How Does Knowing Our Position In Jesus Christ Change Everything? ⋆ Effie Darlene Barba %

There is no greater book to define our position in Jesus Christ than Ephesians. Knowing your identity in Jesus is paramount in defining everything you do. Additionally, it is the foundation of your joy, hope, peace, and endurance. Thereby, your life bears more fruit as you learn who you really are anchored in the truth of His word and Spirit in you. For that reason, I am truly excited for us to move into this study in Ephesians.

The first three chapters are purely doctrinal and foundational to the last three chapters, which are more practical. Because of Ephesians 1-3, we are more than equipped to perform Ephesians 4-6 with ease. Much of the difficulties we face as Christians is our lack of embracing our new identity as a new creation in Jesus Christ. We fail to grasp the magnitude of our position in Jesus and thus our power to overcome the obstacles of our own mind. Much less then are we equipped to handle all that surrounds us. How can I bear glorious fruit if I do not understand the magnificent power of the Holy Spirit within me? The same power that raised Jesus from the dead indwells me.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:1-3 NKJV

First, notice Paul knows who he is in Jesus Christ. He is an apostle chosen by the will of God to teach the Gentiles. Furthermore, he defines our first position in Jesus Christ. We are saints for which we know grace and peace as we are faithful because we are in Christ Jesus.

Our Position is also in Jesus

Notice that Paul addresses the People in Ephesus and in Christ Jesus. Our home no longer is this world, but more than that. We are in Christ Jesus. We are in Him in his death and resurrection. In Him in His Righteous standing with the Father (cloaked by His righteousness). We are joint heirs in His inheritance. The list keeps going.

Remember:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1 ESV

Oh, yeah. And we are free from the law of sin and death.

Our Position in Jesus as Saints

Did you ever consider yourself a Saint? Not based on your own merits, but on those of Jesus Christ. Yes, Paul refers to believers as saints in his salutations. But not only there.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 ESV

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours I Corinthians 1:2 ESV

Wow, did you get that? Called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are declared to be saints.

So our position #2 in Jesus declares us to be Saints. There is no, he or she is a better Christian because of what they do, etc. The only category is Christian or not a Christian. No one holds a higher standing. In fact, as Jesus said,

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Matthew 19: 28-30 ESV

The way I see it. We are all in the same boat of grace alone as our means into heaven and our sanctification.

Our Position in Jesus is that We Are Blessed with Every Spiritual Blessings

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places Ephesians 1: 3 ESV

Every spiritual blessing encompasses all the gifts of the Holy Spirit given by God the Father to those who have experienced His salvation in Jesus Christ. Peter affirms that God’s “divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3). Believers in Jesus have no shortage of reasons to praise God for abundantly blessing us with every spiritual blessing in Christ.¹_{Gotquestions.org, What Does Every Spiritual Blessing Mean in Ephesians 1: 3 https://www.gotquestions.org/every-spiritual-blessing.html, accessed 4/11/2026}

What could you do and how would you feel about yourself if you fully embraced the idea that you are blessed with every spiritual blessing? Would your spirit fly with greater power, joy, hope, love, and encouragement? Would you ever worry again? About anything? If only you truly believed this truth.

Chosen: We are chosen in Jesus before the world was ever made

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, Ephesians 1: 4 NKJV

He chose us in Jesus Christ before the world was ever born. How that works, I don’t know 100% but how wonderful is that thought?

Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.” John 18:4-9 ESV

To fulfill the word that He had spoken. Well, He had just spoken this in John 17 and I see no way out of reading the whole chapter of 17. This was the prayer of Jesus to the Father as He walked from the Supper to the Garden of Gethesemane.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” JOHN 17 ESV

Another Position in Jesus that is ours is Sonship—Adopted into His Family

he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Ephesians 3: 5b-6 ESV

Let us break this down. God, the Father, predestined us for adoption to himself as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. We were chosen not by any merit of our own. It was according to the purpose of His will, the praise of His Glorious Grace. Sometimes I think of who I am and it truly is to the praise of His Glorious Grace, that I was chosen. Look at the Apostles. Not the most noteworthy bunch. Nor the brightest bulbs on the tree, but with their position in Jesus, look what they accomplished. Just look at them. They rocked the world with their courage in spreading the gospel message. Think of where we would be if we had they not been the chosen. If He could do that with them, what makes you think He cannot with you?

Another point, God has blessed us in the Beloved. There is no greater love than that of God the Father for His Son. Except, He has now dispersed that love to you and I. He did not spare His Son from the scourging nor the cross. As Always Planned, God the Father and the Holy Spirit poured out all their wrath against sin on His Beloved. So that we might be His beloved son and daughter. What kind of love is that for us? Greater than we can even imagine. So, again knowing your position in Jesus, how can you ever doubt God’s love for you? How can you ever be afraid?

Another Position in Jesus is that of Redemption

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in Him. Ephesians 1: 7-10 ESV

I could not have even known Him. That is if He had not opened my eyes to see and understand. All this according to His purpose. It did not depend on me. Always and forever, it depended on His magnificent mercy. And in the fullness of time, He will unite all things both on heaven and earth in Jesus Christ. What is more amazing! He has chosen to include me in that great uniting. I can hardly wait. But it will be in His Fullness of Time.

And if that was not Enough, our position in Him includes His inheritance

In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 3:11-12 ESV

Therefore, we have nothing to worry about. Our hope is built on nothing less than the blood of Jesus Christ. He provides all that we truly need. On that we can trust always. Even if it is not what we desire. It is what He knows is best for us. Desire Him and the rest we can leave in His hands. No worries.

We Even Have a Warranty Deed included in Our Position in Jesus

In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 3: 13-14

Is that not amazing. Furthermore, I stumbled onto a program. It took my poem, created a song. I got to choose the genre and they give me full rights, and allow me to create a video. Well, this is what happened.

The poem I chose fits today’s lesson. What chances do you think I had that would happen?

So, this is the poem. Just listen along with the video.

Transforming Grace

by Effie Darlene Barba

Transforming Grace, how could it be

That you should choose someone like me

And with one touch these blind eyes free

A glimpse of Glory’s love to see

A mind so filled with doubt and fear

Transformed to peace as you draw near

The darkened winding path now clear

As whisper of your voice I hear

I cannot fathom why you sought

Someone like me, Salvation bought

That from this rubbish thou hast wrought

A life now filled with Your dear thought

So take this selfish heart you found

And with your gentle love surround

That kindness might pour forth abound

And songs of praise the only sound

So mold me by your righteous hand

That firm within Your truth I stand

And trusting all that you have planned

Your joy I sing throughout this land

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. I urge you to seek Him today.

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Are We Eternally Secure in Jesus? What Happens If We Walk Away?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. That is except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Please note: This Post only has quotes from the KJV Bible except where otherwise indicated

¹ J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

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