Unity – Week 1

Pastor Davis Moore

PASSAGE:
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 1:1-2)
God longs for unity
John 17:9-11 “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.”
The first pavestone in the path to unity is embracing your identity in Christ. –  He start’s with himself he says, “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,”
  • For Paul – his identity is not found in his upbringing, his natural intelligence, or his religiousness – His identity is found in who Christ has called him to be.
    • In Philippians three -after talking  about all the things he could have found his identity in that we just talked about, he said ,”I count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ.”
      • He says – all of this stuff that the world says is important and carries weight – is nothing compared to knowing Christ and walking with him –
      • In Paul’s eyes – he belongs to Christ, he is sent by Christ, and he is defined by Christ.
To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus.
Saint
Our identity in Christ in received it is not achieved.
  • this runs completely counter to everything in our American culture. Every job you had had, every school you have attended, every motivational podcast you have listened to – they all tell you – you must work really really hard – go through a whole bunch of things in order to become a certain type of person.
    • and that may be true for careers and things
But that is completely opposite of how gospel works.
  • you didn’t do a bunch of amazing stuff  to earn God’s love – In Ephesians 2 Paul says, “For by grace you have been saved. This is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no on may boast.”
  • You can’t achieve sainthood – you become a saint when you accept Christ as your savior.
    • Your sin – was placed on Christ at the cross – and His righteousness – or his perfection or his holiness was placed on you – and you became a saint – set apart. Saint is your identity – When God looks you as his child – he doesn’t see sinner. or addict. He sees a son and a daughter – he calls you chosen.
    • that’s what he means – it is an identity you received not one that you achieved.
In Christ Jesus
he put us in his family – scrubbed us clean – and said be free – sin no more. Walk in freedom.
  • In Christ – you are chosen, you are loved, you are cherished, you have purpose, you have hope, you are adopted, you are forgiven, you are set free,
  • All of the things our culture is longing for, searching for, breaking themselves to find – is findable – In Christ.
In Ephesus
Ephesus was this Super affluent city
  • super religious –  they had like fifty temples
  • they were rich – they this port city that had tons of trade coming in and out. and was quickly the 3rd biggest city Roman Empire – picture like a Los Angelos or Chicago.
    • To be an Ephesian was to take pride in where you came from It was your identity
And what Paul is saying – is you may be living in Ephesus – but your identity is not Ephesian – You are a Christian who lives in Ephesus.
  • what he is saying is your identity in Christ is the most important thing about you.
Where are you finding your identity today?

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