Thank you.
Look in the mirror.
So this morning I want to start off by asking, when you look in the mirror, what do you see?
Well, some of you might be saying, well, I see me when I look in the mirror.
Who are you?
If I were to answer that question, I would say, well, I'm a white, middle-aged man, married, father of four, got a dog.
I've got an Italian background, Calabrese.
And if I were to be honest, I've got a lot of miles on this chassis.
Who are you?
When you're looking in the mirror, what's going through your mind?
Maybe here's the most important question of the morning.
When God looks at you, maybe while you're looking in the mirror, what does He see?
What does God think when He sees you?
Christian, who does God say that you are?
How does God define you?
What does God say is true of you in Christ?
Brother, sister in Christ, did you know that when God saved you, He gave you a whole new identity?
You are a new creation in His sight.
You're not who you used to be.
And it changes the way that you live your life.
Last October, we started the study of the book of Ephesians.
And we took a break from it in July and August to get into Psalm 119,
in which we just kind of simmered for two months.
It was wonderful.
And so this morning, we're back into the study of Ephesians.
We're resuming the study.
Now, Ephesians is like an 18-hole golf course.
There's the front nine, and then there's the back nine.
And so the front nine of Ephesians, the first three chapters, is all about who we are in Christ Jesus.
Passage after passage, God is saying, this is who you are, Christian.
This is who you are.
And then the back nine of Ephesians, chapters 4-16,
is how we are to live out our identity in Christ.
And so what we're going to see is, who we are determines how we live.
You've got to know who you are.
And in order to know that, you've got to know what this book says.
So the first half of Ephesians, who we are in Christ.
The second half of Ephesians, how we live as new creations in Christ.
And we've turned the corner.
We've turned the corner into the back nine of Ephesians.
And so here's what I know.
I know that many of you weren't around for the first half of Ephesians.
And I know, taking two months out of Ephesians in Psalm 119,
we may lose our bearings a little bit in Ephesians.
So this morning, what I'd like to do is review the high points of chapters 1-3
in order to position us to enter the back nine.
I want to remind you, brother and sister in Christ,
of who you are in Jesus.
You're a new creation with a new identity that results in a new way of walking.
You've been made alive in Christ.
And now we live for Him.
Who we are determines how we live.
So this morning, three points that will help you understand who you are in Christ Jesus.
Three points, three realities of our identity in Jesus.
And so here they are.
Christian, you are eternally loved by the triune God.
That's the first thing you need to understand about yourself.
It's who you are.
First, you're eternally loved by the triune God.
Second, you've been radically changed by Christ.
And third, God has very purposefully knit you into a body of believers.
You belong to a people now.
The Christian life is living out who God has already made us to be in Christ Jesus.
So now let's turn to this first point.
Christian, you are eternally loved by the triune God.
If you return in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 1, I'm going to draw some things out of chapter 1 verses 3 through 14.
3 through 14, these verses picture God doing a work in us.
He loves us from eternity past.
And He loves us for eternally into the eternal future.
Each member of the Trinity loves you, brother and sister in Christ.
Let's look at it.
God the Father has loved you from eternity past.
Look at Ephesians 1, 4 through 5.
Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and blameless before Him.
In love, He predestined us.
He predestined us in love for adoption through Jesus Christ.
Before the foundation of the world,
God chose us.
Before God created the earth and the fullness thereof,
God knew who would be His own.
In love, He predestined some sinners to become His sons and daughters.
Now this is begging a question.
How did God do that?
What was the basis of His choice?
Did He make His choice based on what people in the future would decide?
Or did He base His choice on a sheer act of His sovereign will now?
Well, you know what?
We're not going to answer that question this morning.
We're not going to dwell in how God made that choice.
We're going to dwell on why God made that choice.
And if you look at verse 4,
at the end of verse 4 into verse 5,
you see why.
In love, He predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ.
In love.
Here's what I'm getting at.
From eternity past,
God has loved you, brother and sister in Christ.
The Father has loved you.
He sought you from eternity past.
It's no accident.
You weren't in the right place at the right time.
You didn't get lucky.
God sought you.
He loves you from eternity past.
And the effect that should have on us is this.
What an amazing God we got.
He knew who you are,
and He was pursuing you from eternity past.
God the Father chose us.
He loves us.
So God loved you, brother, sister,
from eternity past.
And He's also demonstrated that love in the present.
