Sunday Rewind - Ephesians 1:1-2
Resting in God's Love: Discovering Your Position as a Saint
What if you could truly rest today? Not just physically, but spiritually—deeply assured of your place in God's heart? The opening verses of Ephesians offer us this profound invitation: to rest in God's love because He is already resting in His love for us.
The Divine Design: Sit, Walk, Stand
The Book of Ephesians follows a beautiful progression that mirrors the Christian life. First, we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. Then, we are called to walk worthy of our calling. Finally, we stand firm against spiritual opposition.
This order matters tremendously. Too often, we reverse it. We think we must stand strong and hold our ground before we can walk faithfully, and maybe—just maybe—one day we'll experience that heavenly rest. But grace-oriented living starts with sitting, moves to walking, and results in standing.
Many of us rush into the "doing" part of Christianity before we've fully settled into the "being" part. We jump into duty before we've absorbed doctrine. We focus on requirements rather than relationship. The result? A work-oriented faith that feels like obligation instead of delight.
But when we first sit at His feet and fully grasp our position in Christ, everything changes. Walking the walk takes on new power, new peace, and new joy.
The Personal Nature of God's Word
Scripture isn't some distant theological treatise meant only for scholars. It's a personal love letter written by Perfect Love Himself—to you. When people say "don't take this personally," God says the opposite: "Take this very personally. It's written for you."
Throughout Ephesians, we encounter three recurring themes: Person, Position, and Promise. This epistle speaks to real people about their actual standing in Christ and the guaranteed promises available to them today, tomorrow, and forever.
Your Position: You Are a Saint
Here's a truth that might surprise you: if you've trusted Christ, you are a saint. Right now. Not after death. Not after performing miracles. Today.
The word "saint" means "most holy thing"—something set apart and dedicated to God. That's what you are. You belong to Him. God defines what a saint is, and His definition is simple: "Mine."
A child once described saints beautifully when looking at stained-glass church windows: "A saint is a person whom the light shines through." Jesus said we are the light of the world, and as saints, His light shines through us.
The word for saint in Ephesians uses a grammatical form where the adjective becomes the noun. Being a saint doesn't just describe what you're like—it defines who you are. Your identity is rooted in being holy, set apart for God.
Faithful Means Trustworthy
When Scripture calls believers "faithful in Christ Jesus," it means "trustworthy." We've been found faithful because we trusted Christ for salvation. But consider this remarkable truth: God entrusted you with His greatest treasure—His Son. He found you trustworthy enough to receive such a gift.
Think about your journey with God. Despite all your faults and failings, one thing remains: your faith. Like Peter, who stumbled yet never ultimately failed in faith, you're still here. Your faith endures. Jesus prayed that your faith would not fail, and it hasn't.
Grace and Peace: Not Just Greetings, But Promises
The greeting "grace to you and peace" isn't merely a polite opening. It's a promise signed and sealed by God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace always comes before peace in Scripture because we can never have peace with God apart from His grace. Grace is the entry way into peace. It's God's riches at Christ's expense—the finished work that ended the war between God and humanity.
These aren't empty words. They're divine commitments backed by God Himself.
Resting in God's Will
Can you rest in God's will for your life today? Not tomorrow's possibilities or yesterday's regrets, but today's reality?
Jesus worked as a carpenter for thirty years before beginning His public ministry. At His baptism, before He'd preached a sermon or performed a miracle, God the Father declared, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The Greek indicates God was already pleased with Him. Jesus had fellowshipped with His Heavenly Father day after day in the carpenter shop, and the Father was delighted.
Whether you're a homemaker, mechanic, student, or pastor of a small church—whether married or single—can you settle into being who you are by the will of God?
When we forget our position in Christ, when we don't grasp His promises, we end up thinking everything depends on us. We go it alone, trying to figure out how to change our circumstances. But when we know our position and whose hands hold us, we can rest in His perfect will.
The Relevance for Today
Ephesus was the fourth-largest city in the ancient world, a population center of 300,000 people. It was wealthy, cultured, political, and deeply religious—though not with Christianity, but with idol worship and temple prostitution. Sound familiar? The challenges facing first-century Ephesian believers mirror those we face in modern culture.
Yet into that environment, God spoke words of grace and peace. He reminded His people of their identity and position. He called them to rest in His love.
God Is Resting in His Love for You
Perhaps the most beautiful truth is found in Zephaniah: "The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
God isn't anxious about you. He's not wringing His hands wondering if you'll make it. He's rejoicing over you with singing. He's quieting you with His love.
You can rest because God is resting—resting in His love for you.
This is where transformation begins: not in striving, but in settling. Not in performing, but in positioning yourself to receive. Not in proving yourself worthy, but in accepting that Christ has already made you worthy.
So today, will you sit? Will you let yourself be seated with Christ in the heavenly places before you rush off to walk and stand? Will you receive your identity as a saint, set apart and precious to God?
