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Articles, Bible studies, and sermons that contain Ephesians 1:4:
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 SalvationHe 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 1:4
Excerpted from: Free Will or God's Sovereignty?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 1:4-5
Excerpted from: The Purpose of the ChurchHe is talking about the church here and he is talking to you and me that this has been planned, it has been God's purpose from the very beginning. That there would be an organization that we now know of as the church. And you think that the vast billions of people that have lived and died from the time of Adam and Eve, and you and I are a part of that group which indeed is an extremely tiny group in terms of all the multiple billions who have ever lived. But God chose it from the very beginning before the foundation of the world and here is the purpose.
The predestination here does not apply to us as individuals. It applies in general to the fact that God planned that there would be a church, that there would be a group that would have characteristics that were similar to His Son.
Ephesians 1:3-5
Excerpted from: The Paradox of Terror and RejoicingIt is important to meditate on these things. When we do, we realize that the love of Christ for His own people began before time, long before the world was created. Christ's love for us did not suddenly come into existence, it was there before the beginning of time. Therefore, we read that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.
This is truly astonishing that we were known by Christ before time began, and every one of us who belongs to Him was known to Him. What a dignity it adds to human life and to our existence in this world to know that He has set His heart on us, that His affections rested on us even in eternity!
Ephesians 1:3-4
Excerpted from: The Purpose of the ChurchHe is talking about the church here and he is talking to you and me that this has been planned, it has been God's purpose from the very beginning. That there would be an organization that we now know of as the church. And you think that the vast billions of people that have lived and died from the time of Adam and Eve, and you and I are a part of that group which indeed is an extremely tiny group in terms of all the multiple billions who have ever lived. But God chose it from the very beginning before the foundation of the world and here is the purpose.
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 HolyYou 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): TabernaclesThat 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.
ArticlesBorn Again or Begotten? (Part One)
Can We Win People For Christ?
Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Two)
From Start to Finish (Part Three)
Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part One)
God's Sovereignty and the Church's Condition (Part One)
Is the Christian Required To Do Works? (Part Four)
Jerusalem's Fall and Christ's Return
Legacy
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)
Will You Marry Me? (Part One)
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What Is Propitiation? (Part One)
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Essays'Before the Foundation of the World' (Part One)
'Before the Foundation of the World' (Part One) (2)
'Like Father, Like Son'
Another Look at the Book of Job
Another Look at the Prosperity Gospel
Did God Know You Before Your Birth?
God Keeps Us
Making the Right Choice
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A Misunderstood Characteristic of God
Strategies for Escaping Babylon (Part Four)
God Is Still on His Throne
Who Do You Trust? (Part Three)
Our Creator and Savior
Our Creator and Savior
Essential Characteristics of Our Calling
God Expects a Return on His Investment (Part Seven)
God Expects a Return on His Investment (Part Six)
Chosen Instruments of God
God Expects a Return on His Investment (Part Three)
Two Realities
The Lord's Nourishing and Cherishing
Think on These Things
Unleavened Bread and the Holy Spirit (Part Two)
Hebrews 2: God is Present
Four Views of Christ (Part 7)
Growing Into Liberty
Deuteronomy (Part 2) (1994)
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part 1)
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part 1)
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part 9)
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part 15)
The Sovereignty of God (Part Two)
The Sovereignty of God (Part 3)
The Sovereignty of God (Part 11)
Knowing Christ (Part 2)
God's Workmanship (Part 1)
God's Workmanship (Part 1)
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part 1)
Unity (Part 3): Ephesians 4 (A)
Unity (Part 6): Ephesians 4 (C)
Two Contrary Visions
Maintaining Good Health (Part 6)
Sovereignty and 'Once Saved Always Saved'
Trial by Fire
God the Father (Part 2)
Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part 12)
The 'Rest' of Hebrews 4
New Heavens and New Earth
Qualifications of a Godly Judge
Why Are We Called To Overcome?
Our Awesome Destiny
Be You Thankful
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Our Core Business
Glorify You Me
According to His Pleasure
The Ship Is Yours
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Moses, Servant of God
God's Sea of Glass (Part 1)
All in All (Part 1)
The Priesthood of God (Part 2)
The Faithfulness of God (Part 2)
The Faithfulness of God (Part 3)
The Faithfulness of God (Part 3)
The Faithfulness of God (Part 3)
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Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part 8)
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Seeking God's Will (Part One): Holiness
The Love of Christ
Hope That Purifies
Finishing Your Gun Lap
God's Investment in You
Our Divine Destiny
Where Do We Fit?
Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part 1)
The Harvest is Almost In
The Foundation of the World
Hands That Shed Innocent Blood
Who Deserves Our Loyalties?
The Meaning of "In Christ"
Hope to the End
The Miracle of God's Calling
In Search of a Clear World View (Part One)
Blessing Promises: Our Spiritual Inheritance
Before the World Began
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Who Are We and Where Do We Fit (Part Two)
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His Eye is On the Sparrow (Part One)
Deuteronomy and History
Deuteronomy and History
Leadership and the Covenants (Part Six)
Offerings (Part Four)
Offerings (Part Seven)
His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Part Two)
His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Part Two)
His Eye Is On the Sparrow (Part Five)
From Pilgrims to Pillars (Part One)
From Start to Finish
Satan's Pagan Holy Days
God Works in Mysterious Ways (Part Four)
They Know!
Our Part in the Sanctification Process (Part Six): Cultivating Kindness
Wilderness Wanderings (Part Two)
Spiritual Renewal
God's Love and Teachings for His Children
Hebrews (Part Fourteen): Chapter 2, A Mind Bending Purpose (Part Three)
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