Understanding Your New Self

Ephesians 4:17-24

Leviticus 19:2

“You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am

holy.”

Matthew 5:48

“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is

perfect.”

Our Dilemma

How can we possibly obey the Word of God,

and be holy and perfect, while still

having a sinful nature?

Identity

Identity is our basic understanding at a

fundamental level of who we are defined to

be.

Identity

God alone, as our Creator and Redeemer, has the right and the authority to define

who we are.

Ephesians 1:3,4

“…He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and

blameless before him.”

Key concept:

Before we can deal with the struggles of

sin, we must understand our new

self, our new identity, as given to us by God.

Identity for Ephesian Christians

• The saints, faithful in Christ Jesus (1:1)

• Chosen to be holy and blameless (1:4)

• Exist for the praise of God’s glory (1:12)

• Sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (1:13)

• The Body of Christ, the fullness of Him (1:23)

• Alive together with Christ (2:5)

Identity for Ephesian Christians

• Seated in the heavenly realms (2:6)

• God’s workmanship(2:10)• Brought near through the blood

(2:13)• Citizens of God’s household

(2:19)• Dwelling place of God’s Spirit

(2:22)• Heirs, partakers in the promise

of Christ (3:6)• Called to maturity as Body of

Christ (4:15)

Ephesians 4:17

“…you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the

futility of their minds. They are darkened in their

understanding…”

Ephesians 4:24

“…and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true

righteousness and holiness.”