We can see that in verse 7.
In Him, we have redemption through His blood.
So, God chose us.
The Father chose us.
The Son redeemed us in the present.
God demonstrates His love for us
by redeeming us.
Jesus delivered us
from slavery to sin,
from slavery to guilt,
from slavery to fear and death,
and He delivered us to holiness
and joy and confidence.
And He did it through His blood.
Now, you hear the word redemption.
I don't know what goes into your mind,
so let's get on the same page
with this word redemption.
When you hear the word redemption,
you need to be thinking slavery.
Now, slavery was a common practice
in the Greco-Roman culture
that this letter was written in.
But you know what?
It was a different kind of slavery
than what we think of
that took place in the United States
for so long,
which was an atrocity, by the way.
So, the slavery taking place
in the first century Greco-Roman culture,
though it wasn't the same
as what happened in the United States,
it was a kind of slavery nonetheless.
Now, what Paul is doing here,
he's taking a common practice
that all his readers would have known about
and all of them would have experienced.
They would have seen it being played out
day after day,
and he's using that practice
to paint a picture
of what God has done for us in Christ.
Christ has redeemed us.
To redeem is to purchase a slave
out of slavery into freedom.
And the purchase price
to pay for a slave's freedom
was called a ransom.
And Jesus paid our ransom.
And He didn't pay it with His credit card
so that He can get extra miles.
Jesus paid our ransom with His blood.
In Him, we have redemption through His blood.
He gave His life
so that we can be ransomed from slavery.
Remember Mark 10.45,
Jesus says this,
I came not to be served,
but to serve and to give my life,
to shed my blood
as a ransom for many,
as a ransom for you, brother,
for you, sister.
Now technically,
Jesus paid your ransom
2,000 years ago
on the cross.
And that ransom price
was applied to you
the moment you believed in Jesus.
At that moment,
you were set free.
Why would Jesus do that?
Because He loves you.
But God demonstrates
His own love towards us
in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
He shed His blood for us.
He loves us.
Here's what Ephesians 1.3-14
has taught us so far.
We've been chosen by the Father
from eternity past.
He loves you.
He's always loved you.
You were redeemed
by the precious blood of Jesus
in the present.
And the last thing
I would like you to see
is that you were sealed
by the Spirit of God,
guaranteeing in eternity
in the loving presence of God.
He will always love you.
You've always been loved.
You are loved right now.
And you will always be loved.
Would you look at
verses 13 and 14 of chapter 1?
In Him you also,
when you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation,
and believed in Him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit
who is the guarantee
of our inheritance
until we acquire possession of it
to the praise of His glory.
The moment a sinner
believes in Christ,
at that moment,
they are sealed
by the Holy Spirit,
the third person of the Trinity.
Now when you hear the word sealed,
don't think ocean mammal.
Or, or, or.
Not that.
And when you hear the word sealed,
don't think your kitchen sink.
You know when you drop
a kitchen sink in,
you kind of put a silicon seal around it
so it doesn't leak in underneath that.
Paul's not talking about
silicon caulk right here.
He's not.
He's writing of an authoritative mark
that is impressed upon
an official document
that signifies its legitimacy.
It's authentic.
We see that mark in all sorts of things.
Birth certificates.
Marriage licenses certificates.
I think car titles have them as well.
You know, those kind of raised seals
that you feel
to make sure that this document
is legit.
What Paul is saying here
is that the Holy Spirit
is impressed upon a Christian
the moment that they believe.
Legitimizing the fact
that that Christian
now and forever
belongs to God.
Do you see the extent of this?
Verse 14.
Who is the guarantee
of our inheritance
until we acquire possession of it.
The Holy Spirit
indwells us
the moment we believe
and makes us
God's own
guaranteeing
an eternity
with God.
Jesus is coming back.
And we live
in between the comings.
Jesus has already come
the first time.
And now we're sitting
on G
waiting for O
from the Father
for Jesus to come back.
and when He comes back
He's going to make
all wrongs right.
And so right now
we await
His second coming.
He's going to come
like a thief in the night.
Now I know
that for some of you
in that room
that can kind of
stir up some fears
in your heart.
But brother,
sister in Christ
we don't have to be afraid
of His second coming.
We don't need to be afraid
of Jesus' return.
And here's why.
The Holy Spirit
in us
guarantees
that when Jesus
comes back
He will claim us
as His own.
