Follow Jesus By Valuing What's Most Important

What do you find yourself taking the most pride in? Form some, it may be their families. For others, it is their accomplishments (work/hobbies). I remember when I was in 4th grade or so, our school gathered a bunch of items that we thought were so important and put them into a time capsule. This time capsule was buried in front of the school, and the plan was to dig it up in 50 years to show a new generation what we thought was so important.

Some of us have boxes in the attic or basement of our houses that hold things from our past that we value greatly. If we were to take them out, the first glance at some of those things would bring back sweet memories from our pasts.

‌Precious Philippi

The New Testament letter we call Philippians is a letter written to the church at Philippi by the apostle Paul while he was in prison (most likely in Rome around A.D. 62).

The Philippian church was very special to the apostle Paul. It was the first Christian church Paul planted in Europe. Throughout this letter, Paul uses language that shows how dear this church was to his heart.

Paul wrote to this church to encourage them in the faith as they faced pressure from the culture around them. The Church at Philippi found itself in the midst of a thriving city that experienced many freedoms and luxuries. Sadly, many things in Philippi also sought to move people’s hearts from the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

‌Paul’s Warning

¹ In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you. ² Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh.

​Philippians 3:1–2 CSB

A group of people known as Judaizers had come into Philippi with false teachings that were leading some away from the truth of the gospel. These Judaizers had impressive credentials among the Jewish people, and because of this, some were listening to what they were saying.

We can see this type of thing happen in our lives today. We see someone who has a bunch of titles or letters before or after their name, and we think, “They must know what they are talking about.” The truth is just because a person has a lot of degrees or titles doesn’t mean they are worth listening to. What is most important is the message that is being shared and if it is truth.

‌Paul’s Accolades

⁴ although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.

​Philippians 3:4–6 CSB

Paul does not discount there are things of which we could be proud. In verses 4-6, Paul shares things in his own life that many had looked to him as being something worth taking great pride in.

• Circumcised on the 8th day — This was a quality of true Jewish males. Those who converted to Judaism would go through this as adults. This was a strict observance of what the Law of Moses commanded God’s people to do.

• Of the nation of Israel — This phrase was to show that Paul was not one converted from another religion, but that he was Jewish from birth. He was a true descendant of Jacob who would have his name changed to Israel by God.

• Of the tribe of Benjamin — This was to show that Paul was from the prestigious tribe of Israel. It was this tribe that gave Israel its first king. Benjamin was the only son of Israel that was born in the Promised Land.

• A Hebrew born of Hebrews — This was to show that both of Paul’s parents were Hebrew people. This is also a reference to those who held on to speaking the Hebrew language even when they were scattered among other nations and languages.

• Regarding the Law, a Pharisee — one who devoted their whole life to the study of God’s Law and keeping it to the smallest detail.

• Regarding zeal, persecuting the church — Paul shares that in his old way of life, he had made eradicating the followers of Jesus his life mission.
  
• Regarding the righteousness in the Law, blameless — Paul pointed out that if anyone were to put him to the test outwardly, he would pass with flying colors. He had never been accused of breaking any law.

Paul had many accolades in his life up to this point. Many in the Jewish world thought at one time Paul was the epitome of being a good Jew. As he lists his “qualifications,” he doesn’t see them all as bad. He took great pride in being an Israelite. He was thankful for the study of God’s Law that he had the opportunity to do.

We may have certain things in our lives that people look at as blessings. It may be the family you were born into, the degrees you have earned from countless hours of studying, or recognition from a job well done at work, school, or in the community. These are not bad things. They are just not the most important thing.

‌A Changed Goal

What we see in verse 7 is Paul had at one time considered all these things “a gain” to him. There was a time when they were the main thing in his life, but something happened.

⁷ But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. ⁸ More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. ¹⁰ My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, ¹¹ assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.

​Philippians 3:7–11 CSB

While Paul had spent much of his adult life persecuting the Church, he met Jesus on the Damascus Road and was forever changed. At that moment, he realized that much of what he treasured (while it was not necessarily bad) was insufficient to bring about the peace, hope, and joy he so desperately desired.

How many of us find ourselves running from one accomplishment to the next looking for fulfillment? We think that maybe one more title… one more degree… one more promotion… one more of whatever will make us feel like we are valuable and worth something. That path is never-ending and can never be completely satisfied.

Like Paul, what we need is an encounter with the One who created us for His glory. We need an encounter with the One who gave His life to redeem us from our sin. When we come to the place where we meet Jesus, we realize that all of the accolades this world can offer can be considered rubbish in comparison to knowing Jesus and experiencing what He can do in a person’s life.

Are we looking to outward things to make us closer to God? Are we looking to our good works? Are we looking to who we are or what we can accomplish? If so, then we are going to be let down every time. It is only through Jesus Christ will we find what we are truly looking for.

‌Final Thoughts

Paul had found this great truth (only through Jesus Christ will we find what we are looking for), and he wanted to share it with all who would listen to him. In these verses, you can almost hear him pleading, “Don’t depend on what you can do… don’t worry so much with the accolades… don’t lean so much on your family name, reputation, or accomplishments. Know Jesus, and in Him, you will find what you’re looking for.”

Paul ended this section by stating the goal of his life had become to know Jesus — the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. He realized the truth of Psalm 34:8.

⁸ Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!

‌Psalm 34:8 CSB

That may just be the message you need to hear today. You have been bouncing among so many things — relationship to relationship, job to job, achievement to achievement — and you still feel lacking. Could it be that you have been missing the single thing you need most — Jesus?

