Press play to listen to this content
👉🏼 (Reading: Ephesians 1:1-2)
📜 ""Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.""
Ephesians 1:1 (NIV)
📋 ""In today's focus verse, the Apostle Paul describes the saints in Ephesus as the faithful in Christ Jesus. They are true followers who have life only in Christ Jesus."
This means that they are now united with Jesus through a personal relationship and live within the realm of his character, influence and purposes. Union with Christ becomes the faithful's new environment. Everything they do is within the context of their relationship with Jesus and reflects Christ's influence and leadership in their individual lives.
"In Christ," a follower must be constantly aware of his/her Lord's presence and companionship. Because this relationship is so deep, a Christian's life is seen not as his/her own, but as Christ living in him/her (Galatians 2:20).
These personal unity and companionship with Christ are the most important things in the Christian's life and experience. Union with Christ comes as a gift of God through faith in him (Christ). Interestingly, the Bible contrasts the faithful in Christ's new life with their old, spiritually dead life "in Adam."
While the old life is characterised by disobedience, sin, condemnation and death, the new life in Christ is characterised by salvation, God's love, guidance by God's Spirit, truth and eternal life with God (Romans 5:12-21).
Are you among the faithful in Christ Jesus?
Let it reflect in your life.
🔑 Key Lesson: The faithful in Christ have personal unity and companionship with him.
🛐 Meditation and Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to be among the faithful in Christ Jesus.
📚 Further Reading: Colossians 1:1-2.
◼️ The Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 4-5.