Ruthy

When Christ paid the price for my freedom from the slavery of my old life, from the only kind of life I knew, I was "free" to live a new life. Before Christ paid that price I did not know I had an option for a better life. Now that I know the kind of life God wants for me, predestined for me to have, a whole new world of opportunities are there for me. Without my redemption I would be living as I did before, for myself and for what I thought could make me happy. Like the rest of the world, fearful and just waiting to die.

After coming to know Christ and what he has done for me, I understand that while living in the secular world I belonged to that "family". Being saved I belong to a new family (of God) in a new home and family. It is encouraging to me because he has taken me in, fed and clothed me in the righteousness of Christ. He sees me in that relationship to Christ. I belong to a family where Christ is the Head and I, in my church, are a part of his body making a complete "family" for the first time in my life.

To be "holy" means that God has claimed me and I belong to him. I am in Christ. I can stand blameless before God covered by the blood of Christ.

...he chose us in him ... he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ ... I don't think predestination is scary. I am so thankful that I have the reassurance of how much God loves me and that while I was a sinner, Christ died for me. I came to know Christ a few years ago at 50 years of age. I am so thankful that he never gave up on me. Paul explains it to the Ephesians (and to me) to make us understand that it was not just by chance that I can understand my Salvation in Christ, but that God knew from the beginning of time, those to be chosen by Him for salvation. It also makes me understand that those whom I love that don't know who God is, are known by God.

To be "in Christ" means that I have been crucified with Christ and "I" no longer live. The implication is that my old self is no longer living. That I am now a new person who conducts myself as someone who has Christ living within me. That I no longer live according to my old desires and bad habits but am now under Christ's headship. I can say no to my old sin nature and way of life and live a life that is pleasing to God through Christ.