These other things may be gifts or tools the Lord has blessed you with but don’t settle for the blessing. Look to the One who gives you those blessings. He will show you how each of them are to play in your life. He will also show you that He is the One you need to value above all else.

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We Are Sealed and Secured

In him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:13-14 CSB

We live in a day where people are greatly concerned about security. How many times do you see a commercial for an alarm company or something to protect your information on the computer from intruders? It seems like there is not a commercial break in a TV show without one.

We want to do all that we can to protect the people and things that we care about most. Where does the desire to protect what we cherish come from? It comes from a deep love for the person or item. In that sense, we see that is a God-given trait to us. God also seeks to protect what He cherishes.

As we look at what the apostle, Paul, writes in this letter to first-century Christians in Ephesus, we see that he takes the time to remind them of this great gift that is given to every person who trusts and follows Christ. In these verses, we see Paul – under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – sharing a doctrine that we call eternal security. 

Eternal Security

The doctrine of eternal security is one that states that a person who has trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation can never lose that salvation. This is an important doctrine of our faith as it reminds us that our salvation is not based on what we do or don’t do. It is based solely on God’s amazing grace. We can never do anything of ourselves to earn salvation. In the same way, we can never do anything to lose that salvation either.

Some have referred to this doctrine as “once saved, always saved.” While in theory that would be correct, it has led to some misunderstandings and misuses of this precious doctrine. Some have thought that as long as they said a prayer, they could go on living any way they want to. They see their “salvation” as fire insurance and a license to sin saying, “I said a prayer at one point so I will be okay.” That is a completely wrong view of this doctrine. 

A better way to look at this is what has been called “the perseverance of the saints.” That is to say that if a person has truly experienced salvation through Jesus, then it will be evident to all that they are a new person. This doesn’t mean that that person is perfect at the moment they trust in Christ, but there is evidence that the Holy Spirit is working in them to make them look more like Jesus. 

Let’s take a look at how Paul describes this beautiful and encouraging doctrine for us in Ephesians 1:13-14.

We are saved

In verse 13, Paul shares how a person experiences salvation. If someone were to ever ask you, “How can I become a Christian?”, then you can point them to this verse as a means of showing them how it happens. 

The first step is that we hear the word of truth. Paul doesn’t leave this vague, but he goes into great detail as to what this “word of truth” is. He says in verse 13 that it is the gospel of your salvation. The gospel is the good news that though we have been separated from God by our sins, He sent His only Son (Jesus) in gracious love to be the atoning sacrifice for anyone who will believe. 

Hearing about this gospel is not all that there is though. Paul shares in verse 13 the other important step = you have to believe in it. This belief is not merely intellectual assent to the gospel. When the Bible talks about believing, it is talking about hinging your entire life upon something. I can say that I believe that a chair will hold me up, but Biblical belief takes place when I place my body in the chair. 

So, we see that a person experiences salvation when they hear the gospel and believe in it or lean on it completely. But how is a person to come to that kind of belief if they never hear about the gospel? 

How, then, can they call on him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about him? An how can they hear without a preacher.

Romans 10:14 CSB

I’ve said it before, the term preacher in this verse isn’t talking about a vocation. It is talking about one who shares. While not every Christ-follower is called to be a pastor, we all are called to ones that share the gospel with those who need to hear it. The truth is that some people will not listen to a pastor as much as they would you. 

We are sealed

In verse 13, Paul says that when a person is saved, then they are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. This idea of sealed is very important. The word here literally means “to use a seal to close or make secure.” It is the same exact word that is used in the gospel of Matthew when he shared about how Jesus’ tomb was sealed with a great stone and the seal of the Roman government after He died upon the cross. 

The people of the first century knew about the power of a seal. History tells us that throughout the ages there have been times when something was sealed and only to be opened by the one to whom it was sent. If the seal was broken by anyone else, that person would be punished – even so much as with death. 

God sets a seal upon every person who comes to faith in Christ that marks them as His own. This seal is to show that we are set aside and belong to Him. No one other than God Himself has the authority to ultimately deal with us. We are His. 

We also see that this seal is not done with a stone or even with wax and a ring. No, this seal is the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. At the very moment that a person turns from his or her sin to faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live within them. We see this all throughout the New Testament.

He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.

John 14:17 CSB

Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 CSB

We are secured

It is because of this work of God in our lives and the presence of the Holy Spirit living inside of us that we find the third point of what Paul shares about this identity marker: we are secured. We can be sure that if we have heard and trusted in the gospel of Jesus Christ, then we are a new creation never to return to what we once were. 

Will there be times that we don’t do what we should? Yes, but that doesn’t mean that we lose what we’ve been given. Just as a child cannot change the DNA that he or she receives from biological parents, so our spiritual DNA cannot be changed when we are born again. God doesn’t disown us when we mess up. Instead, He disciplines us as a loving parent would do to help us.

Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?

Hebrews 12:7 CSB

Paul continues to speak about this security that we have in Christ in verse 14. He says that the Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance until it is redeemed. This term down payment can also be translated as guarantee. If you have ever had to put a down payment on something, you know what this means. It means that I’m setting this aside as my own. I will return to claim it and settle the cost. 

The wonderful thing about our eternal salvation is that Jesus paid the full price at the cross. This down payment of the Holy Spirit living inside of us is the guarantee that God will do what He said in our lives and will keep us with Him. 

He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.

