Chosen (Ephesians 1:3-6)
Last week, we saw how we are all in the body of Christ, and that means that we have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. God blesses us, and we are supposed to turn and bless him. We are supposed to praise his glory for all to see and know his glory on the earth. We want the world to turn and praise God.
Now, we will start to look at the blessings God has given to us in greater detail. We will see that we are chosen, predestined, and adopted. Those ideas are deep and complicated. Many people do a terrible job explaining these ideas, but I hope to clear it up this evening. Notice that all three of these ideas are spoken in the past tense.
Ephesians 1:3--6 (ESV) --- 3 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, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Chosen
First, Paul says, "Even as." This is a continuation of the last verse. It says, "He 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." The words "even as" are explaining how we came into these blessings. These blessings did not come because we chose God. They came because he "Chose Us in him before the foundation of the world." What does that mean?
This idea sounds a lot like what God did with Israel.
Deuteronomy 7:6--10 (ESV) --- 6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, 10 and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face.
Deuteronomy 9:4--5 (ESV) --- 4 “Do not say in your heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out before you, ‘It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land,’ whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you. 5 Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Deuteronomy 10:15--22 (ESV) --- 15 Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. 16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. 19 Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. 21 He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen. 22 Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.
You can see in these verses that God chose Israel. Is that unclear? Is that difficult to grasp? No, because we see the choice of Abraham. Israel fell into a tremendous blessing, and it had nothing to do with their righteousness or worthiness. It had everything to do with God's love and his desire to bless Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob's descendants. Also, notice that it is intended to result in them being like God. Israel is supposed to love others as God has loved them. They aren't supposed to choose who to love based on their righteousness. They are supposed to love them despite their unrighteousness because God has loved them.
In the New Testament, this same idea is stated about us repeatedly.
1 Peter 2:9--10 (ESV) --- 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
God chose a race of people to be his royal priesthood, a holy nation, and his own possession. Now, don't mishear Peter when he says, "Chosen race." The choice is not based on the color of our skin or our heritage. That is clear throughout the scriptures. The Ephesians aren't all the same skin color as Peter and Paul. But they are part of the chosen race. Here we see a criterion has been selected in God's choice. What are the criteria?
In Ephesians, he says he decided on this choice before the world's foundation with a purpose in mind. This gives us the impression that his choice is permanent. The criteria are set and will not be changed. He reiterates this by saying, "He predestined us for adoption to himself... according to the purpose of his will." He has a purpose and a will that is being exercised.
How Does He Choose?
To understand his choice, we have to look closer at our text. Notice two things. First, his choice was based on who he could mold into a holy and blameless people. Everyone on earth is a stubborn, rebellious sinner. None are worthy of the spiritual blessings that God seeks to give them. But some can be molded into the image of Jesus. Those are added into Jesus and will be formed "to the praise of his glory." This group of people is chosen because God can accomplish his purpose through them. It's not that they are righteous or worthy, but it is that they have humbled themselves to receive the gospel, and God can work with them. Predestined means "to decide beforehand, mark out beforehand, to determine beforehand." God decided long ago that he would do something to save those who would humble themselves before them. This is what we see throughout the scriptures.
Remember the be-attitudes? Jesus lays out God's choice. He will bless the poor in spirit. Paul says this in 1 Corinthians as well. He says that not many proud or noble have received the call of grace. The wisdom of this world blinds people to the gospel of God. One must humble himself or herself to accept the gospel and receive the grace of God.
People get wrapped around the axel when they start asking the question, "Does God decide each person's fate beforehand?" Do we see that there is a difference between knowing each person's fate and deciding it? God knows the number of hairs on every head.
Psalm 139:16 (ESV) --- 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
But this part of Ephesians is not about God determining each individual's eternal destination before they were born or making them fulfill what he has determined for them. Man does have free will. Instead, Paul is making it clear that God knew before the beginning of time that he would save a sinful people who could become to the praise of his glory. This is talking about God's corporate choice. He chose a race of people. That choice was not based on skin color, achievements, righteousness, success, wisdom, or intelligence. It was based on humility.
To help us see this clearly, let's look at an example. In John 6, Jesus explains God's work both individually and corporately. God works to bring people to Christ, but they make the decision based on humility or pride. Notice Jesus' words in John 6.