It's guaranteed.
I guarantee it.
When we talk about
seeing Jesus
when He comes back
it rightly has the effect
on our hearts.
It stirs a longing
doesn't it?
When you think about
Jesus coming back
you're like
I can't wait to see Him.
I can't wait
to be in His presence.
I am so looking forward
to that.
But let me float
something by you guys
this morning.
Brothers and sisters
in Christ
could it be
that your risen Savior
longs to see you
face to face
more than you long
to see Him
face to face?
Is it possible?
Oh yeah.
He has put His Spirit
in you
to seal you
for Himself
guaranteeing
that He will see you
face to face.
You know what this means?
He longs to see you.
He longs to be with you.
He loves you.
God the Father
has loved you
from eternity past.
God the Son
loves you.
He redeemed you
in the present.
And God the Spirit
has sealed you
guaranteeing being
with God
for eternity
experiencing His love.
Now you might be
sitting in your pew
right now
and you're like thinking
does God really
love me like that?
Does He really
long to be with me
like that?
Based on what
the Bible says
oh yeah
He does.
He longs to be with you.
Now if you're not
a Christian in the room
let me ask you
this question.
Are you aware
of your sin?
Are you aware
that when you sin
when you do wrong
that it is against God?
Are you aware
of that?
And if you're aware
of that
and you're wondering
what you should do
here's what you do.
You cry out
to Jesus
who shed His blood
for you.
That's what you do.
So brother, sister
in Christ
tomorrow morning
you're looking in the
bathroom mirror
you're asking yourself
who is this person?
Chosen by God
the Father
from eternity past
you're loved.
Redeemed by the Son
in the present
you are loved.
Sealed by the Spirit
for eternity
you are loved.
Loved by God.
Eternally loved
by the triune God.
Is it true?
It's true!
God's Word says so.
So now
our response is
we believe it.
We trust it.
We trust
that what this says
is more true of us
than the way
we may feel.
This is what God's Word says.
So the first thing
that you need to know
about yourself
brother and sister
in Christ
is that you've been
eternally loved
by the triune God.
The second thing
I want you to see
is that you've been
radically changed
by Jesus Christ.
If you just look
at Ephesians 2
1 through 10
if you look in there
there is a radical
change described
right there
of a Christian.
Radical.
What kind of radical change
are we talking about?
You were
dead to God
and God
made you
alive to Him
through Christ.
That is
a radical change.
This past June
I was walking
my dog
by the
Southport
Beach House.
And I was walking
my dog
and I happened
to look
out onto the water
and I noticed
something floating
on the water
four or five feet
out from the shoreline.
Instantly
I knew something
wasn't right.
So I started
hustling down
to the water
and as I came up
on the water
my eyes
saw this.
I saw
an elderly man
floating on his back
face in the water.
I ran into the water.
I pulled him over
and as soon
as my skin
touched his skin
I knew
this man was dead.
I pulled him
out of the water
onto the shore
and I was just
surveying him
I was looking
at his face
I'm looking for
any signs
of life.
No breath
no heartbeat
no movement
in his eyes
this man
was lifeless
unresponsive
this man
was dead.
God wants us
to understand
our spiritual
condition.
He wants us
to understand
that before
we became
Christians
we were dead.
We were dead.
And what Paul
is saying here
he's not speaking
of a physical death
he's not saying
let's see here
he's not saying
and you were
physically dead
in your trespasses
and sins
he's saying
you were
spiritually dead
in your trespasses
and sins.