2 Corinthians 1:22 CSB

By placing this guarantee on us, there is also the guarantee that nothing can separate us from Him.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 CSB

Conclusion

Those who have heard the gospel of Jesus and believed in it, are saved, sealed, and secured for all eternity. That is a reason to celebrate. That is a reason to live this new life that we have received in Christ as a thanksgiving offering to the One who has given it to us. This is not a license to live any way that we desire. This is so much more than fire insurance. This is the power of God on display. 

Can you say that you are sealed and secured? Has there been a time when you heard the good news of the gospel and believed in it? If so, then by the authority of God’s word, you are sealed and secured by the Holy Spirit that is living within you right now. This is part of your DNA right now. You don’t have to live in fear or wonder if God will still have you. You are His child. 

If you cannot say that you have truly believed in the gospel of Jesus Christ, then you do have a reason for concern. There is no security system that can help you other than letting the gospel take root in your heart and by faith, trusting in and following Christ. You can do that today by calling out to Him in prayer. Confess your sins and your willingness to turn from them to follow Jesus. If you do that, He will give you that eternal security that we are all looking for. 

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We have said throughout this series that knowing who God has made us to be is a key point to living the life we are intended to live. As we look to the Bible, we can see that God does not leave us clueless about our identity in Christ. He tells us clearly what the identity markers of a Christ-follower are in His Word. We are focusing on the New Testament letter of Ephesians to help with this task. Ephesians 1 is a great place to turn to for seeing what some of these identity markers are in the life of a Christ-follower. Paul wrote this letter to a group of Christians in the first century that lived in a city called Ephesus. While this was written so long ago, the truths that this letter shares are just as true today as they were then.

He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

Ephesians 1:5–6 CSB

We are adopted

The identity marker that we are looking at today is the fact that we are adopted. When we think about adoption, our minds can quickly go to the thought of a child that is in desperate need of a home. The practice of adoption has been around for much of recorded history. The first modern adoption law in the United States goes all the way back to the 1850s. The family is the first institution that God created. It is an important part of our society. I have not met any person who has not thought that every child should have a loving home to call his/her own. Sadly, there are many who have been abandoned due to various reasons and cannot say that they have that.

Some of you may have been adopted yourselves. Others of you have opened your family and home to those who were needing one. What many people may not understand is that adoption is a form of ministry. I really believe that as we look at this text, we will see that God may be giving some of us the opportunity not only to just experience spiritual adoption by our Creator but to extend the gift of a loving family to others in a more physical manner.

While what is being spoken about in Ephesians 1 has a somewhat different thought from what we may think about adoption, many of the same components are present in this text. We are going to focus on three key areas: the need for spiritual adoption, the means of spiritual adoption, and the results of spiritual adoption.

The Need of Adoption

Since Paul brings up the topic of how we have been adopted in verse 5, it first points to the fact that there was a need for this to happen. God does not do anything without a reason. He is not like the boy who is asked why he did something only to answer, “I don’t know!”

God is a purposeful Being. We may not always understand those reasons, but you can be sure that there is a reason present. Why do we need this adoption? We could spend all day answering this question, but for the sake of time, I will sum it up with this statement:

We were in great need

The Bible is very clear in the fact that every human being that has lived on the earth (except Jesus) is sinful from birth. ​

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:23 CSB

There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one.

Romans 3:10–12 CSB

While most people are quick to point out that they are not perfect, I am not sure that they understand the weight of that statement. It is true that none of us are perfect. We have all sinned. We have all broken God’s laws. The weight of that statement is that because we have sinned, we are all equally condemned before God.​

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23 CSB

The only thing that our sin does for us is put an unpassable barrier between us and God. There is no amount of good that we can do to cross that barrier. If we are to have any hope, it is not going to come from ourselves. It cannot come from any other person because they have sinned also and are in the same predicament that we are. Our hope would only come from God Himself willfully choosing to cross the barrier that sin has made and make a way – and that is what He did!

I was sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Love Lifted Me

Each one of us was born with a desperate need. We are like the child who has no family or home to call his/her own, nor the power in themselves to remedy it.

The Means of Adoption

Paul shows us what the means of adoption were. It was through the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. It was not because we made a few good decisions. It was not because we were inherently good. It was solely because the sinless One Himself stepped out of heaven, came to earth, lived the life that we have to along with its struggles and temptations, paid our sin penalty on the cross, and rose victoriously from the grave. Because Jesus chose to do that, the path for our adoption was set in place. Since that happened, we are no longer left with only the option to follow sin and condemnation. The way of a new life was paved with a cross and an empty tomb.

Not just anyone could have done this. It is much like when a child is adopted, not just any family will do. There are measures that are taken and hoops that have to be jumped through to make sure that the proper place is there for the precious child. Jesus proved Himself completely worthy. Not only was He worthy, but He was willing.

The Results of Adoption

We can see the need and means for spiritual adoption, but many times we want to know is it worth it? I think that is a good question. From my time of working with children with the Mississippi Baptist Children’s Home, I have seen that question in the eyes of children. When a family says that they want to bring them in and make them one of their own, when you have experienced nothing but disappointment, it is an understandable question.

Many people today have had promises broken by people that they have trusted. They have grown calloused because of what life has thrown at them. They wonder, “what could this possibly do for me?”

The spiritual adoption that takes place when a person turns from his or her sin to following Christ gives us many things:

A new name

We receive a new name when we come to Christ. We may be recognized or called many things in our lives because of the mistakes that we have made. God gives us a new name and with it a new identity.​

I will give them, in my house and within my walls, a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give each of them an everlasting name that will never be cut off.

