I have just started a series of messages on Ephesians. I admit that I wondered how I was going to navigate the waters of election and predestination in the first chapter.
(Ephesians 1:3–6)
- 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
But as I prayed and studied, this excellent thought came to me, that is, I believe the Spirit of God spoke to me.
Just say what it says …
Don’t try to explain it. God didn’t. He just stated it through the writing of Paul.
Receive it as God intended …
A letter to his “peeps.” God wanted the believers in Jesus Christ to know these things, to be thrilled with what he has done for us and to take great comfort in his thoroughness and care.
These truly are simple, clear statements. God chose us before the foundation of the world and he predestined us to be his sons and daughters. Why say more than God did?
Can I explain that to you? No. And I see absolutely no need to.
Does it make me feel really good that God has done this for me? Oh, yes!
Praise you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
