September 4th, 2025

Consider for a moment these words from scripture,  “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. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ…”  (Ephesians 1:3-5).

Paul’s letter to the believers in Ephesus is, in part, addressing an identity problem.  Who are we?  It’s a fundamental question humans have asked throughout our history.  I agree with a commonly articulated idea that suggests our answer to this question often begins with I. 

The statement ‘I can….’ assigns an identity based on our abilities.  I can play the piano, therefore I must be a musician.  Or perhaps it might begin with ‘I have…’.  How many young men have found their identity in a fast car?  My first car was a 1967 VW bug and so my identity was challenged by anyone faster than me.  Which, sad to say, was literally anyone with a car!   Another example is ‘I am…’  Fill in your country of origin, gender, race, political affiliation or cause and you get the point. 

At our core, who are we really?  This passage in Ephesians suggests that we were known before we were ever born.  Our heavenly Creator has known us long before we decided on a sports team, career or home address.  Long before the ordering of our DNA and the nurturing of those who have shaped us. 

Our true identity cannot begin with ourselves, but with Him.  Our heavenly Father informs our identity.  Who are we?  There are perhaps many starting points to this question, but here's where the apostle Paul begins, we are Chosen.  

Think about this for a moment.  You were chosen by God.  Say it quietly to yourself, I was chosen by God!  The God of the universe,  the God who spoke creation into existence, the God who controls the seas and holds the universe together, the God who uses the earth as his footstool.  This infinite King chose you, before the earth was formed. This is remarkable.  
While camping at an elevation of 11,000 feet in the Colorado Mountains, I stepped away from the campfire long enough to let my eyes adjust and I saw something amazing.  The Milky Way sprawled across the night sky.  A ribbon of glowing light that represents only a fraction of the estimated 100 Billion stars that we once believed to be the extent of the universe.

Away from the light pollution in the city, I was reminded of the words of the psalmist who writes,  “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4) It’s a good question!  Consider the 8 billion people that live on this amazing little planet and marvel at this reality, He chose you!
Who are you?  You are the one God lovingly chose. The question may legitimately be asked, chosen for what?  As Paul continues in Ephesians we read that we are chosen to be part of His family!

Those in Jesus have been adopted into his family, into his kingdom.  When we surrender our life to Jesus Christ, we are not joining a country club or a Costco membership.  When we give our life to Christ we are not even joining a particular church or denomination, it’s much sweeter than that.  We have been adopted into God’s family as His precious child.  

Romans 8:15, “…the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.  And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  Abba is a term of endearment often translated as Daddy, or Pappa.  You are His child…and the Father delights in his children.

​With this adoption comes all the blessings of being called his child.  In Roman times, adoption meant that you were free from whatever debts you owed in the past.  You were also legally entitled to your Father’s inheritance as if you were a natural child.  Through Jesus, all of those debts incurred as a result of our own sin, have been completely forgiven.  God lovingly chooses us to be an intimate part of his family, where we enjoy the blessings of our heavenly Father’s protection as well as his resources and ultimately, an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade.  I know who I am, a chosen child of God!   

Who are you?

In HIm Together,

Pastor Chris

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