It’s been a two month summer hiatus for me. So now I get back to blogging. My first blog back will be about one of my passions, theology.
Just today I received a text from a friend I am helping in his walk with the Lord concerning a particular verse. He wrote that this particular verse always blew his mind. What’s the verse?
“even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”
Ephesians 1:4
I had asked him to read through Ephesians 1. Verses 3-14 is one sentence in the original Greek text. I recall reading it with my oldest daughter and she commented that the apostle Paul did not know how to write because of this run on sentence.
Why are verses 3-14 of Ephesians chapter 1 one long sentence? Because Paul was so excited for all the spiritual blessings we have in Christ.(Ephesians 1:3) It’s a doxology. He is praising and worshipping God. Verse 3 is his general thesis and then he lists out the specific blessings in verse 4-14, highlighted by the soteriological work of the Triune God: the Father’s election; the Son’s redemption; the Spirit’s sealing.
And the very first item that begins his list is that of the Father’s election…before the foundation of the world. Now if that does not blow your mind, nothing will. To think that God chose me before the foundation of the world. Or as he put it elsewhere, before the ages began.
“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began”
Titus 1:1-2
And why did He choose me?
Answer: For His own glory.
“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 has blessed us in the Beloved.”
Ephesians 1:5-6
“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:11-14
Now here is the clincher. What is so mind blowing is that He chose me because I was in rebellion against Him(Romans 8:8-7). He gave me life because I was dead(Ephesians 2:1). He opened my mind because I was blind(2 Corinthians 4:4) He chose me because I would never(not willing) and could never(not able) choose Him.
Mind blowing theology! God chose!! And He chose me!!! What love!!!!
“In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Ephesians 1:5