Isaiah 56:5 CSB

A new home

He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

Colossians 1:13 CSB

A new reason to praise God

There are many reasons that are present before us to praise God. The fact that He woke us up and has put breath in our lungs is one. The fact that He provided the way to redemption is another. We could go on and on and on. What we see here in Ephesians 1:6 is that because of this adoption that God does with us, He gives us a new reason to praise Him and in a new way.​

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”

Romans 8:15 CSB

This way of praise is reserved only for those who are part of the family.

Conclusion

There has been a time when each of us has felt lonely and maybe even abandoned. This world has a way of robbing us of our self-worth. Thankfully, we have a God that created us in His image, rescued us from the pit of despair, and brought us into His kingdom as His own children.

Today, you may be feeling the abandonment that life sometimes brings to us. You may feel like you’re all alone to face the troubles of this world. I hope that you have seen from God’s Word that that doesn’t have to be the case. You can come to Christ, and He will make you His own forever.

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We are chosen

We are going through a series called “Identity: Who Do You Think You Are? We are examining various identity markers of a Christ-follower found in the New Testament letter of Ephesians. We must know who we are to be able to live the life that is intended for us. Sadly, many people live because they have allowed the wrong sources to tell them who they are. Thankfully, we have the Word of the One who has created us to show us our true identity.

Ephesians 1:3 tells us that we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. In this post, we are going to look at one of the spiritual blessings of a Christ-follower.

For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.

Ephesians 1:4 (CSB)

When someone picks us for a team or project, it is usually because they see something within us that will help them achieve success. That tends to make us feel good and needed. We all like to feel needed and valuable.

When we examine this identity marker of a Christ-follower – being chosen – there is a different take on it. As much as we would like to think that we are chosen because there was something special that we alone could bring to the table, we see from Scripture that is not the case.

Who chose us?

Ephesians 1:4 says, “He chose us.” The “He” that is referred to here is God the Father. We get that from verse 3. If you remember from last week, I shared that verses 3-14 were one long run-on sentence in the original language. As Paul begins verse 3 talking about God the Father, we see that he continues that thought in verse 4.

This brings up a doctrine that is known as the doctrine of election. The doctrine of election states that God chooses people based on His purposes and desires to show them grace. It is linked closely to His sovereignty or the reality that He is Lord over all creation and rules.

This doctrine has troubled some people in the past. The trouble usually comes when we try to reconcile the idea that God is in complete control with the free will of mankind. On the surface, it appears that these two ideas cannot coexist but rather contradict one another.

There have been thousands of godly scholars who have tried to explain this whole concept throughout the centuries. I admit that I have even had to wrestle with this myself for a long time. The conclusion that I (along with many others) have come to is that both are true. These are two sides of the same coin. God is indeed sovereign. In His sovereignty, God has created mankind with free will. The two do not contradict one another but work together. I cannot fully explain how this works, but I know that since the Bible clearly teaches both ideas, both are true and work together. One day, God may reveal the details of how that all works out. In the meantime, we accept this by faith knowing that some mysteries are not fully explained but left to us so that we can express faith in the fact that God has got this.

Ephesians 1:4 tells us that God has chosen us. It is not because of what He saw in us. It is solely by His good pleasure. Jesus reminds of us this in John 15:16.

You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

John 15:16 (CSB)

This should be a great comfort to us. God decided to choose us for Himself even though He knew all the sins that we would commit. We call this the wonder of grace.

How did God choose us?

We have talked about this a little already, but in case we miss it, Paul writes it out in Ephesians 1:4: He chose us in him. This sentence by itself can be very confusing. You have two masculine pronouns together. We said that the “He” here refers to God the Father. The “him” here refers to God the Son, Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:4 shows us that it is through Jesus that the Father chooses us. It is not based on what we have done or will do. It is solely based on what Jesus Christ has done and who He is. That should be a comfort to us as well.

Some think that God judges based on whether or not our good outweighs our bad. This idea is not found in the Bible. Truth be told, if God were to do that, then none of us would make it.

Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.

Psalm 51:5 (CSB)

We see that God the Father chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. “Before the foundation of the world” is a phrase that talks about the event of creation. Somewhere in eternity past, before anything was created, God chose us in Jesus. God knew that we would fall hopelessly into sin, and He still provided the only remedy – forgiveness and new life through the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Here we have another reason for us to praise God. As I have said many times before and will continue to say, God was not obligated to provide a way for our salvation. He could have condemned every human being to an eternity in Hell, and He still would be rightly considered holy, pure, and good. The reason for this is we are guilty. It is because of His grace that there is a way of salvation.

You may be hearing this today, and it is clicking for the first time. I want you to know that is not your intelligence kicking in. That is the Holy Spirit opening your eyes to the fact that the holy God of the universe has provided a way of salvation for you, and it is only through His Son, Jesus. This lightbulb that has come on suddenly is God calling you to come and receive this undeserved gift because it was provided for you by what Jesus has done on the cross and by rising from the grave. Will you receive it?

Why did God choose us?

I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble with this, but the truth is that God didn’t need us. God did not create everything that we see and know because He was lonely or needed anything. He did so simply because He wanted to. If God didn’t need us, then why did He not only create us but choose us? Paul answers this question with the remainder of Ephesians 1:4.

God has chosen us because He has a purpose for us. You may have wondered what your purpose in life is. Bringing glory to God is the ultimate purpose of everything in creation. Now, we have seen that we are broken because of our sin, and we cannot do that left to ourselves. Part of this gift of being chosen is that it’s not just salvation from our sins, but it is the power to fulfill our purpose.

