You Are Not a Self-Made Christian: The Power of Your Position in Christ
Ephesians 2:5–7 | A Reflection on Grace, Identity, and Eternal Significance
Have you ever met someone who really wants you to know how far they've come? Maybe it’s the “self-made” story—born in hardship, clawed their way to success, and now wearing their journey like a medal.
Charles Dickens gave us one of those in Hard Times: Mr. Bounderby. He brags that he was “born in a ditch, sir—a ditch!” and delights in retelling how he made it without anyone’s help.
We kind of love that story in the West, don’t we? It’s wired into our DNA. But when we open the book of Ephesians, the story takes a turn. It’s not about self-made glory anymore. It’s about something even better:
You’re not self-made. You’re Christ-made.
From Grave to Glory
Ephesians 2 shows us a dramatic before-and-after picture of the believer:
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Dead in sin.
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Raised with Christ.
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Seated with Him in heavenly places.
This is more than metaphor. Paul is talking about something deeply real and profoundly spiritual: our identification with Christ.
In the original Greek, Paul uses a powerful prefix: sun- (συν), which means “together with.” Think co-: co-raised, co-seated, co-alive. You’re not just saved by Christ—you’re spiritually joined with Him. Your story is now inseparable from His.
What Identification Really Means
When Scripture says you're “in Christ,” it’s not poetic fluff. It means:
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You share His destiny.
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You’re spiritually present in His story—His death, resurrection, and ascension.
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You’re permanently connected to the source of eternal life.
Think of it like this: slip a piece of paper into a book. Wherever the book goes, the paper goes. That’s your life in Christ.
Dead to Sin. Alive to God.
Because of this union, some things are now forever true:
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You are dead to sin’s authority. It can still tempt, but it no longer owns you.
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You are dead to the law as a means of righteousness.
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You are dead to the world system—no longer plugged into its priorities.
But you’re also something new: alive to God. Not just someday—right now. This isn’t just a “go to heaven when you die” message. It’s resurrection life today. A life empowered by the Spirit. A life connected to eternal purpose.
You’ve Been Raised and Seated
Here's the incredible news: your spirit has already been raised and seated with Christ. Not in the distant suburbs of heaven, but in the very throne room of God.
Let that sink in:
You are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6).
No pastor, priest, critic, or demon has the authority to place you there—or to pull you down. Christ alone holds that power, and He has already acted on your behalf.
So What’s the Point of All This?
Ephesians 2:7 gives us the reason:
“So that in the ages to come, He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
You are God’s eternal display piece. A living, breathing, walking, talking monument of grace. His kindness is written all over your life—not just now, but forever.
One day, we’ll walk through God’s eternal kingdom and see each other—redeemed, restored, glorified—and think:
“Wow… God really did something amazing there.”
And the angels will say the same.
The Self-Made Man vs. the Christ-Made Saint
Mr. Bounderby boasted in what he built himself. But you? You boast in what God has done. You weren’t rescued so you could go back to the ditch and talk about how you pulled yourself out. You were raised, seated, and crowned—all by grace.
Your life is meant to display the overthrowing riches (hyperballo in Greek!) of God’s kindness. That’s not just beautiful—it’s unshakable.
So... Now What?
If you're in Christ:
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You’re secure — nothing can undo your position.
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You’re significant — your life displays His grace.
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You’re sealed — forever joined with the risen, reigning Savior.
Let this truth shape your days, your worship, your confidence, your calling. And if you feel tempted to boast—don’t look in the mirror.
Look to the throne.
