I do not even judge myself

We started a bible study in Ephesians 1 on Friday at my house. The book is enormously important to the Christian as it begins with some incredibly important theology that is meant to establish the relationship between God and His children. It allows us to know who we are not from who we think we are, or from who others say we are, but from God in heaven. That is why in 1 Corinthians 4:3 the Apostle Paul refuses to claim any authority over himself. Pay attention to his words: "...it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me." He is making the case that God is his judge and, because of that, he has no authority to claim his own identity. This is important because we clearly derive our identity from that which owns us. If we are God's then He tells us who we are. If we are slaves to sin, then such reveals our owner.

So who does God say we are? We need to look at His promises in Ephesians 1 to find out. Here is Paul's exposition of the spiritual blessings of God upon His children:

1) We are chosen by Him for eternal life before the foundation of the world (vs. 4)

2) We stand holy and blameless before Him (vs. 4)

3) We were predestined to be adopted as sons - a term connotative not of gender but of inheritance (vs. 5)

4) We are redeemed from slavery by Jesus' blood and forgiven of all our sin (vs. 7)

5) He has revealed to us the mystery of His will - the uniting of all things in Him (vs. 10)

6) We have been given the inheritance of Christ - or all things the Father has given Him (vs. 11)

7) Our inheritance of eternal life is guaranteed by the deposit of the Holy Spirit in our hearts (vs. 13-14)

This predestination along with the forgiveness granted by the power of God is critical to establish us in the firm hand of God. In fact, the power that the Holy Spirit has placed in our hearts is the same "that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead...far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named..." (vs. 20-21).

We have been made alive and if our identity in any way comes from our continued effort to define ourselves then we cannot rest assured in the spiritual blessings of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit. You are either forgiven or you are not. You are either a son of God or you are not. You have eternal life or you do not. IT IS FINISHED! There is no middle ground that leaves us any wiggle room. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead does not leave any power for death to win. Once you are given the life of Jesus you cannot lose it. You cannot commit spiritual suicide when
you do not even own your life! Once God has called you His son you cannot just stop being His son. We have no power to rename ourselves once God has named us. That is why verse 21 establishes our identity "above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come." Your name depends not upon your work but upon the work of Jesus.