Chosen by Grace - Election a Spiritual blessing

Blessing of God the Father in Christ Jesus
Ephesians Chapter 1

Some Exegetical and Devotional thoughts on Ephesians

Prayer: May God the Father and our Lord Jesus help us, through his Holy Spirit we may understand and live in the “riches of Christ” for the praise of his glorious grace, Amen.

Paul writing to predominantly gentile congregation of Ephesians, talks about the blessings in Christ Jesus. The theme of the Ephesians is, The mystery (μυστήριον) of his will (θέλημα) to unite ( ἀνακεφαλαιόω) all things in Christ Jesus. Some have debated that the main thought of Ephesians is Ecclesiology, which I agree that Christ and Church is one of the main theme, but not the unifying and central theme.

Grace (χάρις) to you and peace ( εἰρήνη) from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace (charis) was the common greeting in the gentile congregation of Ephesus, riches of grace of God is explained in verse 7. Grace is key word for entire epistle.

Here is the outline of Ephesians 1:3-13

God the Father blessed us with every spiritual (πνευματικός) blessing (Εὐλογητὸς) in Christ Jesus and Paul mentions some here in the first chapter of Ephesians. The Jewish Berakhah - like Psalm 66:20, or Blessed be the God of Israel - Psalm 41:13, is used by the Paul. Blessed be God the Father who blessed us. It is the blessed who can bless.

Blessings (Εὐλογητὸς) of God (ὁ θεὸς) “In Christ”...

Chosen - Election (ἐξελέξατο - ἐκλέγομαι)
Predestined (προορίζω) us for Adoption
Redemption (ἀπολύτρωσις) through his blood
Holy Spirit ( πνεῦμα) guarantee of the inheritance (κληρονομία)

Today for my own devotion, would limit myself to the doctrine of Election.

Chosen (ἐξελέξατο) -
Election is the divine thought, that finite human mind by the Spirit of God should understand for the praise of his glory. As John Calvin says in his Institutes, some stay back from the difficult doctrine of Election, there are some who claim as if they know it entirely, go where God does not want us to go. I love How John Calvin goes into reference after reference from the divine Holy writ to prove his point of predestination.


To meditate on the divine thought of Election by grace... Lets mediate these four questions to properly exegete the passage

1.Who chose us? Did we not choose him in our Salvation? Does not christian raise their hands or walk to the front to acknowledge their faith in Christ? Does that mean we chose God somehow? No not at all. It is God who chose us. Not we chose him. Ephesians 1:4 - God chose us in him (Christ) - It is God out of the purpose of his will, through the council of his will for his own pleasure has chosen us. It is not us who have chosen him, but he chose us. Another passage in the scripture that talks about the who made the choice is John 15:16 - “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” - This verse proves that It is not us who chose him, but It is He (God) who chose us. Even this verse talks about the purpose of his will in choosing us, to bear fruit and that fruit might abide, and even his election or selection is our basis for prayer. So it is God who chose us not we choosing him. Man is totally depraved, the fall has effected man so much that he by himself can never choose God, even before fall, it was Adam’s choice that brought sin into the world. So this shows that man even in his best state could not choose God nor obey him perfectly. It is God who came in search of Adam, and asked Adam where are you? Yes, He did choose us not us choosing him.
2.When did God chose us? - Did God chose us after we have behaved good or bad, Has he seen us somehow and chose us? Did he chose us after we are born? Did God chose us after we by faith made our confession in Christ Jesus? Ephesians 1:4-5 clearly explain, before the foundation of world (κόσμος) God has chosen us. There are several passage that emphasis on this truth, election before birth or election before any good deed. Here are few references from the Holy Writ -
a.Jeremiah 1:5 - The call of Jeremiah by God - "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born I consecrated you;I appointed you a prophet to the nations." - God is saying that he knew, consecrated, appointed him to be a prophet. This was before he was formed in the womb. Election before birth.
b.Romans 9:5 - This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son." And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, "The older will serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." Some claim this to be an election of race of Israel, but if you see the text, the text talks about 2 individuals Jacob and Esau - though they were not yet born. We clearly see that there the Election was not of the race of Israel - but of the individual of Jacob before his birth. Not after doing good or bad, but before birth.
c.Revelation 13:8: and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain - Here we note that the names were written in the Lamb’s book of life before the foundation of the world. Lambs book of life - exists before any person is born, their names are already written in the book, before even world existed. How wonderful our God is to write our names in that book, not right before we were born, but before the foundation of the world. That means, our names, our lives were in the mind of God even before the time started.
3.How did he choose us? What criteria did God use to select or choose the elect? Is it our thoughts Or Is it our deeds that were commendable before God? World uses or elects depending upon the merits, World has competitions, exams, tests, and even selection criterion? God did not select us based upon any criterion. If that was so, it would never be called Election of Grace, it should be election of works or merits. The truth is illustrated by Romans 9:11 says - “though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls” - this verse clearly states that it not after they have done good or bad. If he chose us by works or merits, we all would have boasting before his throne, but scripture says in Ephesians 2:8 “ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” - There would be no chance for any to boast. As we see in Romans chapter 1-3 - Paul’s proves that all mankind is guilty and are for Judgment of God. There is none righteous - No not one - Romans 3:10. Clearly Romans 3 makes it plain that it is not by any works, good works, but for his glory. So on the basis of merit, none would qualify, none would be able to stand before God. Salvation is act of God, act of his grace, mercy and his love. Not by any merit. Martin Lloyd-Jones says in his book “God ultimate purpose” - Page 92, that God in his foreknowledge saw what decisions you and I would make and then chose/elect people based on that information, Bible does not talk about that all. If God saw through the lens of time, and saw decisions of all his people would make He is no more influencing it, How could he become the author of our salvation, or How would be John 15:16 be coherent. Election or selection is a act of grace alone, Salvation belongs to the Lord - Jonah 2:9, Psalm 3:8. So it is no criteria is involved in Election - It is just a act of grace and Love of God in Election.
4.Why did he chose us? What does the scripture talk about why he chose us? Does he have any selfish motive in choosing us? Can we talk about of God like that? Love is prime factor in election, act of Love of God and not man. He chose us because he loved us. Explained by the following verses
Deuteronomy 7:7-8: 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, 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. - There are 2 factors noted in the above passage, the first is the love and second the oath he swore to fathers (Word) are mentioned. Just because he loved and gave a promise to father, he chose Israel. All the reason for election is in him, not us.
Deuteronomy 10:14-15: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. Again love is shown clearly as motive behind.
Romans 9:24 - In order to make know the riches of his grace and mercy - That God in Christ Jesus has chosen us.
Ephesians 1:4-5: In love he predestined us. Dr.D.A.Carson talks about the Love of God and says God Electing or selecting Love - to chose for himself a people as a sovereign act of love.

So Who chose us? God the Father has chosen us - When did he chose us? Before the foundation of the world was laid. How did he chose us? With no selection criteria - Why did he chose us? Because of his love - and also his love. We are chosen by his grace - Romans 11:5.

May all who are elect in Christ Jesus comprehend the breadth, length, height and depth of love of God in Christ Jesus and his eulogetos (blessings) en christo (In Christ), he bestowed over us and be filled with his fullness.


In Christ
Samson S Boodala
http://sboodala.blogspot.com