Chosen, Redeemed, and Sealed: Our Identity in Christ
What defines you? When someone asks, “Tell me about yourself,” we usually respond with what we do—our job, family, or achievements. But what if our true identity isn’t something we achieve, but something we receive?
Ephesians 1 opens with an overwhelming flood of truth about who we are in Christ. Before Paul gives a single command, he begins with worship, lifting our eyes from ourselves to God, the One who has freely given us a new identity.
Chosen Before the Foundation of the World
Before you took your first breath, before creation itself, God chose you. Not because of your goodness, achievements, or effort, but simply because it pleased Him to do so (Ephesians 1:4-5). You were predestined for adoption—not just saved from sin, but welcomed into God’s family as His child.
Think about that for a moment: The Creator of the universe called your name before you existed. That means your worth isn’t rooted in performance, approval, or success. It is rooted in the unshakable love of God.
Redeemed by His Blood
But God didn’t just choose you—He paid the ultimate price to make you His own. Paul reminds us that we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses (Ephesians 1:7). We weren’t just lost; we were enslaved to sin. And freedom came at a cost—the precious blood of Jesus.
This is what sets Christianity apart from every other belief system. Our salvation isn’t a reward for our effort; it’s a rescue mission initiated by God, carried out through Christ, and lavished upon us by grace.
Sealed with the Holy Spirit
Not only are we chosen and redeemed, but we are also sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). This is God’s guarantee, His mark of ownership on us. The Holy Spirit is both the proof that we belong to God and the down payment of our future inheritance in His kingdom.
Because of this, our salvation is secure. It is not dependent on our ability to hold onto God, but on His promise to hold onto us.
Living in the Reality of Who We Are
Paul’s entire point in this passage is that our identity comes before our actions. Who we are in Christ changes how we live, not the other way around. When we grasp that we are chosen, redeemed, and sealed, it frees us from the exhausting cycle of trying to prove our worth.
So this week, let this truth shape you:
• When you feel unworthy, remember—you are chosen.
• When guilt weighs you down, remember—you are redeemed.
• When you feel uncertain, remember—you are sealed by the Spirit.
And let these truths lead you to worship. Paul begins and ends this passage with one refrain: To the praise of His glorious grace. Our response to this incredible reality isn’t self-improvement—it’s adoration.
Let’s lift our eyes to the One who has done it all.