Living from Identity and Purpose in Christ
Summary
Ephesians invites us to lift our eyes above the chaos of our culture and remember who we truly are in Christ. In a world marked by confusion, division, and striving, God calls us to live from a place of rest, identity, and authority—not as those clawing our way up to God, but as those already seated with Christ in heavenly places. Our faith is not about self-improvement or religious effort; it is about receiving the gift of resurrection life that only Jesus can give. We were once spiritually dead, stuck in patterns of sin and shame, but God, rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ. This is not a partial transformation or a cosmetic fix; it is a total re-creation. Grace does not tidy up death—it replaces it with new life.
Our value and purpose are not determined by our performance, our scars, or our past. We are God’s masterpiece—His poema—crafted with intention, even if we sometimes feel more like a “piece of work” than a work of art. The marks and scars we carry do not disqualify us; rather, they are reminders that the canvas of our lives is still in the hands of the Master Artist. Just as a lost Van Gogh never lost its value, our worth is rooted in the One who made us and calls us His own.
We are not just saved from something; we are saved for something. God has prepared good works for each of us—not as a means to earn His love, but as a joyful response to it. Our purpose is not limited to church activities; it is about living out the love and creativity of God in every sphere of life. We are no longer outsiders or strangers, but full members of God’s household, joined together as a living temple where His Spirit dwells. Our security, identity, and destiny are settled in Christ. We are called to stop striving, to rest in what Jesus has already accomplished, and to walk with confidence, joy, and faith in what is already ours.
Key Takeaways
- Our identity is rooted in Christ, not in our culture, achievements, or failures. The world may try to define us by shifting standards, but in Christ, we are chosen, adopted, and sealed. This unshakeable identity empowers us to live with confidence and purpose, regardless of external circumstances. [01:10:39]
- Grace is not about self-improvement or religious effort; it is about receiving resurrection life. We were not bad people in need of a little fixing—we were dead and in need of life. Only Jesus can bring true transformation, moving us from striving to rest, from religion to relationship. [01:22:06]
- The scars and imperfections we carry do not diminish our value or disqualify us from God’s purpose. Like a masterpiece that bears the marks of its making, our lives—flaws and all—are evidence of God’s ongoing work. Even what feels broken or hidden retains its worth because of the One who crafted us. [01:32:33]
- We are not just saved from sin; we are saved for a purpose. God has prepared good works for each of us, not as a requirement for acceptance, but as a response to His love. Our calling is to live out our unique part in God’s story, revealing His love and creativity in the world around us. [01:35:24]
- In Christ, we are not outsiders or guests, but full members of God’s family and His living temple. The Spirit dwells in us collectively, making us a community of faith that carries God’s presence into the world. Our security and destiny are settled, freeing us to move from striving to receiving, from effort to effortless grace. [01:39:03]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:07:04] - Celebrating Worship and Community
[01:08:42] - Ephesians: God’s Word as Our Foundation
[01:09:41] - Identity and Inheritance in Christ
[01:10:39] - Living from Heaven, Not for Heaven
[01:16:50] - Ephesians 2: From Death to Life
[01:18:22] - Total Transformation, Not Self-Improvement
[01:19:12] - Freedom from Shame and Addiction
[01:22:06] - Grace Replaces Death with Life
[01:23:45] - The Paradox of True Freedom
[01:24:32] - “But God”: The Redemptive Pivot
[01:28:05] - God’s Masterpiece: Scars and All
[01:32:33] - The Value of the Marked Masterpiece
[01:35:24] - Saved for Purpose, Not Just from Sin
[01:36:43] - No Outsiders: The Family of God
[01:39:03] - We Are God’s Dwelling Place
[01:40:02] - From Striving to Rest in Christ
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Ephesians – Our Identity, Purpose, and Rest in Christ
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### Bible Reading
Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV)
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 2:1-3, what was our spiritual condition before Christ, and what were the patterns of life we followed?
