Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

Receiving the Fullness (Part 1)

July 22, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Receiving the Fullness (Part 1)

Tim Keller opens this sermon by acknowledging something most readers of Ephesians 1 have felt: the chapter is almost too rich to take in. It is, he says, like biting into a dessert that is "way too sweet"—one bite and you are in sugar shock. Paul lays truth upon truth, and if we could absorb even a tenth of what is here, Keller claims, "you would receive enough strength never to sin again." The problem is that we cannot get our minds around it. So Keller steps back to show the broad structure of the chapter before diving into its final section, which deals with the believer's future inheritance and the Holy Spirit as its down payment.

Three facets of salvation

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

Never miss an episode of Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

What you'll learn

1 (00:03) **Introduction and Context** - Keller introduces Ephesians 1 as a "bridge" to the final section of the chapter, which focuses on the future inheritance.
2 (06:39) **The Three Facets of Salvation: Past, Present, and Future** - Keller outlines the three-part structure of salvation in Ephesians 1: adoption (past), kingdom (present), and inheritance (future).
3 (07:40) **The Trust Fund Analogy** - Keller explains the present reality of a future inheritance using the analogy of a trust fund.
4 (11:18) **Recap: Adoption and the Kingdom** - Keller reviews the first two facets of salvation to show how they build on each other.
5 (12:57) **The Biblical View of Sovereignty vs. Fatalism and Contingency** - Keller contrasts the Christian view of God's sovereignty with impersonal philosophies of fate and chance.
6 (16:27) **The Example of Jacob and Esau** - Keller uses the story of Jacob to illustrate how God works through human sin and failure, not despite it.
7 (21:25) **The Future Inheritance and the Holy Spirit as a Down Payment** - Keller transitions to the final section, focusing on the guaranteed inheritance and the role of the Holy Spirit.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on August 30, 1992. Series: Salvation From the Outside In. Scripture: Ephesians 1:11-23.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.