Knowing Who I Am

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3, ESV).

Being a Christian means accepting the blessings that are ours in Christ and living them out by faith. It is realising—

· what we have

· who we are 

in Christ. It is not becoming what we are not; it is becoming who we already are! 

Here is a list of many of the blessings listed in the first three chapters of Ephesians. It’s worth making a copy and keeping it as a regular reminder of what the Lord has done.

· I am a saint (1:1)

· Grace and peace are mine (1:2)

· I am blessed with every blessing (1:3)

· I am chosen before the creation of the world

· I am predestined (1:5)

· I am adopted into God's family (1:5)

· I am redeemed (1:7)

· I am forgiven (1:7)

· God's grace is lavished on me (1:8)

· Wisdom and understanding are mine (1:8)

· God's will is made known to me (1:9)

· I am included in Christ (1:13)

· I am sealed with the Holy Spirit (1:13)

· I have a guaranteed inheritance (1:14)

· I am called to hope (1:18)

· I have a glorious inheritance (1:18) 

· His incomparably great power works in me (1:19)

· God has given me life (2:5)

· I am seated in heavenly places (2:6)

· I am saved by grace (2:8)

· I am God's workmanship (2:10)

· I am brought near through Christ's blood (2:13)

· I am reconciled with others (2:16)

· I have access to the Father (2:18)

· I am a fellow citizen with God's people (2:19)

· I am a dwelling place for God's Spirit (2:22)

· I am a member of one body (3:6)

· I share in the promise of Christ (3:6)

· I can approach God with freedom (3:13) 

· God is able to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine (3:20)

So What?

1. Imagine seven people have come to you for encouragement because they are experiencing one of the following: (a) a sense of hopelessness; (b) a feeling that God is distant; (c) a sense of failure; (d) a lack of confidence; (e) a lack of spiritual strength; (f) loneliness; (g) absence of joy. 

2. Which of the blessings in the list above would you encourage each one to take hold of? Make a list. 

3. Quote Ephesians 1:1-10 from memory. Re-learn any sections you have forgotten.