Drowning in Blessing
Have you ever felt like you're constantly chasing after God's approval? Like you're running on a spiritual treadmill, exhausting yourself with religious performance, yet never quite measuring up? If so, you're not alone. Many of us live like spiritual orphans, plagued by nagging questions: "Does God really love me? Am I doing enough? What happens if I fail again?"
But what if I told you that you're not working FOR blessing, but living FROM blessing? What if the very things you're desperately striving for are already yours in abundance?
This revolutionary truth is at the heart of Ephesians 1, a passage that detonates like a spiritual bomb in the midst of our performance anxiety. Its message is clear and transformative: If you're in Christ, you don't need to chase blessing—you're already drowning in it.
Let's explore three foundational truths from Ephesians 1 that have the power to fundamentally reshape how you see yourself, how you see God, and how you live your life.
1. Chosen: Before You Did Anything, God Did Everything
"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, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him." (Ephesians 1:3-4)
Notice the past tense: "has blessed us." Not "will bless us if we're good enough," but has blessed us. It's already done. In Christ, every single spiritual blessing that exists in the heavenly realms is already credited to your account.
But here's the mind-blowing part: the foundation of this blessing is God's choice of you before time began. Before there was a "you" to choose, before the first atom existed, God set His electing love upon you specifically, personally, intentionally.
This truth can make us uncomfortable. We like to think we're the decisive factor in our salvation. But Paul demolishes that notion. Your salvation didn't begin with your decision; it began in the eternal, gracious heart of God the Father.
Why does this matter? Because it utterly changes the basis of your relationship with God. If you truly grasp that you were chosen by God before the foundation of the world, purely out of His grace, it frees you from living on spiritual probation. You're not hoping you make the cut; you're in the family! Your place is secure, not because of your grip on Him, but because of His grip on you.
In a world obsessed with self-constructed identities, God speaks a definitive word: You are chosen. Your deepest identity isn't something you achieve or discover within yourself. It's something you receive as a gift.
2. Redeemed: You're Not Your Past; You're His Purchased Possession
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7)
Redemption means to be bought back from slavery. We were enslaved to sin, death, and God's just judgment. But through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross, we have been set free. The ransom has been paid, not with gold or silver, but with the precious lifeblood of God's own Son.
Notice again the present tense: "we have redemption." This isn't just a past event; it's a present reality we live in every single day. You wake up every morning as a redeemed person, walking through your day as someone bought back from slavery.
The application is profound: Your worst sin is not your deepest identity. That thing you did? That pattern of failure? That is not who you ultimately are in Christ. Your identity is not "addict," "liar," "failure," or "hypocrite." Your identity is Redeemed. Bought back. Forgiven. Cleansed.
In a culture that constantly tries to define us by our past mistakes or perceived flaws, Jesus declares with ultimate authority: "You are mine! You are forgiven! You are beloved! You are redeemed!"
3. Sealed: You're Not Holding onto God; He's Holding onto You
"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 1:13-14)
When you believed in Christ, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit. In ancient times, a seal authenticated an item, declared ownership, and guaranteed protection. God has placed His divine seal upon you—the person of the Holy Spirit—marking you as His own authenticated, protected, eternally secure possession.
This truth speaks profound peace into our anxiety-ridden world. Your salvation, your standing with God, your eternal security does not depend on the rollercoaster of your emotions or the strength of your faith on any given day. It depends on the objective reality of the Holy Spirit's seal upon you.
You are not defined by your doubts; you are defined by His seal. Your eternal destiny is secure, guaranteed by God Himself.
Living from Blessing: Stop Chasing, Start Resting
Chosen before time. Redeemed in time. Sealed for all time. This cascade of blessings in Christ leads to one clear invitation: Stop chasing what you already possess in abundance. Stop trying to earn what has been freely given.
Instead, rest. Rest deeply in the finished work of Christ. Rest in the identity He has secured for you. You don't have to perform for God's approval. You don't have to hustle to earn His love. In Christ, you already have it all!
This truth should transform how we live:
- From insecurity to boldness: Your worth is settled in Christ. You can step out in faith, speak truth with love, and live courageously.
- From isolation to community: These blessings aren't just for individuals. We are chosen together, redeemed together, sealed together into the body of Christ. The blessed life is intrinsically a shared life.
- From striving to resting: Let go of your self-reliance and fall into Christ's grace. Trust Him completely. Receive the identity He purchased for you.
You are standing neck-deep in the infinite ocean of God's blessing in Jesus Christ. Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places is already yours. So stop thirsting when you're surrounded by living water. Stop living like an orphan when the Father has thrown open the doors of His home and heart to you.
Today, will you choose to stop chasing and start resting in the overwhelming flood of God's grace? Will you embrace your true identity as His chosen, redeemed, and sealed child? The invitation stands: Come and drown in blessing.
