In this episode of The Winning Response Podcast, Jen and Crystal look at Ephesians chapter 1 to discover our identity in Christ. There are spiritual blessings available to believers, and this conversation explores what it means to be chosen by God and how that truth shapes our identity as new creations in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven.
Philippians 3: 3-14 (ERV)
Ephesians 1:4
For he chose us in him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight in love.
John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
Psalm 139: 1-13 (TLB)
Romans 8: 28-33 (ERV)
We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose, because that was his plan. 29 God knew them before he made the world. And he decided that they would be like his Son. Then Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters. 30 God planned for them to be like his Son. He chose them and made them right with him. And after he made them right, he gave them his glory.
31 So what should we say about this? If God is for us, no one can stand against us. And God is with us. 32 He even let his own Son suffer for us. God gave his Son for all of us. So now with Jesus, God will surely give us all things. 33 Who can accuse the people God has chosen? No one! God is the one who makes them right.
1 Peter 2:9-10 (TLB)
But you are not like that, for you have been chosen by God himself—you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God’s very own—all this so that you may show to others how God called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were less than nothing; now you are God’s own. Once you knew very little of God’s kindness; now your very lives have been changed by it.
Colossians 3: 12-15 (ERV)
God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So your new life should be like this: Show mercy to others. Be kind, humble, gentle, and patient. 13 Don’t be angry with each other, but forgive each other. If you feel someone has wronged you, forgive them. Forgive others because the Lord forgave you. 14 Together with these things, the most important part of your new life is to love each other. Love is what holds everything together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body.[c] And always be thankful.