John 6:43--47 (ESV) --- 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me--- 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.
The context of these words shows that men were too proud to accept the truth taught by Jesus. He told them, "I am the bread of life that comes down from heaven" They responded by saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph." They responded with pride in their own wisdom. They said, "How does he now say, "I have come down from heaven?" Listen to Jesus' response. He says that all who come to him were drawn by God. Then the prophets will be fulfilled, which say, "And they will all be taught by God." He clarifies that by saying, "Not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God."
Has God drawn you? We can't come to Jesus unless God draws us. This has direct application to us. Has God taught us? Jesus says that being taught by God is required for anyone to come to him as the prophets said they would. We are drawn to God through Jesus. Jesus is God teaching us his will. If we believe in Jesus, it can be said that "the Father has drawn us to himself" or that we have been "taught by God." Why? Because God sent Jesus to speak his words.
John 6:40 (ESV) --- 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
This requires humility. But we might say, "Jesus never spoke directly to me." But have you heard his gospel? When Jesus ascended to heaven, he sent men to speak the gospel. The same principle applies. Look at Paul's words to Timothy.
2 Timothy 1:8--11 (ESV) --- 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,
As men preach and teach the gospel, God is drawing people to himself. They must each make a decision based on their heart. If they are humble and submit to God's will, they become a part of the body of Christ that was chosen before the world began. We mustn't remove the work of God on each individual's salvation, but we cannot deny that man has the free will to choose forgiveness or continuing in rebellion.
Chosen For What?
We have seen that God chose us to be in Christ. It wasn't based on the criteria that the world uses. It was based on our hearts and humility within us. We see that God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. But we also touched on his purpose in choosing us. He has a desire to make people who are holy and blameless. Peter said we are a "royal priesthood" and a "holy nation." Why? Because he is seeking to glorify his name through us. If we are the image of God we are created to be, many will see the glory of God, submit to Him, and be blessed.
But did you catch the blessing he mentions in this text? He says, "In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he blessed us in the Beloved." I know that is one lengthy hard statement, but Paul couldn't break this thought up. It has to be seen as connected. God chose to make the humble into his image by showing them their sin and saving them, but then he chose to show them additional grace. By his glorious grace, he has adopted to himself as sons those who come into Christ.
Have you ever taken a moment to consider the greatness of this blessing? God has adopted us into his family. This image is too much to see in this lesson fully. But we must see that God has chosen us to be his children.
Hebrews 2:9--13 (ESV) --- 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
1 John 3:1--3 (ESV) --- 1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
But what does it mean? It means we have all the rights of children. We were not bought to be God's slaves. We were bought to be God's children. Did you know how expensive the adoption process is? It can cost over 10k to adopt one child. Paul says God paid the price to adopt us as his child. We are children of God.
When we think about it, people like to choose infants for adoption. Why? Because they can mold them and help them become what they should be. But God selects adults who humble themselves before him. He desires to mold us into what we should be through his tremendous act of grace. His sacrificial act of love pierces our hearts and keeps us from even wanting to sin. This idea is repeated throughout scripture.
1 John 3:9--10 (ESV) --- 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
2 Peter 1:3--11 (ESV) --- 3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
His love has inspired obedience in the lost and hopeless. It renews our hearts and minds with a zeal for God and develops us into the image of his son.
Conclusion
There is so much more I could say about sonship, but I want to close with this idea. Think about the difference between a slave and a son. A slave is fearful of being cast out of the house. He works to stay in. His life is spent trying to achieve the grace he has been shown. A son is secure. He has rest in the relationship he shares with his father. He can be prodigal and leave the Father's house, but Jesus shows us that he would be welcomed back if he humbles himself and returns to the arms of the loving father. What son would want to destroy the image of such a good, good father?
That parable also teaches us that some brothers are jealous and refuse to accept the prodigal, but the Father loves him and is excited to have him back alive. Jesus is not like that elder brother. He wants you to come into him because he loves you, and he loves the Father's gracious will. We have to decide to love them in return. We have to make the decision to submit ourselves to their goodness and deserved authority over our lives. Life can no longer be about selfish gain. It has to be about the Father's glory. Are you seeking it?