But what if I told you that you're not working FOR blessing, but living FROM blessing? What if the very things you're desperately striving for are already yours in abundance?
This revolutionary truth is at the heart of Ephesians 1, a passage that detonates like a spiritual bomb in the midst of our performance anxiety. Its message is clear and transformative: If you're in Christ, you don't need to chase blessing—you're already drowning in it.
Let's explore three foundational truths from Ephesians 1 that have the power to fundamentally reshape how you see yourself, how you see God, and how you live your life.
1. Chosen: Before You Did Anything, God Did Everything
"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, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him." (Ephesians 1:3-4)
Notice the past tense: "has blessed us." Not "will bless us if we're good enough," but has blessed us. It's already done. In Christ, every single spiritual blessing that exists in the heavenly realms is already credited to your account.
But here's the mind-blowing part: the foundation of this blessing is God's choice of you before time began. Before there was a "you" to choose, before the first atom existed, God set His electing love upon you specifically, personally, intentionally.
This truth can make us uncomfortable. We like to think we're the decisive factor in our salvation. But Paul demolishes that notion. Your salvation didn't begin with your decision; it began in the eternal, gracious heart of God the Father.
Why does this matter? Because it utterly changes the basis of your relationship with God. If you truly grasp that you were chosen by God before the foundation of the world, purely out of His grace, it frees you from living on spiritual probation. You're not hoping you make the cut; you're in the family! Your place is secure, not because of your grip on Him, but because of His grip on you.
In a world obsessed with self-constructed identities, God speaks a definitive word: You are chosen. Your deepest identity isn't something you achieve or discover within yourself. It's something you receive as a gift.
2. Redeemed: You're Not Your Past; You're His Purchased Possession
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7)
Redemption means to be bought back from slavery. We were enslaved to sin, death, and God's just judgment. But through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross, we have been set free. The ransom has been paid, not with gold or silver, but with the precious lifeblood of God's own Son.
Notice again the present tense: "we have redemption." This isn't just a past event; it's a present reality we live in every single day. You wake up every morning as a redeemed person, walking through your day as someone bought back from slavery.
The application is profound: Your worst sin is not your deepest identity. That thing you did? That pattern of failure? That is not who you ultimately are in Christ. Your identity is not "addict," "liar," "failure," or "hypocrite." Your identity is Redeemed. Bought back. Forgiven. Cleansed.
In a culture that constantly tries to define us by our past mistakes or perceived flaws, Jesus declares with ultimate authority: "You are mine! You are forgiven! You are beloved! You are redeemed!"
3. Sealed: You're Not Holding onto God; He's Holding onto You
"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 1:13-14)
When you believed in Christ, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit. In ancient times, a seal authenticated an item, declared ownership, and guaranteed protection. God has placed His divine seal upon you—the person of the Holy Spirit—marking you as His own authenticated, protected, eternally secure possession.
This truth speaks profound peace into our anxiety-ridden world. Your salvation, your standing with God, your eternal security does not depend on the rollercoaster of your emotions or the strength of your faith on any given day. It depends on the objective reality of the Holy Spirit's seal upon you.
You are not defined by your doubts; you are defined by His seal. Your eternal destiny is secure, guaranteed by God Himself.
Living from Blessing: Stop Chasing, Start Resting
Chosen before time. Redeemed in time. Sealed for all time. This cascade of blessings in Christ leads to one clear invitation: Stop chasing what you already possess in abundance. Stop trying to earn what has been freely given.
Instead, rest. Rest deeply in the finished work of Christ. Rest in the identity He has secured for you. You don't have to perform for God's approval. You don't have to hustle to earn His love. In Christ, you already have it all!
This truth should transform how we live:
- From insecurity to boldness: Your worth is settled in Christ. You can step out in faith, speak truth with love, and live courageously.
- From isolation to community: These blessings aren't just for individuals. We are chosen together, redeemed together, sealed together into the body of Christ. The blessed life is intrinsically a shared life.
- From striving to resting: Let go of your self-reliance and fall into Christ's grace. Trust Him completely. Receive the identity He purchased for you.
You are standing neck-deep in the infinite ocean of God's blessing in Jesus Christ. Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places is already yours. So stop thirsting when you're surrounded by living water. Stop living like an orphan when the Father has thrown open the doors of His home and heart to you.
Today, will you choose to stop chasing and start resting in the overwhelming flood of God's grace? Will you embrace your true identity as His chosen, redeemed, and sealed child? The invitation stands: Come and drown in blessing.
Posted in Sermon Recap
Posted in Ephesians 1, gospel, blessing, chosen, redeemed, sealed, Trinity, Jesus
Posted in Ephesians 1, gospel, blessing, chosen, redeemed, sealed, Trinity, Jesus
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