Inherited Identity

This Sunday I will be starting a new series on Ephesians. I really enjoy this particular letter, because Paul does a good job of communicating his understanding of the Church. From the letter we are able to gain a sense of who we are in Christ, who we had been before Christ, who we have become now that we are united to Christ, and who we should strive to be as we grow in Christ. Amazing stuff!

As I have been preparing for this week's message, which focuses on Ephesians 1:3-14, I got really excited about discovering we have inherited an identity in Jesus. In verse 11, we are told that we have obtained an inheritance in Jesus. That which we have obtained is the identity as Children of God. How cool is that! We were created by God, but reconciled in Jesus we become something new. We become children of God. In Jesus we are able to know God as a son knows his father.

What is even better is that this identity gives us purpose. We learn that we have obtained this inheritance "so that we might praise his glory." As children of God we have significance. We have value. We have worth. We are purposed; we have the purpose of living in praise of God. Our life shifts with our identity and we are offered the opportunity to seek the glory of God.

What great news!