Grow With Pastor Joe

We now move on to Eph. 1:4-5 which says, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” The third stop on this journey through these verses explains to us now the substance of the blessings that are in Christ. Sadly, the next two verses have been used and abused by many different camps. We must not get caught up in trying to figure out the answer to what has become controversial. Rather, we must look at these verses in their contextual meaning that are placed here not to confuse us but comfort us. Doctrines that are hard to accept are still for our edifying (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Remember, Paul is writing to “the faithful in Christ Jesus” (V.1). Those of us who are in Christ Jesus need only take God at His word. As we read and examine these two verses together, I will give what I believe to be the two blessings presented to us.

Blessing #1 (V.4) – Believers have been chosen in Christ in the past to be purified in the present and presented perfect before God in the future. The word “chosen” is where we have the biblical doctrine of election that unfortunately has caused many schisms and “isms” amongst Christians. Based on these verses and the doctrine of election as presented in the Bible, I want to first give what election is. In its basic sense, it means to pick or choose something. The doctrine of election is the biblical theme of God choosing and calling a people to Himself. In the Old Testament, the corporate election is seen in the choosing and calling of the nation of Israel. Those who are of the seed of Abraham were a part of the elect nation, Israel. The choosing and calling were corporate and centered around a representative of the whole. Under the New Testament (New Covenant in Christ), the Church, made up of born-again believer in Jesus Christ by grace through faith in Jesus are chosen and called in Him. Jesus is the representative of the corporate church. Paul will write about this relationship in his letters showing that Christ is the “head of the body, the church” (Col. 1:18). Ultimately, Jesus is the elect one or chosen one that we must be placed in by faith so that we can receive the blessings given in Him by the will of the Father. Jesus is the representative Head of the redeemed body. The focus of election in this passage is the same as the whole book. Election’s focus is found “in Christ.” So, what does election not mean? It does not mean that God chose for some to go to Heaven or others to go to Hell. Hell was prepared for the Devil and his angels, not man (Matt. 25:41). God has never caused man to not believe. God has however permitted man to remain in their unbelief, but He will judge them for their rejection of His grace. It is man’s sin and disobedience that keep him headed for an eternal Hell. God doesn’t play “eenie meenie miny mo” with the souls of man. Furthermore, salvation is all by God’s grace, so election is not God picking out “the good apples” and rejecting the others. There are no good apples (Rom. 3:9-20). The only ones that are rejected by God are those who have rejected Him. Salvation is the redemption of those who rejected but by God’s grace through faith in the person and work of Christ have accepted the gift of God’s grace. God has made salvation available to all and applies it to any who come by grace through faith to Christ. The struggle for many is trying to reconcile God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility, which is a foolish endeavor. These two truths do not need to be reconciled, simply embraced in the comfort of faith. God’s sovereignty over everything in our life including salvation does not negate the doctrine of man’s responsibility. Man’s responsibility doesn’t negate God’s sovereignty. God in His infinite wisdom and might has chosen for the two to present the truth of our provided redemption that is in Jesus Christ. Jesus makes this clear Himself. Read John 6:37-40 to see these two truths meet to declare a unified invitation to be saved. To try and put a bow on this verse, God has chosen for us to chose Christ. This verse is more about the purpose of our salvation. Notice, us being chosen before the foundation of the world, is for the purpose of being “holy and without blame before him in love.” There are none holy, without blame, or loving without Christ. There has never been a holy unsaved man. There has never been an unbeliever without blame. There has never been an unsaved soul who has truly known love. It is being in Christ that makes us holy, without blame, and loving in our eternal position and practical experience. He has chosen us to be conformed to Christ as the ultimate purpose of our election in Christ (Rom. 8:28-30). The doctrine of the church’s election is not just about the provision of eternal life but the practice of our daily life.

Blessing #2 (V.5) – Believers have been predestinated to be adopted by the Father through the Son to the pleasure of His will. Election and predestination are inseparable linked together. Predestination, like election, is not a fatalist doctrine but one that points back to the grace and glory of God in Christ. These two doctrines are a help in seeing the security and sufficiency of our salvation in Christ. They drive the believer to a deeper appreciation for their salvation that has been provided by the grace and mercy of the love of God. Predestinate means simply to be decided beforehand. What has God predestinated? Simply, God has predetermined that sinners by grace through faith would be adopted as His own through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Those who are in Christ have been predestinated to have their wealth and walk in Christ as adopted children with all rights and responsibilities. It is the pleasure of His will to adopt sinners and make them saints and sons. It is God’s will for you to be adopted as His own through His Son, Jesus Christ, so that you would then walk in the wealth in Christ. The doctrine of adoption is key to our understanding of salvation. This neglected doctrine is the beautiful truth that in Christ, rebels have not only been redeemed but made children. Being His child through adoption means that each believer has an inheritance, new name, and responsibilities. Being adopted as God’s own is the true wealth and walk of the believer.

Lastly, I want us to see the splendor of the blessings in Christ. Ephesians 1:6 reads, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” The wealth and walk of the believer are all to the glory of God in Christ. God’s grace allows us to see the diamond of God’s glory sparkle in its radiant, infinite, and indescribable majesty. The splendor of these blessings in Christ that God the Father has bestowed upon us by His love remind us that everything that He is and does is by His grace, for our good, and His glory. His grace reveals His glory so that we may respond by faith to His revealed glory in Christ Jesus. All of eternity is to display the splendor of God’s glory that is seen so clearly in the redemption of sinners through His Son. The splendor of the blessings in Christ is that I have been “accepted in the beloved.” Christ is the beloved Son of the Father (Matt. 3:16-17). I am accepted by God in Christ. When God the Father looks at me, He now sees the righteousness of His Son applied to my account. I have been made a joint heir with Jesus and may by faith freely approach the throne of grace to enjoy the presence, promise, and provision of my Father King. So many believers have lost the splendor of their salvation. Grace is rarely amazing to the sin crushed believer. The average Christian is in danger of losing the wonder of it all. If you feel cold in your walk, it is not that Christ has lost His luster but rather your love has cooled. The glory of His grace is as bright and brilliant as ever. As the ages roll by, we will see the brightness of the beauty of His glorious grace. May we never forget the splendor of God’s grace and glory in Christ.

These wonderful blessings bring us back to the simple truth that God is to be praised. How often do we forget our blessings in Christ? How little do we bless God for His blessings upon us. The depth of doctrine presented in these few verses should cause our hearts to soar in doxological praise to our savior and to be rooted deeper in devotion to Christ for who He is, what He has done, is doing, and will do for those who are in Him. Bless the blesser for His blessings.

Grow with me as we study the believer’s wealth and walk in Christ.

Grow deeper.

Grow higher.

Grow wider.