Day 178 "Our Spiritual Position in Christ" (Ephesians: Chapter One)

Mark Hogan (Grace Walker)
Jan 17, 2020
5 min read

"Who am I?" is a question that has been asked by man over countless ages seeking to understand his identity and purpose in life. In Ephesians, Paul explains speci-fically who we are and our purpose here on Earth. He goes on to share about God's grace and our freedom from works to gain God's favor. And then there is the unveiling of God's love that Paul encourages us to understand, for in such understanding, our identity becomes solidly and irrevocably secured. Paul goes on to state that it is our destiny to grow and mature in Christ so that we will not be tossed back and forth in life as if we were set adrift in the ocean tossed about by the waves within a perilous storm. Paul also reminds us that as dearly loved children, to live a life of love. And, finally, Paul exhorts us to put on the spiritual armor and stand our ground against the spiritual forces of evil in our world. Yes, in Ephesians, there are many things to discover.

Ephesians: Chapter One

:3 "Praise be to our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."

What a marvelous truth! Imagine, no matter the plight or fortuitous situation we find ourselves to be in during this lifetime, God has already also blessed us with every spiritual blessing. I find this truth to be especially comforting when I consider God's kingdom as eternal and our world as temporary.

:4 -6 "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. 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."

This verse is packed full of good stuff. God chose us, he initiates the things

in our relationship with him. We don't have to strive to get his attention. We

are already on His radar. Our purpose is to be holy and blameless before him.

We already know that such a condition on our part is impossible to achieve

by our own effort and merit. Therefore, something has to be put into place

in order for us to become holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us. Love is otherly focused. Therefore, God's desire is to do something beneficial for us, his children. His plan was to adopt us as children through his Son Jesus Christ. God provided a plan to make us holy and blameless before him. Such conditionality is brought about through God's grace, his unmerited favor, which is given to us freely through Jesus, the One he loves.

:7 -8 "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."

God made our redemption possible through the atoning sacrifice of Christ.

I would imagine that God loved us so much that he was willing to allow Christ to be a sin offering on our behalf. We have been redeemed. Our relationship

with God has been reconciled.

:10 "to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

Christ's sacrifice not only brought about our reconciliation with God, but

it also gave Christ supremacy over heaven and earth.

"The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."

1 John 3:8

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'" Matthew 28:18

"In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subjected

to him." Hebrews 2:8

:13-14 "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy

Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-the praise of his glory."

As believers of Christ, God's Spirit is placed within us, marking us as his children and reinforcing within us the understanding that we are heirs to his kingdom entitled to an heir's inheritance.

:17 "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."

Why would Paul desire this? Because by knowing God better, we come to

a greater understanding of his love for us. As we grow in our understanding of his love, the motivation of our hearts takes on a new directive: "We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19 There are no more rules to religiously follow except one: to love. Love fulfills the law.

:18 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."

Like a spiritual father, Paul really desires for the followers of Christ in Galatia to fully understand the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. I believe Paul is wanted to point out to the Galatians the difference between living for this world versus living in the world with the expectation and hope of God's kingdom to come, thus, living more like a sojourner making one's way through life but heading home to God's kingdom in the long run."

:19-20 "That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come."

:32-23 "And god placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head

over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."

Who is it that we are asked to give our faith to? To Jesus, the one above all others, here on Earth and in the spiritual realms. It brings peace to one's soul to know that the one in whom we believe has control and authority over all things.

Key verses for me:

:3 "Praise be to our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."

:13-14 "Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy

Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-the praise of his glory."

How amazing it is to believe in the midst of this physical world around us, that we have a spiritual nature and through Christ, we are children of God and heirs of his kingdom to come. As one becomes more aware of this reality, the things of this world grow less and less dim in their importance for the believer. What does not diminish, however, in this world or in the next, is the mandate and directive to love. Relationships and love will still be the things that will transition from this world to the next. I, for one, am joyful to hear that.

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"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one

another." John 13:35

I am reminded of a song we used to sing back in Young Life-"They Will Know We are Christians." This is Jars of Clay's version.