In Pursuit of True Identity—The final lap

Have you been journeying with me in this ‘almost-a-month-long’ series of understanding who we are in Christ Jesus? If you are new to this blog or you missed the last couple of stories in the Scribbles and Confessions section, I encourage you to read the last three blogs as it is a pre-requisite to what I would be focussing on this week.

For those of you who have been following the set, I hope you have replaced all the past lies and incorrect perceptions that might have been sowed into your life by others, with the truth of God and His Word. I am so encouraged by your willingness to hop on to this wagon of pursuing your identity in Christ. As we conclude this set, I would like to focus on who Christ has called us to be and complete our parallel study on Ephesians 1. This week, we will look at verses seven and eight and end with Paul’s prayer for the people of Ephesus:

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

We have been purchased; our freedom was bought with Christ’s blood—we are important to God, our freedom too. I love How God goes above and beyond to show His unconditional love for us.

Before getting into details, I would like you to pause, and do a small exercise. I recommend keeping a pen and notepad handy, so that you can note down the answers and review it after the exercise. 

-Ask yourself, when was the last time you felt like someone showered you with kindness? Do you remember how it felt?
-Now, imagine that feeling, a hundred cross times the intensity. Does it feel like your heart is going to explode with joy?
-Think about your present. Do you feel free or do you feel like you are stuck in the bondage of guilt, lies and rejection?
-What does freedom mean to you?

God knew our shortcomings, and still He sent His Son to die for us. And because of what Jesus did on the on the cross, we have been set free—His blood paid for the heavy price tag that the enemy put on us. And I am sure that you have heard of this, time and again. But have you truly believed the fact that God tagged you ‘important’ when the enemy tagged you ‘guilty’?—let this truth sink deeply in your heart.

It is an 18-inch journey from your head to your heart—you will be transformed as this truth travels through your system. It will refine and rejuvenate you. And I urge you to read and meditate on Ephesians 1—declare it over your life. Just like the chapter closes with Paul’s prayer, I pray alongside him that your hearts would be flooded with light, so that we will understand the confidence God has given us, His holy people. 

Paul’s thanksgiving and prayer:

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all

Here Paul prays in light of God’s ultimate plan and the work of the Triune God. Paul not only gave thanks for God’s great work among the people but also prayed it would continue with greater strength. He sets an example for us to pray for people to know God—wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. It concaves to the point of knowing one’s identity in Christ. Charles Spurgeon once said, “The proper study of God’s elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead.” 

So, here is what I said at the beginning of this series: Know God to know your true self.