And here's
what that means
you were dead
to God
dead
to God
flat lined
cold
you didn't care
you didn't give
a rip
didn't matter
you were
dead
to God
you may have
been physically
alive
but you were
spiritually dead
you were
cold to God
unresponsive
to Him
you were
lifeless
here's the deal
if you don't
understand your
spiritual condition
before you become
a Christian
who you were
you were
dead
in your trespasses
and sins
if you don't
understand that
you're not going
to really fully
appreciate
who you are
now in Christ
what God has
done for you
through Christ
that you were
dead and now
you are alive
you were dead
to God
but through Christ
you are now
alive to God
in Christ
Jesus
so Ephesians 2
1 through 3
show us that
we were dead
and not only
just dead
we were in
danger
we were under
God's wrath
you see that
in Ephesians 2
3
but here's what
God did
here's the
radical change
you were dead
but God
made you alive
look at 2
verses 4
and 5
but God
being rich
in mercy
because of
the great
love with
which he
loved us
think of
an eternal
love of
the triune
God
right there
but God
being rich
in mercy
because of
the great
love with
which he
loved us
even when
we were
dead
in our
trespasses
made
us alive
together
with Christ
by grace
you have
been saved
by grace
you have
been saved
we were
made alive
by God
with Christ
better yet
we were
made alive
to God
through Christ
God
united us
to Christ
in his death
and in his
resurrection
we are
united to
Christ
and we
were even
seated
with Christ
in the
heavenly places
it's amazing
of what God
has done
for us
it's a
radical change
it's all
by his
grace
unmerited
unconditional
we were
unresponsive
he did
something
in us
radical
change
dead
to God
in danger
of his
wrath
and then
God
in Christ
made us
alive
seated us
with him
in the
heavenly
places
in that
moment
you believed
you were
eternally
changed
your
eternities
changed
right there
done
awesome
but not
only
your
eternity
changed
you were
changed
you were
dead
and then
God
made you
new
the basis
of this
this radical
change
is
Christ's
radical
love
he died
in your
place
for your
sin
and then
was raised
so that
you too
could live
a new
life for
God
that's
awesome
who
were you
you
were dead
to God
who are
you
now
you
are
alive
to God
and you
have
Christ
Jesus
alone
to
thank
for
that
Paul
says it
this way
in 2nd
Corinthians
517
you're a new
creation
the old
has
gone
the new
has
come
in Ephesians
210
we see
that
this
this is
all
moving
in a
certain
direction
God
made
you
alive
for
a
purpose
to
walk
in
the
good
works
which
God
prepared
beforehand
for
you
Christian
to
walk
in
he
gave
you
new
life
so
that
you
could
live
for
him
that's
how
dead
you
were
now
we've
got to
remember
that
who
we
are
determines
who
we
live
and
if
we
were
dead
and
were
made
alive
it
changes
the
game
we
now
can
live
for
God
all
praise
to
Jesus
Christ
this
is
who
you
are
now
you
were
dead
you're
dead
no
longer
Christian
now
by
God's
grace
you've
been
made
alive
and
now
we're
called
to
walk
it
out
to
live
out
who
God
has
made
us
to
be
radically
changed
we've
been
radically
changed
new
creations
so let
me ask
you the
question
is it
true
is
Ephesians
2
1
through
10
true
of
you
is it
true
believe
it
trust
it
you're
a new
creation
in
Christ
that's
who
you
are
now
the
third
thing
I
want
you
to
see
to
help
you
understand
who
you
are
you've
been
eternally
loved
by
the
triune
God
you've
been
radically
changed
by
Christ
made
alive
in
him
and
the
third
thing
I
want
you
to
see
is
that
God
intentionally
sets
you
into
his
body
he
knits
you
into
the
body
of
Christ
we
see
in
Ephesians
2
11
through
4
16
this
big
stretch
of
Ephesians
it's
all
about
the
church
it's
all
about
the
church
those
people
that
Jesus
has
redeemed
and brought
together
as
one
new
people
there's
just a
few
things
I
want
you
to
see
here
it's
really
this
is
really
amazing
in
Ephesians
2
11
through
22
here's
what
we
read
here's
what
it's
getting
at
the
blood
of
Christ
that
united
us
to
God
the
same
blood
that
united
us
to
God
has
united
us
to
one
another
how
about
that
blood
that's
thicker
than
water
man
and we've
got some
differences
in our
midst
don't we
we've
got some
differences
in this
room
some of
us have
European
backgrounds
some of
us have
African
backgrounds
some of
us have
