Scripture Reference: Ephesians 1:3-14
Every Spiritual Blessing – Continued
Predestination (verses 4-5)
We are in the kingdom, we possess spiritual blessings, we are in Christ, Paul writes, not because we first chose God, but because “He chose us.” Nor did God choose us because He saw some spark of goodness or potential in our souls. Far from it! He actually chose us “before the foundation of the world” . . . before ever we existed or had any ability to demonstrate goodness or potential! We are set aside for holiness, “we should be holy and without blame,” and we are adopted as God’s children, not because of any merit in ourselves, but because we were “predestined” for such blessings!
These truths can be quite controversial if we allow them to be, but let’s stay on point. Let us remember that Paul’s tone, as he begins this chapter, is not that of argument or rhetoric, but of worship and praise! Paul blesses God that His salvation (like that of the Ephesians, and that of the author and the readers of this commentary) does not depend on human effort or present performance, but on the grace of God in eternity past! And we should join in the praise! “He chose us . . . before the foundation of the world.”
Sanctification (verse 4)
God “chose us” in order to make us “holy and without blame before Him.” This is what Christians are predestined for: holiness, conformity to the image of Christ, which is sanctification! If God has called us to Himself, Paul tells his readers, it is so that we might someday stand before His heavenly throne “holy and without blame.” But God also chose us so that we might grow in our character and Christlikeness even now. Sanctification, in other words, is part of the “spiritual blessing” that is ours in Christ. So, because it is, because God “chose us” in order that He might make us “holy and without blame,” we ought to examine ourselves by this biblical yardstick. Am I, as God intends, becoming more and more holy year by year? Have I grown as a Christian? If I am truly a Christian, I ought to be becoming everyday “holy and without blame before Him.”
Adoption (verse 5)
God predestined us not only to holiness, but also to “adoption as sons.” If you are in Christ, Paul reminds his readers, you are a child of God, adopted into His family and possessing every right that any child possesses in a good father’s house! Isn’t that amazing and delightful news? Though we know we are supposed to be “holy and without blame,” we often fail miserably. In those moments, what a help it can be to remember that, in Christ, we are not slaves who can be cut loose if we fail to measure up to our owner’s demands. No! In Christ, we are sons and daughters of God! And, as sons and daughters, we know our Father in heaven loves us regardless of our performance! He loves us the way a good father loves his children! And we ought to love Him, too, the way an innocent little child loves a good father.
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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