Things We Have in Christ

Scripture Text 

Ephesians 1:1-7, 11&13

Intro: We hear so much negativity about Christianity in this world every day; we need to hear what God says about us who are Christians. We must constantly be reminded of what God says about us. This is why bible reading is so important. Fill your mind with God's opinion of you!

I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.  Ephesians 1:3 (NLT) ³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

Paul began by giving praise to God because by faith we are united to Christ, we have every spiritual blessing—that is, every benefit of knowing God and everything we need to grow spiritually and live for and serve Him. Because God has already blessed believers, we need not ask for these blessings but simply accept them and apply them to our lives. Because we have an intimate relationship with Christ, we can enjoy these blessings now and we will enjoy them for eternity. Listed in the bible!

I am chosen in Christ and I am (holy) and blameless (in His sight.)  Eph. 1:4 Ephesians 1:4 (NLT) ⁴ Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

God chose us in Christ before He created the world. God calls every person by His Spirit moving and working in people’s heart’s drawing us to Christ. When God calls and we accept His invitation to be saved we become holy and blameless in His sight. Jude 1:24 (NLT) Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.

I am a child of God through Jesus Christ.  Eph. 1:5

Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) ⁵ God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

God the Father had a plan before the creation of the world to adopt us into His family through the sacrifice of Jesus’ body and shed blood on the cross for us. He did this because it was His good pleasure, not because of our worthiness. Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but by His mercy He saved us.  (Titus 3:5)

I am accepted (approved of God) in the beloved (Christ).  Eph. 1:6

Ephesians 1:6 (NLT) ⁶ So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

God’s goal in the election of believers is that we would praise him. Therefore, the ultimate purpose of believers’ lives is to praise God because of his grace and wonderful kindness. Without it, we would have no hope, and our lives would be nothing more than a few years on earth. But because of His grace, we have purpose for living and hope of eternal life. His kindness was poured out on us. It was a free gift, not something we could earn or deserve.

We praise God’s grace because He accepted us in his dearly loved Son Jesus.

I have redemption and forgiveness through Christ.  Eph. 1:7

Ephesians 1:7 (NLT) ⁷ He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

All people are enslaved to sin and suffer the penalty of it, but God, so rich in kindness, purchased our freedom through the blood of his Son. Jesus paid the price to redeem us, to buy back our freedom from sin. The purchase price was his blood. Our freedom was costly—Jesus paid the price with his life.

Through his death, Jesus released us from slavery and our sins are forgiven.

I have obtained an inheritance through Christ.  Eph. 1:11

Ephesians 1:11 (NLT) ¹¹ Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.

This inheritance or heritage was predestined, that is, foreordained. And nothing could be better than to be given the greatest inheritance (birthright) possible: that of being made the very heritage of God, the very possession of God.

God works all things out after the counsel of His own will. He must, for only God knows what is best and has the power to deliver us safely home.

I have been sealed in Christ with the promised Holy Spirit.  Eph. 1:13-14

Ephesians 1:13 (NLT) ¹³ And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.  

When people believe they are given the Holy Spirit. God marks his people as his own through the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The Holy Spirit fills us with a sense of God’s love, assures us that God has adopted us as his children, and helps us to manifest Christlikeness in our lives.

Ephesians 1:14 (NLT) ¹⁴ The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

 The Spirit is a once-and-for-all guarantee that gives us continued assurance that we are God’s children, entitled to his riches and goodness now, as well as in eternity. Oh praise His holy name! We truly are blessed people because of Jesus our Savior!

Invitation: Can you claim these promises of God in your life?

Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Does the Holy Spirit bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God? If not now is the time to make sure. Confess your sins against God to Jesus Christ and ask Him to forgive you and save you from Hell. Then all these promises will be yours too!