Paul shares that we are chosen to be holy. We have said before that holy means “set apart for God.” The idea behind this word in the original language is one of moral purity. As Jesus forgives our sins when we trust and follow Him, the Holy Spirit begins working in us the new life. Our desires begin to change from what is sinful to what pleases God.

Paul also shares that we are chosen to be blameless. This is such a good word for us. Blameless deals with the guilt that comes from our sin. Through Jesus’ work on the cross, we have been set free from the guilt that so easily drags us down. We have been chosen so that we can live in the freedom that Christ has bought for us.

Being holy and blameless is the work that the Holy Spirit does in each person who comes by faith to Christ. He moves us to the masterpiece that God had in mind when He chose us. He helps us to fulfill this purpose and experience all that it brings to us.

Conclusion

Like we said at the beginning, there is something special about being chosen. Whether being chosen on the playground, at work, or at home, it is encouraging to know that we are not forgotten or overlooked. As good as those things are, they pale in comparison to the fact that God would choose us. He chose long ago and set the path so that we could answer the call when He calls us to come to Him.

If we have trusted in Jesus, then one of the key identity markers of who we are is that we are chosen. We have been chosen to experience salvation, but we have also been chosen to live a new life by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Are we living out this part of our identity?

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There are many who would like to shape us into a mold that they believe that we should be. It is important that we allow the proper source to show us our identity as Christians, or we may find ourselves living a false life.

The Bible is clear in what our identity looks like as Christ-followers. The New Testament letter of Ephesians is a great place to start as it lays our identity in Christ out plainly in the first chapter.

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 (CSB)

One interesting point that you need to know is that verses 3-14 of Ephesians 1 is actually one long run-on sentence in the original language (Greek). While this may make a grammar teacher go nuts, it was more common than you might think in the first century.

As Paul was writing this letter to the church in Ephesus, he gets excited here at the beginning and goes on a righteous praise rant about who God is and what He has done for us.

We are blessed

When we think about the terms “blessed” or “blessing”, our minds can go to different places. One might think of being blessed as having everything going good in his or her life. The sun is shining… no bill collectors harassing you… not fighting with anyone… things are going good. Another person might think about someone who has a lot of stuff (money, possessions, relationships, etc). Some may even think about gathering around a meal and bowing heads for “the blessing.” While these pictures may fill many people’s minds at the hearing of these terms, the Bible speaks about something much more than this.

The Trinity

In Ephesians 1:3, Paul actually dives deep into what should be the proper beliefs of God’s people especially when it comes to our belief about God Himself. In this one verse, Paul touches on what we call the Trinity. The Trinity is the belief that there is one God in three distinct Persons – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. These three are together the one true God. God does not sometimes appear as Father and at other times as the Son and then again at other times as the Holy Spirit. All three Persons of the Trinity have always been and always will be God.

It is the three Persons of the Trinity that will help us with an outline for this message. As Paul shows that one of the identity markers of a Christ-follower is that we are truly blessed, he also shows us how this blessing comes to be.

The Origin of Blessings

The word blessed appears twice in many translations of Ephesians 1:3. What we should know is that these two terms have the same root but are different words completely.

The first use of blessed is at the very beginning of verse 3. It is an adjective that describes God the Father. This word has the idea of “someone or something being worthy of praise or commendation”^[1]Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 429. Paul says in this verse that God the Father is worthy of all praise. Interestingly, t his word is only used in reference to God in the entire New Testament. No other person is seen worthy to hold this title.

God has proven Himself worthy of all praise. He has made all of creation with either His words or His hands. He holds it all together. He alone is perfect and sinless. While there is no one who has ever fully known all that there is to know about God, the more that you do learn of Him, the more that you see how worthy of all praise that He is. Is it any wonder that Paul in thinking about who God is would go on and on about how awesome our God is?

Because God the Father is worthy of all praise (blessed), we can see that He alone is the source of all blessings. The blessings that we get to experience are an outpouring of what God has and pours on His children. Because God is worthy of all praise, He is able to be the One that gives good gifts to His children.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17 (CSB)

Not only is God able and willing to give good gifts, but He is able and willing to meet all of our needs.

And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 (CSB)

We are blessed because the God that we worship is worthy of all praise (blessed) Himself. It is out of His blessedness that we find our blessings. This is where the second ‘blessed’ in verse 3 comes in to play. This second blessed is a verb that talks about “provided benefits usually from a divine source”^[2] Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 749.

The Nature of Blessings

Paul continues in verse 3 to tell us about the nature of the blessings that we have as Christ-followers. The blessings that mark us are spiritual in nature. Paul calls them “every spiritual blessing in the heavens.” Some commentators have made note about how there seems to be a contrast with the blessings that are promised to the Jewish people of the Old Testament. As God brought them out of slavery to become His people, He promised to provide for them in material ways (land, food, children, etc). There is nothing inherently wrong about these material things, but one truth about each of them is that they do not last very long on the timeline of eternity.

With these blessings being spiritual in nature, we see the work of God the Holy Spirit coming into play here. It is the Holy Spirit that applies these blessings to the lives of each person who has trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation. It is the Holy Spirit that works and unpacks them in our lives.

We may be tempted to think that spiritual blessings are nice, but what about the material things? There is a push in our day to get blessed materially as much as possible. YOLO (You Only Live Once) is the mantra for many. The one who dies with the most toys still dies. When they do, everything that they have spent their lives acquiring becomes the possession of someone else. Ever think about that?

