Made for More: Chosen, Redeemed, and Sealed
Pastor Victoria Sowell
“…but do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
What does this mean for us? It means we are not just redeemed to sit in our redemption. We are set free to live free, to break the chains of sin, shame, and guilt, and to live in a way that glorifies God. The freedom we’ve been given is not to be wasted. It’s a gift that should compel us to live differently, to love radically, and to serve others selflessly.
When we recognize that our redemption was costly—that it came through the blood of Christ—we begin to understand the weight and the responsibility that comes with it. We are called to be living testimonies of God’s grace, showing the world what it means to be redeemed. The way we live our lives should reflect the freedom we’ve been given, and that freedom should draw others to Christ.
Jesus didn’t just redeem us to save us; He redeemed us to set us on mission. And that mission is to bring the good news of redemption to the world around us. It’s to show others that they too can be set free, that they too can be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
Marked by the Spirit
Now that we’ve been chosen by the Father and redeemed by the Son, there’s one more thing Paul wants us to know: We are sealed by the Spirit. In Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul writes, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.”
This seal is not just a stamp or a mark. It’s the very presence of God living within us. The Holy Spirit is our guarantee, our assurance, that we belong to God and that He will fulfill His promises to us. The Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, a foretaste of the glory that is to come.
What does it mean to be sealed by the Spirit? It means that we are marked as God’s own. We are His possession, and nothing can change that. The seal of the Spirit is a sign of ownership and protection. It’s a reminder that we are under God’s care and that He will complete the work He began in us.
Living in the Power of the Spirit
The Holy Spirit doesn’t just seal us; He empowers us. He gives us the strength to live out our calling as chosen and redeemed people. He helps us to resist temptation, to overcome sin, and to walk in the freedom we’ve been given. The Spirit guides us, teaches us, and reminds us of the truth of God’s Word.
The power of the Spirit is not something we should take lightly. It’s the same power that raised Christ from the dead, and it’s available to us today. When we live in the power of the Spirit, we are able to do things we could never do on our own. We are able to love the unlovable, forgive the unforgivable, and serve the unservable. We are able to live lives that reflect the character of Christ and bring glory to God.
Walking in Your True Identity
So, what does it mean to be chosen, redeemed, and sealed? It means that we are not who we used to be. We have a new identity in Christ, and that identity changes everything. We are no longer defined by our past, our mistakes, or our failures. We are defined by who God says we are: His chosen, redeemed, and sealed children.
This new identity should change the way we see ourselves and the way we live our lives. We should walk with confidence, knowing that we are loved, valued, and secure in Christ. We should live with purpose, knowing that we have been set apart for God’s glory. And we should live with hope, knowing that our future is secure in Him.
Our identity in Christ is not something we have to earn or strive for. It’s something that has been freely given to us by God’s grace. And it’s an identity that we can rest in, knowing that nothing can take it away.
Call to Action: Embrace Your Identity
If you’re reading this and struggling to believe that you are chosen, redeemed, and sealed, I want to encourage you to embrace your identity in Christ. It’s not based on what you’ve done or what you can do; it’s based on who God is and what He has done for you. You don’t have to live in fear, shame, or insecurity anymore. You can live in the freedom, joy, and confidence that comes from knowing who you are in Christ.
Take some time this week to meditate on these truths. Let them sink deep into your heart and mind. And as you do, ask God to help you live out your identity in a way that brings glory to Him and points others to the hope that we have in Christ.
Further Reading
For those who want to dive deeper into this topic, here are a couple of resources:
"The Search for Significance" by Robert S. McGee - A powerful book that explores the truth about our identity in Christ and how to break free from the lies of the enemy. Amazon link
"Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of Who We Are in Christ" by Melissa Kruger and Jen Wilkin - A collection of essays by various Christian authors, each tackling a different aspect of our identity in Christ. Amazon link
Other Links
Want to hear more? Check out last week’s message titled, "God’s Masterpiece" by Pastor Victoria Sowell from View Church. YouTube link
Looking for a deeper connection? Visit our Groups page and Next Steps page to get connected.