believers, we usually skip over most of the words to see who is Paul addressing: Ephesians.  Okay, now on to the meat of the letter.

But, if we are going to zoom in a little closer and carefully consider each word as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones is encouraging us to do in his sermon series on Ephesians, then we must stop and see that there is something much bigger here than what is visible in a quick glance.  

We are seeing something profound here: a statement of who we are as believers!  These few, brief introductory words highlight some keys about who we are at the very core before the Lord.  Let's take a look at each piece of this picture Paul is painting.

1. Saints
Paul is addressing this letter not to every single person in Ephesus, but to the SAINTS in Ephesus. 

What is a saint?  What does that word mean?  Who are saints?  Many people back up right then and think they can't be a saint because they feel average in their struggle to live for God.  Surely, a saint is a "special" Christian of some kind.  

But, let's look a little more carefully at the word.  Saint means "holy," which means “set apart."  So, a saint is someone who is set apart from the world, but also set apart FOR something:  for a specific purpose and for a specific relationship.

Would that apply only to a select group of Believers?  No.  Every Believer, every person who calls on the name of Jesus for salvation is set apart for God.  Which means every believer is holy, a saint.  Even the new, struggling believer.  Even the weary, doubting believer.  Each one who persists in following Christ, is a saint.
 
2.  The faithful
 
Paul doesn't just call the Believers "saints" but also refers to them as "the faithful." 
 
The faithful.  This has layers of meaning.  Literally "faith" and "full"... we are those who are full of faith.  We are full of faith in Christ, believing in Him.  ALSO, we are faithful in the sense of committed, loyal, or unswervingly devoted.

3. In Christ Jesus
 We are those who are "In Christ Jesus."

We are faithful in Christ, but we are also simply “in Christ;" we are those who are found abiding in and trusting in and leaning on Him.  Our lives as Believers, our very identity comes from knowing that we are in Christ.  Our identity is wrapped up in Him.  We now belong to Him.  We truly are not our own.  We have been "redeemed," bought back from the bondage of slavery to sin and we are now "owned" by Christ, our Redeemer. 
 
Stopping to consider and tear apart each of these phrases fills my soul with strength. Paul and the Holy Spirit who inspired his writing intended this letter to be for all Believers everywhere. 

So, put yourself in these terms.  I am a saint.  I am set apart for relationship with God and for His purposes.  I am faithful.  I am full of the gift of faith that only the Spirit can give.  I am true and loyal to Jesus and by His grace I will endure in my faith until I see Him.  I am in Christ Jesus.  I belong to Him.  I am hidden in Him.  I am abiding in Him (John 15). 

This changes the way I think about myself and makes me confident in my identity in Him.  I don't have to be confused about who I am.  I am a saint; I am faithful; and I am in Christ Jesus.

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