Identity & Action

Your identity = Who you are = Who you believe you are

Your identity is fundamental to the actions you choose.

Ephesians is a great letter.  Paul is writing to a church he knows and loves.  Ephesians is full of encouragement and inspiration.

Chapters 1-3 remind us of our identity in Christ.
Jesus' gift of salvation has literally changed who we are.  We are now GOD'S CHILDREN!!!
We are very literally adopted into the family of God.  We are sealed by the Holy Spirit, which labels us and identifies us as God's - like a new last name.

You know that moment when a mom calls her son by his full name.  First, last (maybe even the middle, too)  She is doing more than trying to get his attention.  She is reminding him of who he is.
Identity.
When your actions don't match your identity, you need to remember who you are.

Paul is giving the Ephesians confidence in who they are in Christ.  This confidence inspires us to live as a member of God's family.  If we are representing God, then our actions should show that.

Ephesians 4 talks about our collective identity as the church, God's family, and what that should look like.  Then, Paul continues on with specifics of how living as God's children should look.
Our Actions
- Walk in love
- Be the light
He even translates for us how God's family looks within our own families:  husbands/wives, parents/children.

Then Paul gets really serious.
This identity in Christ requires a boldness in our action.
Not just reaction - but a true effort and work.
Preparation.

Paul starts describing the armor of God.
Okay, we went from words like: adopted, family, unity to . . . armor.
Armor is for battle.
This section of scripture is very familiar, but if you read each verse - each piece of armor - your identity comes to life.  We are a part of something so much bigger than the bits and pieces and clutter of our daily lives.
Army of God - the Lord's mighty power

We have been given a new identity in Christ.
Let's take action!