Jesus tells us of a much better blessing that we should be concerned with…

Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.

Matthew 6:19-20 (CSB)

There is nothing sinful about the treasures of this world. The fact is that they are temporal. They cannot last forever. Jesus calls us to pursue those treasures that will last throughout eternity.

Are we seeking the blessing of this world or the blessing that comes from the Father? These spiritual blessings that are ours at the moment of salvation are far better than anything this world could ever promise us.

Paul reminds us of two facts about spiritual blessings:

1. Every spiritual blessing is ours. We may not understand what they are or how they are to work in our lives, but when it comes to possession, they are ours. God doesn’t hold out on us.
2. Every spiritual blessing is protected. Paul says that we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. This is the idea of a place where God Himself is the guardian. There is no one who is able to overpower Him and swipe them away. These are blessings that will last for all eternity.

The Sphere of Blessings

As Paul concludes verse 3, he shows us how we got these blessings with two simple words: “in Christ.” Paul uses either the phrase “in Christ” or “in Him” 11 times in the first 14 verses of Ephesians 1. If something is repeated in the Bible, we would do well to pay close attention.

We are not blessed because of anything that we have or haven’t done. It is not something that we have to earn like a child does an allowance or an employee does at his job by doing religious or “right” chores. We are not blessed because we have a worthiness about us. Yes, every person is created in the image of God, but sin has marred that image. It has also deeply affected us. If we were left to ourselves, we would mess everything up every time. We are selfish by nature. We are greedy by nature. We are hateful by nature.

But when we come to Jesus by faith and turn our lives over to His direction, a change takes place.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)

We are no longer judged by our doing but by what Christ has done. Our identity as Christ-followers is wrapped up in who He is. We receive these blessings because we are found “in Him.”

I don’t know if the Bible could be any more clear on this issue. If we are found in Christ, then we are marked as blessed. We have been given every spiritual blessing, and they are protected for us by God Himself.

Are you living in this identity? Are you living as one who has received every spiritual blessing from the only One worthy of all praise?

References[+]

References

↑1	Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 429.
↑2	Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 749.

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We are Saints

In our world today, the topic of identity is a topic of many conversations. Many people are trying to answer the question, “Who am I?” That is an important question because if you don’t know who you are, how are you to know what you are supposed to do and accomplish in this life?

As Christians, the question about our identity is one that we should be able to answer with full confidence. Sadly, there are many Christians who do not know what their identity is. Thankfully, when we have questions we also have a source that we can turn to to give us the answers – the Bible. 

We are starting a new series that is called Identity: Who do you think you are? In this series, we will look to the truth of God’s word to show us what our identity is now that we are in Christ. This entire series will center on the first two chapters of the New Testament letter called Ephesians. 

The identity markers that we will examine through this series pertain to every person who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ. If you have not made that decision yet, then it is our prayer that you will get a glimpse of the life that Jesus offers to anyone who will come to Him by faith.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will:
to the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:1-2 (CSB)

The Letter to the Ephesians

The portion of Scripture that we are looking at today is the opening of the letter that Paul wrote to Christians in the first century in the area of Ephesus. When some read the letters found in the New Testament, there is a tendency to overlook the opening. Many do this because it seems mundane. On the surface, it appears to be just who wrote it and to whom it was written. But we must remember that every single word of the Bible is inspired by God. 

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (CSB)

If every word of the Bible is inspired by God and useful, then even the opening of this letter contains a word for us today. 

We are saints

As Paul addressed this letter to the Christians in Ephesus, he used the term “faithful saints” to identify them. This leads us to our first identity marker of a Christian: we are saints. 

Do you consider yourself a saint? I have not met many people who would identify themselves as a saint. I have heard the term “sinner saved by grace” many times, but few have been the times when someone would come out and say that they were “a saint.” 

There seems to be a guard against pride and arrogance when people do not identify themselves as saints. To guard against pride and arrogance is a good thing, but we can see clearly from the Bible that Christians are referred to as saints many times. Paul refers to Christians as saints in just about every letter that he wrote that is in the New Testament. If the Bible refers to us as saints, then why do we shy away from using that identity marker for ourselves? I believe that the answer to that is a misunderstanding of the term itself. 

What is a saint?

The term saint is the Greek word ἅγιος which means “holy, pure, or divine”. This trips many people up because it does not take long for one to see that he or she is not what one would consider holy. But if we are careful to remember that holy means “set apart”, then we can see another definition of the term saint, which is “devoted to God.” 

When we take that definition of the term saint, we are reminded that we have been set aside by the grace of God to be His. We are not made holy because of anything that we have done. We are made holy because of what Jesus Christ has done. When a person turns from his or her sin and follows Jesus by faith, Jesus’ righteousness is placed upon them as their sin is atoned for. 

Our Position

When the Bible refers to Christians as saints, it is talking about their position – in how they stand before God. It is what God is working in our lives to bring us to. 

An artist typically has an image in his or her mind about what the finished project is to be. They begin working with the materials that they have to bring the project to completion. A painter will spread different colors across the canvas over one another, and it becomes a masterpiece. A musician will begin putting notes and chords together with words until another masterpiece comes forth. God works in much the same way because He is the Master Artist. 

Because of what Jesus Christ has done through His sacrificial death on the cross and rising from the grave, He has provided the final picture of what we will be. We are not there wholly at the moment we trust Christ, but the Holy Spirit begins a work at that moment that moves us towards becoming the masterpiece that God intended. 