The invitation stands: Come. Rest. You are His.
What if you could truly rest today? Not just physically, but spiritually—deeply assured of your place in God's heart? The opening verses of Ephesians offer us this profound invitation: to rest in God's love because He is already resting in His love for us.
The Divine Design: Sit, Walk, Stand
The Book of Ephesians follows a beautiful progression that mirrors the Christian life. First, we are seated with Christ in heavenly places. Then, we are called to walk worthy of our calling. Finally, we stand firm against spiritual opposition.
This order matters tremendously. Too often, we reverse it. We think we must stand strong and hold our ground before we can walk faithfully, and maybe—just maybe—one day we'll experience that heavenly rest. But grace-oriented living starts with sitting, moves to walking, and results in standing.
Many of us rush into the "doing" part of Christianity before we've fully settled into the "being" part. We jump into duty before we've absorbed doctrine. We focus on requirements rather than relationship. The result? A work-oriented faith that feels like obligation instead of delight.
But when we first sit at His feet and fully grasp our position in Christ, everything changes. Walking the walk takes on new power, new peace, and new joy.
The Personal Nature of God's Word
Scripture isn't some distant theological treatise meant only for scholars. It's a personal love letter written by Perfect Love Himself—to you. When people say "don't take this personally," God says the opposite: "Take this very personally. It's written for you."
Throughout Ephesians, we encounter three recurring themes: Person, Position, and Promise. This epistle speaks to real people about their actual standing in Christ and the guaranteed promises available to them today, tomorrow, and forever.
Your Position: You Are a Saint
Here's a truth that might surprise you: if you've trusted Christ, you are a saint. Right now. Not after death. Not after performing miracles. Today.
The word "saint" means "most holy thing"—something set apart and dedicated to God. That's what you are. You belong to Him. God defines what a saint is, and His definition is simple: "Mine."
A child once described saints beautifully when looking at stained-glass church windows: "A saint is a person whom the light shines through." Jesus said we are the light of the world, and as saints, His light shines through us.
The word for saint in Ephesians uses a grammatical form where the adjective becomes the noun. Being a saint doesn't just describe what you're like—it defines who you are. Your identity is rooted in being holy, set apart for God.
Faithful Means Trustworthy
When Scripture calls believers "faithful in Christ Jesus," it means "trustworthy." We've been found faithful because we trusted Christ for salvation. But consider this remarkable truth: God entrusted you with His greatest treasure—His Son. He found you trustworthy enough to receive such a gift.
Think about your journey with God. Despite all your faults and failings, one thing remains: your faith. Like Peter, who stumbled yet never ultimately failed in faith, you're still here. Your faith endures. Jesus prayed that your faith would not fail, and it hasn't.
Grace and Peace: Not Just Greetings, But Promises
The greeting "grace to you and peace" isn't merely a polite opening. It's a promise signed and sealed by God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace always comes before peace in Scripture because we can never have peace with God apart from His grace. Grace is the entry way into peace. It's God's riches at Christ's expense—the finished work that ended the war between God and humanity.
These aren't empty words. They're divine commitments backed by God Himself.
Resting in God's Will
Can you rest in God's will for your life today? Not tomorrow's possibilities or yesterday's regrets, but today's reality?
Jesus worked as a carpenter for thirty years before beginning His public ministry. At His baptism, before He'd preached a sermon or performed a miracle, God the Father declared, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The Greek indicates God was already pleased with Him. Jesus had fellowshipped with His Heavenly Father day after day in the carpenter shop, and the Father was delighted.
Whether you're a homemaker, mechanic, student, or pastor of a small church—whether married or single—can you settle into being who you are by the will of God?
When we forget our position in Christ, when we don't grasp His promises, we end up thinking everything depends on us. We go it alone, trying to figure out how to change our circumstances. But when we know our position and whose hands hold us, we can rest in His perfect will.
The Relevance for Today
Ephesus was the fourth-largest city in the ancient world, a population center of 300,000 people. It was wealthy, cultured, political, and deeply religious—though not with Christianity, but with idol worship and temple prostitution. Sound familiar? The challenges facing first-century Ephesian believers mirror those we face in modern culture.
Yet into that environment, God spoke words of grace and peace. He reminded His people of their identity and position. He called them to rest in His love.
God Is Resting in His Love for You
Perhaps the most beautiful truth is found in Zephaniah: "The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
God isn't anxious about you. He's not wringing His hands wondering if you'll make it. He's rejoicing over you with singing. He's quieting you with His love.
You can rest because God is resting—resting in His love for you.
This is where transformation begins: not in striving, but in settling. Not in performing, but in positioning yourself to receive. Not in proving yourself worthy, but in accepting that Christ has already made you worthy.
So today, will you sit? Will you let yourself be seated with Christ in the heavenly places before you rush off to walk and stand? Will you receive your identity as a saint, set apart and precious to God?
The invitation stands: Come. Rest. You are His.
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