1. Ephesians 4:17-24

2.  Leviticus 19:2 “You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.”

3.  Matthew 5:48 “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

4.  Our Dilemma How can we possibly obey the Word of God, and be holy and perfect, while still having a sinful nature?

5. Identity Identity is our basic understanding at a fundamental level of who we are defined to be.

6. Identity God alone, as our Creator and Redeemer, has the right and the authority to define who we are.

7.  Ephesians 1:3,4 “…He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”

8.  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.

9.  Identity for Ephesian Christians The saints, faithful in Christ Jesus (1:1) The saints, faithful in Christ Jesus (1:1) Chosen to be holy and blameless (1:4) Chosen to be holy and blameless (1:4) Exist for the praise of God’s glory (1:12) Exist for the praise of God’s glory (1:12) Sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (1:13) Sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (1:13) The Body of Christ, the fullness of Him (1:23) The Body of Christ, the fullness of Him (1:23) Alive together with Christ (2:5) Alive together with Christ (2:5)

10.  Identity for Ephesian Christians Seated in the heavenly realms (2:6) Seated in the heavenly realms (2:6) God’s workmanship(2:10) God’s workmanship(2:10) Brought near through the blood (2:13) Brought near through the blood (2:13) Citizens of God’s household (2:19) Citizens of God’s household (2:19) Dwelling place of God’s Spirit (2:22) Dwelling place of God’s Spirit (2:22) Heirs, partakers in the promise of Christ (3:6) Heirs, partakers in the promise of Christ (3:6) Called to maturity as Body of Christ (4:15) Called to maturity as Body of Christ (4:15)

11.  Ephesians 4:17 “…you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding…”

12.  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.”