We can see that the Bible is not wrong in calling us saints. That is what we are. Because of our decision to trust in and follow Jesus, we have been set apart from those that will face the wrath of God because of sin. Jesus took our wrath so that we do not have to face it. We are have been brought into the family of God as one of His children. 

What about now?

We are saints not because of what we have done but because of what Jesus has done. He has made us holy by His finished work on the cross. He has given us positional sanctification which is “an act performed once for all the moment the sinner places his faith in the Lord Jesus as his Saviour.”^[1]Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 4 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 18.

But this positional sanctification calls for another work which is referred to as progressive sanctification – “a process that goes on all through the earthly life of the Christian and continues throughout eternity, in which that person is being gradually conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus.”^[2]Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 4 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 18.

As one commentator has said, “Now we must live in a manner that is consistent with this position. Personal holiness is about becoming in practice what we are in position.”^[3]Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Nashville, TN:Holman Reference, 2014), Ephesians 1:1b

This is the work that the Holy Spirit does within each person who trusts in Jesus while they are here on earth. The Holy Spirit grows our faith through the study of the Word, prayer, worshipping with other believers, and serving as He leads. He convicts us of the sin that is in our lives so that we may turn from it and become a clearer picture of the masterpiece that God sees in us as His own. 

The amazing thing about this is that because the term “saint” refers to our position before God, we don’t have to worry about losing ourselves in day-to-day living. While sometimes our actions or words may seem contrary to being “saints“, this doesn’t mean that we are no longer “in Him.” It means that there’s still work being done that is moving us to where we are supposed to be. 

Jen Wilkin shared one time these words: “I knew I served a God who was and is and is to come, but I had yet to learn that I possessed from him a salvation of which the same could be said. Salvation from sin can be broken down into three categories: justification, sanctification, and glorification. For the believer, our justification was, our sanctification is, and our glorification is to come. We were saved, we are being saved, we will be saved” ^[4]Jen Wilkin, “Free: Rescued by Grace,” in Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of Who We Are in Christ, 9 .

As Christians, we are saints in Christ. That identity will never change. God will always work in us to move us to the finished masterpiece. He has given us the Holy Spirit to enable us to make better choices that will affect how we live. 

Conclusion

We can see clearly from the Word of God that as Christians, we are positionally saints. The question now becomes: “Are we living according to the new identity that God has given us, or are we trying to live by another identity?”

My prayer today is that each of us will see and understand our need for Christ. I pray that if you have not trusted Him as Savior and Lord that you will do so today and get that position what it should be. I also pray that those of us who have made that decision will live our lives in a way that reflects our identity in Christ as saints – devoted and set apart for God’s glory. 

References[+]

References

↑1, ↑2	Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 4 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 18.
↑3	Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Nashville, TN:Holman Reference, 2014), Ephesians 1:1b
↑4	Jen Wilkin, “Free: Rescued by Grace,” in Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of Who We Are in Christ, 9

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My Name Is...

The church that I have the privilege of serving at as Lead Pastor has had a great opportunity for a number of years. In our town is the state school for the deaf. There is also a larger than normal deaf community because of this. I am grateful for one certain lady in our church who helps us with ASL interpretation. She has a passion for the deaf community to hear and know the gospel. It has been said that the deaf community is the third largest people group in the world that has limited access to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Since I came to FBC Fulton, MO two years ago, we have been in a process of trying to find a name for me with the deaf community. My given name has a lot of letters for signing. This can prove difficult and tiresome for the one interpreting. It is quite common within the deaf community to give a nickname that reflects the person’s personality. One of the pastors on staff at our church stands head and shoulders above most in our congregation. He was given the nickname, “tall.” I’m still not sure why…

I have enjoyed the process that we have been going through with the deaf community in our church to “name me.” I was told that I could not choose it for myself. It had to be given to me. This took me back to my high school days when a few of us in the youth group decided to get CB radios. We couldn’t come up with our handle on our own; it had to be given to us by others. Some 25 years later, here I am again at the mercy of a group of people to give me a name that I will forever be known by to them.

I was informed this past Sunday that I have been named. I was excited about the news. This group is a fun group. I was a little worried about what my name would be. I thought it might be “baldy” since I am follicly-challenged, but that wasn’t it. The name I was given humbled me greatly. I was given the name “Rock”. I will be honest in saying that when it was shared with me and the why behind it, I got a little choked up.

I was told that I was given the name “Rock” for a couple of reasons. First, the ASL for my initials when put together make the sign for “rock.” I would have been happy with that, but there was much more. The other reason for being named “Rock” was that I have been seen as one who is solid and wants to be solid. (Pardon me… I have something in my eye… darn allergies).

I proudly now will carry the name “Rock” within the deaf community of our area. My prayer is that I can live up to that name and continue to seek to be solid in my faith as I stand on the Solid Rock of Christ Jesus.

Something to think about: what nickname would the deaf community give to you? What is there that stands out most in your life that would describe you?

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Importance of Identity

Identity is a very important matter… just ask the person that has had their identity stolen.  It was reported last year that over 11.5 million people have their identity stolen by someone each year in the United States.  If this has ever happened to you, then you know the pain and all that goes with that.  Knowing that someone is parading around as you doing things that tarnish your name is enough to make the strongest person curl up in the fetal position.

Identity theft is a big problem, but a person not knowing their identity at all is defeating.  You can never be all that God wants you to be if you do not know who you are.  There are many people who will place a label on you and define you with an identity that is totally false, but if you do not know the truth of who you are, then you will just go with that label and live a life that you were never intended to live.