Asian
backgrounds
some of
us have
Indian
backgrounds
some of
us have
Central
or South
American
backgrounds
some of
us
we're
still
kind of
wondering
what
your
background
is
but
despite
all our
differences
in our
ethnic
backgrounds
we all
have
something
in
common
that is
far more
important
that is
far more
powerful
than our
ethnic
heritage
let me
put it
this way
being
Italian
doesn't
save
me
have
an
Italian
background
doesn't
save
me
it's
got
no
power
it's
Christ
that
saves
us
Christ
is
our
life
we're
different
but what
unites
us
is far
greater
than
any
differences
we
may
have
and
let me
just
add
this
when
God
brings
a
people
together
with
many
differences
and
unites
them
in
Jesus
he
gets
a
glory
that
is
unique
to
him
it
is
a
full
glory
when
people
of
diverse
backgrounds
come
together
and
we're
saying
it's
all
about
Jesus
he
is
our
life
that
gives
God
a
greater
glory
our
identity
now
is in
Jesus
he
saves
us
he
gave
each
of
us
a
new
identity
and
that
trumps
our
ethnic
heritage
so
does
that
mean
I
cease
to
be
Calabres
it
doesn't
I'll
be
Calabres
till
the
day
I
die
but
here's
what
it
does
mean
in
light
of
what
Christ
has
done
Christ
defines
me
now
I
use
my
Italian
background
for the
glory
of
Jesus
now
it's
all
about
him
and
he
has
united
us
together
we've
been
united
by
the
blood
of
Jesus
and
we're
now
a
new
people
that's
what
Ephesians
is
saying
we
look at
Ephesians
chapter 4
verses 1
through 16
and we
read this
that
God has
purposely
gifted
each of
us
and knit
us
together
as a
local
body
not only
have we
been united
together
by the
blood
of
Jesus
God
the
Father
has
purposefully
gifted
each
of us
and knit
us
together
as a
body
he
doesn't
make
mistakes
we
are
interdependent
members
of the
body
of
Christ
that's
who
you
are
now
we
have
a
corporate
identity
not only
do we
think
in terms
of
me
and
I
we
think
in
terms
of
us
we're
the
body
of
Christ
so
we're
united
by the
blood
we've
been
knit
together
as
a
body
this
is
who
you
are
it's
who
we
are
and
then
310
what I
want to
show you
is
this
God
made us
alive
united
us
knit
us
together
in order
to make
known his
manifold
wisdom
to
everybody
look at
310
will you
so that
through
the church
the manifold
wisdom
of God
might now
be
might now
be made
known to
the rulers
and authorities
in the
heavenly
places
we
exist
as a
church
to
make
known
God's
glorious
plan
for
the
fullness
of
time
and
that
plan
is
to
unite
all
things
in
Christ
starting
with
the
people
here's
what
that
means
we're
living
proof
we're
living
proof
that
the
triune
God
is
purposefully
saving
people
in
uniting
them
together
for
a
people
for
his
own
namesake
that's
what
he's
doing
we
exist
for
his
glory
who
are
you
tomorrow
morning
you look
in the
mirror
who
are
you
well
you're
a
gifted
member
of
the
body
of
Christ
you've
been
united
to
other
people
you
exist
for
the
glory
of
God
now
we're
defined
by
relationships
with
other
Christians
we have
a
corporate
identity
is
it
true
yes
it's
true
you
know
what
that
means
if
you
don't
have
a
church
family
you
need
one
God
has
designed
it
that
way
it's
part
of
who
you
are
so
let
me
wrap
this
thing
up
tomorrow
morning
tomorrow
night
tonight
you're
looking
at
yourself
in
the
mirror
what
are
you
more
aware
of
more
aware
of
the
crow's
feet
the
grays
or
are
you
more
aware
of
how
God
sees
you
we
forget
don't
we
forget
who
we
are
we
forget
what
God
and
Christ
has
done
for
us
we
forget
that's
why
he's
given
us
his
word
so
that
we
remember
and
remember
and
remember
that
you're
eternally
loved
by the
triune
God
radically
changed
by
Christ
and
intentionally
knit
into
the
body
of
Christ
this
is
who
we
are
this
is
who
we
are
this
fall
what
we're
going to
do
is
this
we're
going
to
learn
how
we
live
out
who
we
are
together
as a
church
that's
where
we're
going
how
to
live
for
Jesus
who
we
are
determines
how
we
live
Christ
is
our
life
so
we
together
live
for
him
let me
pray
God
in
heaven
it's
amazing
what
you've
done
for
us
in
Christ
Jesus
it's
amazing
to think
about
your
love
for
us
and
as
we
do
as
you
think
what
you've
done
for
us
in
Christ
your
whole
hearted
devotion
to
us
our
response
is
all
our
hearts
all
our
ways
all
our
time
all
our
days
it's
just
that
simple
the
math
is
clear
God
we
love
you
we
want
to
give
you
it
all
we
pray
this
in
the
name
of
Jesus
amen