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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 1:4-5
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 1:3-6
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)
Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Two)
Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part One)
God's Sovereignty and the Church's Condition (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
Bible StudiesWhat Is Propitiation? (Part One)
BookletsGuard the Truth!
Essays'Before the Foundation of the World' (Part One) (2)
Another Look at the Prosperity Gospel
God Keeps Us
Making the Right Choice
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Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part 7)
Love God, Love Neighbor
The Love of Christ
Where Do We Fit?
The Faithfulness of God (Part 3)
The Priesthood of God (Part 2)
Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part 1)
The Harvest is Almost In
Hands That Shed Innocent Blood
Who Deserves Our Loyalties?
The Meaning of "In Christ"
In Search of a Clear World View (Part One)
Blessing Promises: Our Spiritual Inheritance
Before the World Began
Who Are We and Where Do We Fit (Part Two)
Why Is God Doing This, This Way?
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)
God Works in Mysterious Ways (Part Four)
They Know!
Wilderness Wanderings (Part Two)
Spiritual Renewal
Hebrews (Part Fourteen): Chapter 2, A Mind Bending Purpose (Part Three)
Knowing Christ (Part 2)
A Misunderstood Characteristic of God
God Is Still on His Throne
Our Creator and Savior
Essential Characteristics of Our Calling
Two Realities
Think on These Things
Unleavened Bread and the Holy Spirit (Part Two)
Hebrews 2: God is Present
Growing Into Liberty
Deuteronomy (Part 2) (1994)
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part 1)
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part 15)
The Sovereignty of God (Part 3)
The Sovereignty of God (Part 11)
The Faithfulness of God (Part 2)
God's Workmanship (Part 1)
Unity (Part 3): Ephesians 4 (A)
Sovereignty and 'Once Saved Always Saved'
God the Father (Part 2)
Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part 12)
Qualifications of a Godly Judge
Our Awesome Destiny
Be You Thankful
Glorify You Me
According to His Pleasure
Boaz and Pentecost
Moses, Servant of God
God's Sea of Glass (Part 1)
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