2. In verses 4-6, what does Paul say God has done for us, and what is the reason given for His actions?
3. How does the sermon describe the difference between “self-improvement” and the transformation God brings? ([01:20:58])
4. What word does Paul use to describe us in Ephesians 2:10, and what does that imply about our value and purpose? ([01:28:05])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says, “Grace does not tidy up death—it replaces it with new life.” What does this mean in light of Ephesians 2:4-5? ([01:22:06])
2. How does understanding that we are “seated with Christ in heavenly places” (v.6) change the way we see ourselves and our daily struggles? ([01:10:39])
3. The speaker shares about scars and imperfections, saying they do not disqualify us from God’s purpose. How does this perspective challenge the way we view our own weaknesses or failures? ([01:32:33])
4. What does it mean that we are “God’s masterpiece” (poema), and how does this affect our sense of identity and calling? ([01:28:05])
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### Application Questions
1. The world often tries to define us by our achievements, failures, or appearance. In what area of your life do you most feel pressure to “measure up,” and how can you remind yourself of your true identity in Christ this week? ([01:10:39])
2. The sermon says, “Grace is not about self-improvement or religious effort; it is about receiving resurrection life.” Are there areas where you are still striving to earn God’s approval? What would it look like to rest in what Jesus has already done for you? ([01:22:06])
3. Think about a “scar” or imperfection in your life—something you feel disqualifies you or makes you less valuable. How might God want to use that very thing as part of His masterpiece? ([01:32:33])
4. Ephesians 2:10 says we are created for good works God prepared in advance. What is one practical way you can live out God’s love and creativity in your workplace, school, or home this week? ([01:35:24])
5. The sermon reminds us that we are not outsiders but full members of God’s family. Is there a place in your life where you still feel like an outsider? How can you take a step toward deeper connection with God’s people? ([01:39:03])
6. The speaker encourages us to “stop striving and start receiving.” What is one area where you need to move from effort to effortless grace? How can the group support you in this? ([01:40:02])
7. Who is someone in your life who needs to know their value and purpose in Christ? How can you encourage them this week, either through words or actions? ([01:34:24])
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Close in prayer, asking God to help each person rest in their true identity, receive His grace, and walk confidently in the good works He has prepared.
Devotional
Day 1: Grace Transforms Death into Life
We were not simply bad and in need of improvement, but spiritually dead and in need of life—a life only Jesus can give. No amount of effort, tradition, or self-improvement can bring true spiritual vitality; only the grace of God, received through faith, can make us alive in Christ. This grace is not a reward for good behavior, but a gift that replaces death with resurrection life, freeing us from shame and the exhausting cycle of trying to fix ourselves. In Christ, we are no longer defined by our past or our failures, but by the new life He has given us. [01:22:06]
Ephesians 2:1-9 (ESV)
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Reflection: Where in your life are you still trying to “fix” yourself instead of receiving the new life Jesus offers by grace?
Day 2: Our Position—Seated with Christ
We are not striving to reach God or earn His approval; in Christ, we are already seated with Him in heavenly places, sharing in His authority and rest. This new position is not something we achieve through effort, but a reality we receive by faith, allowing us to live from a place of security, confidence, and power. Instead of living in uncertainty or spiritual striving, we are called to rest in what Jesus has already accomplished, ruling and reigning with Him here and now. [01:24:32]
Ephesians 2:6 (ESV)
And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Reflection: What would it look like for you to live today from a place of rest and authority, knowing you are already seated with Christ?
Day 3: You Are God’s Masterpiece
Each of us is God’s unique masterpiece—His poem, artwork, and craftsmanship—created anew in Christ for a purpose that He planned long ago. Even when we feel flawed, scarred, or less than perfect, our value and destiny remain secure in the hands of the Artist who lovingly shapes our lives. Our scars and stories do not disqualify us; instead, they become part of the beauty and depth of God’s workmanship, reminding us that we are always His, always valuable, and always included in His purpose. [01:32:33]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Reflection: What “scars” or imperfections in your life have you believed disqualify you, and how might God be using them as part of His masterpiece?
Day 4: Belonging in God’s Family
Through Christ, we are no longer outsiders or strangers, but full members of God’s household—His family—joined together as a dwelling place for His Spirit. Our identity is not found in culture, performance, or background, but in being part of God’s people, connected to one another and to Him. True peace and belonging come from this relationship, and we are called to lay down bitterness, judgment, and division, embracing our place in the family and helping others find theirs. [01:39:03]
Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV)
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Reflection: Is there someone in your church family you need to reach out to or reconcile with, so that together you can more fully experience belonging in God’s household?
Day 5: Living Out Our Purpose
We are not just saved from something, but saved for something—called to walk in the good works God prepared for us, revealing His love and presence to the world. Our purpose is not limited to church activities, but includes every creative, loving, and Spirit-led act that flows from our relationship with God. As we embrace our identity and position in Christ, we are invited to partner with Him in His redemptive story, using our gifts and experiences to bless others and build His kingdom. [01:35:24]
Colossians 1:10 (ESV)
So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Reflection: What is one specific way you can use your gifts or experiences this week to reveal God’s love to someone around you?
Quotes
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