Ephesians 1:3 - Forerunner Commentary

Ephesians 1:3

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Articles, Bible studies, and sermons that contain The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Ephesians 1:3:

Ephesians 1:3-5
Excerpted from: Free Will or God's Sovereignty?

This whole first chapter of Ephesians is filled with confidence and hope, encouraging us with what God has done and is doing. Here, Paul wades into the hotly-contested realm of predestination, mentioning it twice. The Amplified says, “He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children.” For verse 11, the Amplified says, “we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose.”

Now, the timid commentators say this is talking about the saints as a group, or the church in general, meaning that it was predestined only that there would be saints—that there would be a church. That is as far as they will go, and it is a very cautious way of looking at it.

But this view sidesteps what it says in verse 4. It says we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world for the purpose of our becoming holy and without blame. Chosen means picking some and excluding others for this age. The apostle says this choosing took place before the foundation of the world. So, if we are going to be objective in our studies—which we should be—we must find an explanation from Scripture as to why verse 4 does not mean what it certainly appears to be saying.

Ephesians 1:3-4
Excerpted from: The Awesome Cost of Salvation

He did not choose us as individuals before the foundation of the world, but He did choose that He would have a church; that there would be a group; that there would be people regenerated by His Spirit; that there would be a unique Family of His that would be in the image of His Son.

The word 'choose' indicates taking a smaller number out of a larger. The larger is the population of the earth. The smaller number is that tiny remnant that God has been working with—His church, His group, and His Family. The word 'holy' implies the choosing had a moral aim in view. In other words, God was choosing a small number out of a large number and the reason He was choosing this small number is that He wanted to make this small number holy—holy like He is holy. He had a moral purpose in mind.

The apostle is saying you have been called, you have been elected, and you have become a part of this small group with a definite purpose in mind—that you should become holy.

Ephesians 1:3-4
Excerpted from: Government (Part Seven)

I just want you to see there that God has been working this thing out—thinking about it, thinking about His purpose—before time began! Time began when God created the heavens and the earth, by which we keep time. And, maybe, in one sense we would say that time did not begin until God created Adam. Then time became important. (Time does not mean the same thing to God.) But God has been thinking about the purpose that He is working out in our lives since before time began.

Ephesians 1:3-6
Excerpted from: Be Holy, as I am Holy

You know, from Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, to Moses, to us today, God was preparing all this before the foundations of the world. He was working. God chose you long before you were even born.

Ephesians 1:3-12
Excerpted from: Jesus in the Feasts (Part Five): Tabernacles

That is what He is working toward, making us all one in Christ and that we could all be glorified in Him, as part of Him.

Articles
Born Again or Begotten? (Part One)
Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Two)
From Start to Finish (Part Three)
Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part One)
Prepare to Meet Your God! (Part Six): Complacency and Laodiceanism
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Nine): Conclusion (Part Two)
The Sovereignty of God: Part Three
The Sovereignty of God: Part Two
Thy Kingdom Come! (Part One)

Bible Studies
What Is Propitiation? (Part One)

Booklets
Guard the Truth!
Prepare to Meet Your God! (The Book of Amos) (Part Two)

Essays
'Before the Foundation of the World' (Part One)  (2)
Another Look at the Prosperity Gospel

Sermons
The Meaning of "In Christ"
The Faithfulness of God (Part 3)
Who Deserves Our Loyalties?
Hands That Shed Innocent Blood
The Harvest is Almost In
Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part 1)
Our Divine Destiny
God's Investment in You
Finishing Your Gun Lap
The Love of Christ
Seeking God's Will (Part One): Holiness
Love God, Love Neighbor
Compromise
Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part 8)
Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part 7)
The Faithfulness of God (Part 3)
Moses, Servant of God
Offerings (Part Seven)
Hebrews (Part Fourteen): Chapter 2, A Mind Bending Purpose (Part Three)
Spiritual Renewal
Wilderness Wanderings (Part Two)
They Know!
God Works in Mysterious Ways (Part Four)
From Start to Finish
His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Part Two)
His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Part Two)
In Search of a Clear World View (Part One)
Leadership and the Covenants (Part Six)
Deuteronomy and History
Deuteronomy and History
His Eye is On the Sparrow (Part One)
Why Is God Doing This, This Way?
Who Are We and Where Do We Fit (Part Two)
Before the World Began
Blessing Promises: Our Spiritual Inheritance
Think on These Things
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part 15)
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part 1)
Deuteronomy (Part 2) (1994)
Growing Into Liberty
Four Views of Christ (Part 7)
The Purpose of the Church
Hebrews 2: God is Present
Unleavened Bread and the Holy Spirit (Part Two)
The Sovereignty of God (Part Two)
The Lord's Nourishing and Cherishing
Essential Characteristics of Our Calling
Our Creator and Savior
Who Do You Trust? (Part Three)
God Is Still on His Throne
A Misunderstood Characteristic of God
Of God Appointed Life
The Paradox of Terror and Rejoicing
God the Father (Part 2)
God's Sea of Glass (Part 1)
Boaz and Pentecost
According to His Pleasure
Glorify You Me
The Wonderful, Powerful Gift of God's Holy Spirit
Be You Thankful
Our Awesome Destiny
Qualifications of a Godly Judge
The Priesthood of God (Part 2)
Sovereignty and 'Once Saved Always Saved'
Unity (Part 6): Ephesians 4 (C)
Unity (Part 3): Ephesians 4 (A)
God's Workmanship (Part 1)
God's Workmanship (Part 1)
Knowing Christ (Part 2)
The Sovereignty of God (Part 11)
The Sovereignty of God (Part 3)

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