Made New: A New Identity: Chosen & Blessed in Christ
Week One • September 8, 2024 • Ephesians 1:1-14
Open in Prayer
What are some areas in which people tend to be critical of themselves?
How does our low view of ourselves impact our view of God? In what ways might our low view of self affect our understanding of how God views us?
Read Ephesians 1:1-14
Greetings from Paul
1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.
I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Spiritual Blessings
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. 7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.
Discuss Together
Verses 3-6 highlight the spiritual blessings we have “in Christ” (i.e. united with Christ). How do these verses shape our understanding of our identity? How might the notion of being “in Christ” shape our view of your everyday rhythms?
Verses 9-11 emphasize God's plan to bring everything together under Christ. What does this tell us about God's character and ultimate purpose? How does this grand vision impact our understanding of our lives and purpose in the world?
In Verses 12-14, Paul highlights the the new humanity that is born out of being chosen and adopted by God. How does this understanding of our relationship with God affect our sense of community? How does it challenge us to live out our identity as it relates to others, particularly those who might be different than us?