This is the reason that the key word for our church this year is "identity."  We are looking at who we are so that we can be and accomplish all that God intends us to.  The key to a local church knowing its identity is each individual member knowing his or hers.

In the children's movie Alice in Wonderland, there is an interesting character: the caterpillar.  If you've seen the movie, you've seen this blue guy sitting on a leaf smoking his stuff.  As Alice tries to talk to him, he asks her the important question, "Who are you?"

It is this question that has me thinking... this issue of identity is extremely important.  I thought I'd share a few reasons why I think so...

• Your identity determines your direction. If you do not know your identity, then you will not know the direction that your life should be taking.  You may bounce from this to that seeking to find fulfillment, but it never comes.  We have been created and wired for a purpose.  That purpose is tied closely to our identity.  God has created us with certain abilities and passions in order to fulfill the purpose for which He has created us.


• Your identity determines your determination. When a person is not clear about their identity, they may throw the towel in too quick.  Jesus talked about "rocky soil" and how it represented those who bailed out too quick when troubles came their way (Matthew 13:5, 20-21).  Troubles and persecutions are going to come in this life.  It's not a matter of if but when.  If a person does not know who they are, then they will be quick to run or quit and miss what may be intended for them.  The pressures that we face in life may not be attacks from Satan or our sinful flesh but character builders from God (James 1:2-4).


• Your identity determines your dependency.  The fact is that we are all dependent beings.  We may like to be independent, but we all depend on something to get along.  Someone once said that each person is created with a God-shaped hole that calls for filling.  Different people will look to fill that hole with different things: relationships, money, fame, drugs, alcohol… the list goes on.  The fact that it is a God-shaped hole means that only one thing can fill it = God.  If we are not sure of our identity, then we will spend our lives being dependent on things that were never intended to sustain us or give us meaning.


• Your identity determines your destination. God has created a part of human beings to live for eternity.  Though the body will die one day, the soul will live on.  The question is "where will it live on?"  There are only two options: heaven and hell.  In two places in the New Testament (Matthew 7:21-23; Revelation 20:11-15), the Bible shows that the factor that determines where you will spend eternity is not what you do, but your identity.  Does Christ know you?  Is your name in the Book of Life?  It is interesting how a person's name in the Bible is tied so closely to their character and identity (Adam, Eve, Jacob, Esau, Moses, Jesus).

** This material was taken from a sermon that I preached at Bethany Baptist Church on January 5, 2014.

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Just Be You

Have you ever wanted to be someone else? I'm pretty sure we all have at some point. It might have been when we were young and dreamed of being our favorite super hero. It may have been recently as we wished that we could be like "that" person.

I recently attended a Pastor's conference held for the northeastern part of the state I live in. I was excited about this conference because it was held at my alma mater, Blue Mountain College. I was also excited because I enjoy training to do ministry better.

One of the topics that was discussed was the matter of style in preaching. I believe that style is important in preaching. If you do not communicate clearly, your hearers will not get it.

I was grateful that one point was brought up in this session because I believe it is greatly needed today. The point:

"Don't try to be someone else. Just be you."

Wow. Pretty deep, huh? You would think that this would be a no-brainer, but it's interesting how many David Platts, Adrian Rodgers, John Pipers, Andy Stanleys, Johnny Hunts you could hear today. Though many would be cheap imitations, there would be one solid one in there - the real person.

One of the great thing about these men and their preaching style is that it is so closely tied to who they really are. Their personality shines through the preaching. I believe one thing that made/makes them good preachers is that they are just being themselves. The Holy Spirit is able to work through a true conduit without having to reshape it from an imitation model.

Who are you trying to be?

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Mistaken Identity

I had spent a great deal of time trying to upload an assignment for one of my classes at a local library. I was feeling very frustrated because the assignment would not upload correctly. I was sitting in my car trying to "cool off" before going back to the house when it happened.

A sweet, little, old lady approached my car and reached for the door handle. I lowered my window and asked if I could help her. I believe she was close to a heart attack. She stumbled back and said, "Well, this ain't my car."

All I could do was smile (to keep from laughing). I motioned to the car next to mine that looked similar to mine in color and all. (Side note: do I drive a granny car? Anyways...) This sweet lady walked to her car embarrassed as I begin to think about the many times I had done the same thing.

It was at that moment that the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, "How often do people mistake you for Jesus?"

The term "Christian" carries the meaning of "little Christ." If we are said to be "little Christs" in this world, how often are we mistaken for Jesus? Our lives should be lived in a way that this could be a common occurrence. I'll be the first to admit that it doesn't happen near as much in my life as it should. It is my prayer though that as I am being molded into the image of Jesus by the work of the Holy Spirit that this occurrence will be more frequent.

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Book Review: "The Vertical Self"

"The Vertical Self" by Mark Sayers was a very interesting and refreshing read. Sayers is the Senior Leader of Red Church in Melbourne, Australia. He uses his experiences and wisdom to show that in an age of social networking that our identity can and often does get built by unqualified sources. "The Vertical Self" pushes back to the foreground the truth that our Creator is the only One who can show us our true selves because it was He that created us.

I wondered how much difference there would be since Sayers is from Australia, and I am in Alabama. It was amazing to see that though we are separated by thousands of miles, we struggle and face many of the same temptations and frustrations.

If you are looking for another self-help book that will help you "do better", then this book is not for you. If you are tired of the struggle of trying to create your identity, then pick this book up and be reminded (maybe for the first time) of the you that you were created to be.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

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