Phil Rowlands

Hello, my friends!

Have you ever paused to truly consider who you are in Christ? It's a profound question that often gets lost in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, yet it's absolutely crucial to our walk with God. Today, we're going to investigate this vital truth as we explore Ephesians 5 and unpack what it really means to remember our identity in Christ.

Friends, we are called to be imitators of God, as His dear children. But do you truly grasp the weight of what it means to be God's dear child? The Greek word used here is 'agapetos', which stems from 'agape' – that selfless, unconditional love that God has for us. It's the very same word used when God spoke of Jesus at His baptism: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Can you imagine that? The same depth of love the Father has for Jesus, He now has for you and me. It's almost too wonderful to comprehend, isn't it?

But it doesn't stop there, my friends. Christ's love for us was demonstrated in the most profound and sacrificial way possible – through His death on the cross. As Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” This imagery of a sweet-smelling aroma takes us back to the sacrificial system in Leviticus, where certain offerings were described as pleasing to God.

Do you remember when you first became a Christian and decided to read through the Bible? I bet many of you breezed through Genesis and Exodus, but then hit a wall with Leviticus. All those detailed descriptions of sacrifices and offerings might have seemed tedious and perhaps even irrelevant. But let me tell you, they paint a beautiful and profound picture of what Christ would do for us.

The burnt offering, completely consumed on the altar, represents Jesus' total obedience to the Father, even unto death. He held nothing back, pouring out His life in complete surrender to God's will. The peace offering symbolizes our reconciliation with God through Christ. Remember, we were once enemies of God, but through Christ's sacrifice, we've been brought near and made at peace with Him. And the meal offering, always accompanied by a blood sacrifice, reminds us that all our service and worship are made acceptable to God through Jesus.

Friends, this sacrificial system is the foundation upon which we can truly understand God's love for us. As John so beautifully puts it, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). We can't truly grasp the depth of God's love if we leave out the cross. It's there, in Christ's sacrifice, that we see the lengths of God's love most clearly.

Now, knowing who we are in Christ, how should we live? Paul doesn't mince words in Ephesians 5:3-5. He lists behaviours that are unbecoming for saints – fornication, uncleanness, covetousness. These things, he says, should not even be named among us. Why? Because they simply don't fit who we are now in Christ. It's like trying to squeeze into clothes that are several sizes too small – uncomfortable and clearly not right.

But what if we forget who we are? What if we slip back into old habits and ways of living? Paul addresses this too, warning that no fornicator, unclean person, or covetous man has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. These words might seem harsh, even contradictory to the message of God's unconditional love and grace that we've just been discussing. How do we reconcile this?

Here's where we need to make an important distinction between our salvation and our inheritance. Our salvation is a gift, unconditional and eternal. Once we're born again into God's family, we can't become “unborn”. But our inheritance – our reward and position in Christ's kingdom – that's something we can lose if we're not faithful.

Think of it like this: in Old Testament times, the firstborn son received a double portion of the inheritance and the right to rule over the family in the father's absence. But this birthright could be lost, as we see with Reuben and Esau. They remained sons, but they forfeited their special inheritance. Reuben, for his grievous sin, lost both the priesthood and the kingship that should have been his as the firstborn. Esau, for a single meal, despised his birthright and lost it.

Similarly, while our salvation is secure in Christ, our inheritance – our reward and position in His kingdom – can be affected by how we live. Paul isn't talking about occasional slip-ups here, but about those who habitually practice sin, those who make it their lifestyle. It's a sobering thought, isn't it?

But be encouraged, my friends! Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:8, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” This is who we are now – children of light! And it's from this identity that we're called to live.

Friends, remembering who we are in Christ isn't just about feeling good about ourselves. It's about living in a way that reflects our new identity. It's about walking worthy of our calling, giving equal weight to both doctrine and practice in our lives. As Paul says in Ephesians 4:1, we are to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.”

So how do we do this? How do we live out our identity in Christ? First and foremost, we need to continually remind ourselves of who we are in Christ. This isn't a one-time revelation, but a truth we need to meditate on daily. Spend time in God's Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate these truths to you. Let them sink deep into your heart and mind.

Secondly, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. Remember, holiness isn't about following a set of rules, but about being conformed to the image of Christ. As we spend time in God's presence, beholding His glory, we are “being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Thirdly, surround yourself with fellow believers who can encourage you and hold you accountable. We weren't meant to walk this journey alone. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17). Find a community of believers who will remind you of your identity in Christ when you forget, who will encourage you to live up to your calling, and who will lovingly correct you when you stray.

Friends, let's not be like those Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 3, building with wood, hay, and straw on the foundation of Christ. These materials, common and combustible, represent a life lived without regard for our high calling in Christ. Instead, let's build with gold, silver, and precious stones – materials that will withstand the fire of God's judgment and bring reward.

Remember, we're not just saved from something, but for something. God has a purpose for each one of us. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Our identity in Christ isn't just about our status, but about our purpose.

Think about it – you are a child of the King of kings! You are an ambassador for Christ, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). You are a member of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession (1 Peter 2:9). These aren't just nice-sounding titles, but profound truths that should shape how we live every day.

When we truly grasp who we are in Christ, it changes everything. It changes how we view ourselves – no longer defined by our past mistakes or current struggles, but by our identity in Christ. It changes how we view others – seeing them not as enemies or competitors, but as fellow image-bearers of God, potential brothers and sisters in Christ. It changes how we view our circumstances – no longer at the mercy of fate or chance, but securely held in the loving hands of our Heavenly Father.

So, my friends, I urge you – remember who you are in Christ. You are dearly loved children of God, redeemed by the blood of Christ, called to walk in the light. You are forgiven, justified, sanctified, and one day, you will be glorified. You are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).

Be blessed today my brothers and sisters, and never forget your true identity in Christ. May this truth sink deep into your hearts and transform every aspect of your lives. Remember, it's not about striving in your own strength, but about resting in your identity in Christ and allowing His life to flow through you. As you go about your day, in every decision you make, in every interaction you have, let this truth guide you: you are in Christ, and Christ is in you. Live in light of this glorious reality!

Phil