RESTORED Week 5 - In Christ...

Watch the Video for Week 5:“In Christ.”

Scriptures Mentioned Today

• 2 Corinthians 5:17-18
• Galatians 3:26-29
• Ephesians 1:3-14

Your Notes from the Teaching

There are many passages in the New Testament that reveal aspects of our restored identity In Christ, but none as detailed as Ephesians 1:3-14. The Word of God has power to change us – just by reading it, agreeing with it, having faith in it, and then putting that faith into action. Break down all of the inheritances found “In Christ” listed in this passage. Below, write what they are, and how you will think and live differently, now that you know who you really are.

v.3:___________________________________________________________________________

v.4:___________________________________________________________________________

v.5:___________________________________________________________________________

v.6:___________________________________________________________________________

v.7-8: _________________________________________________________________________

v.9-10: ________________________________________________________________________

v.11-12:_______________________________________________________________________

v.13-14:_______________________________________________________________________

If you are like me, you love a good story. Heroes and villains go at it, and we hope the good guys triumph in the end. We find ourselves longing to be like the hero, and avoid becoming like the villain, and get drawn in by a story that helps us understand the very nature of who we are, and what our purpose is in life.

Have you ever noticed that all good stories have a backstory, or origin story, behind them? Both villain and hero alike had some kind of major issues (usually traumatic) that shaped them into the person they became. Have you also noticed that many heroes are orphans, or had some kind of tragic loss that became a defining moment for them? Superman’s home planet is destroyed, and he is raised in an adopted family in a foreign world. Spider man’s parents are dead, and his beloved uncle is killed. Batman – well, let’s not even get started on that one.

Many of our favorite bible heroes have the same kind of origin. Moses escapes a mass murder of all boys his age, only to be raised in the house of the genocidal maniac who killed his cousins. Joseph’s brothers throw him in a pit, sell him into slavery, and tell his father he was eaten by a wild animal. Even Jesus had an interesting origin story: he had to flee to Egypt as a little boy with his parents to avoid yet another genocidal maniac king. He was raised by parents whom everyone assumed conceived him in adultery, was rejected by his brothers, and was raised in a town that was the source of derogatory jokes.

What binds all these heroes of faith together into stories that compel us to live higher is how they responded to these traumatic events. They found purpose and calling through their history, and were not limited by events in their past. They tapped into the true origin story of us all, as Paul described in our memory verse this week: [God] chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.

Before you were formed in your mother’s womb you were known and loved. That is your origin story.

Spend a little while with Jesus pondering your own life. What events shaped you the most? The good, the bad and the ugly alike – all would seek to define you. But as you consider that your true origin story begins before there was even such as thing as time, does that change your perspective on your life?

It sure did mine.

One of the ways we are defined into our identity is through the culture in which we were raised. Our family, neighbors, friends, classmates – all have a certain value system about what makes someone worth more or less than another. No one makes it through middle school without experiencing this, and most carry these identity-defining judgments through their lives. When Paul wrote to the Galatians, he wrote to an impoverished church family – more than half of whom were probably slaves! Imagine their joy when he revealed to them the life-defining truths of Galatians 3:26-29. We are all sons of God… No more distinctions based on race (Jew of Greek), social/ economic status (slave or free), or even gender! Have you felt “less than” because of any of these things? Maybe your race or religious background is a source of shame? Maybe you are embarrassed because you don’t have the nice house or car that guy in church has? Maybe you feel like you should remain in the “back seat” because you are a woman? Good news! Jesus cleared away all those cultural identity markers on His cross. No one – and we mean NO one earned their way into the family of God. No one is more important than another. No one is more valued. No one brought anything of value to this kingdom but the same broken and contrite heart that made each one of us call on the name of the Lord to accept His invitation. You belong here. Jesus defines who you are. We , the Body of Christ, receive you as a fellow child God and as a co-heir of eternal life and all the other spiritual blessings in heavenly places. Will you find rest in that today? And believe that you are who God says you are?