Ephesians 1 and 2: Understanding Our Identity and Salvation

Ephesians 1 and 2 form a powerful introduction to the letter written by the apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus. These chapters provide a profound glimpse into our identity as Christians and the transformative work of God in our lives.

Our Identity in Christ (Ephesians 1)

1. Blessed in Christ:
- God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms through Christ.
- We have been chosen by God before the foundation of the world to be his holy and blameless children.
- We are redeemed by Christ's blood, forgiven of our sins.

2. Adopted as Children:
- Through faith in Christ, we have been adopted into God's family as his children.
- We have become heirs to his kingdom and inheritors of his promises.

3. United in One Body:
- We are united as one body in Christ, regardless of our ethnic, social, or cultural differences.
- We are members of each other, and we belong to the family of God.

Our Salvation in Christ (Ephesians 2)

1. Dead in Sin:
- Before coming to Christ, we were spiritually dead, separated from God by our sins.
- We were controlled by the devil and destined for eternal condemnation.

2. Made Alive in Christ:
- God, in his great mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in our sins.
- He raised us from the dead and seated us with him in the heavenly realms.

3. Saved by Grace:
- Our salvation is not based on our own merits but solely on God's grace.
- It is a gift that we cannot earn or deserve.

4. Created for Good Works:
- As new creations in Christ, we are created for good works.
- God has prepared good works for us to do, which glorify him and serve the world.

Ephesians 1 and 2 give us a clear understanding of who we are in Christ and how we have been saved. Through our faith in him, we have been blessed, adopted, united, made alive, and saved by grace. We are now new creations, empowered to live lives that glorify God and serve the world.