Ephesians (W1D2) Chosen for a Purpose
Week1. Tuesday: Chosen for a Purpose
PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word.
READ: Ephesians 1:4-6
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
UNDERSTAND: get a deeper understanding of the key words
Note: What you are about to study is a subject of great debate over many centuries.
The debate is centered around a very important question, “Did God choose me or did I choose God?” Numerous books have been written from both sides. However, our focus will be on the words of scripture and what those words mean. We can’t argue with God’s Word.
Chose (Greek: eklegomai): to pick out or choose for one’s self
God chose us because we could not choose Him on our own (John 6:44).
Also see John 6:65; John 15:16; Acts 13:48; Romans 9; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 4:19
Before the Creation of the World: before we did anything right or wrong
Predestined (Greek: proorizō): to decide beforehand one’s destination
God decides our eternal destination “In love” from His grace.
Paul describes this process also in Romans 8:28-31.
Adoption to Sonship (Greek: huiothesia): brought into the family (Romans 8:15)
Why did God choose us? God chooses us for a purpose to be:
“holy (set apart) and blameless (without blemish) in His sight” (v. 5a)
for His “pleasure (delight, kind intention) and will (determined plan)” (v. 5b)
for the “praise of His glorious (most exalted) grace” (v. 6)
Freely Given (Greek: charitoō): from the root word charis for grace
God’s grace is undeserved favor that cannot be earned.
Therefore, grace must be “freely given” to sinners.
APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?
We might be tempted to think, “Why does it matter who chooses who?” Truth is, it matters much more than many realize. God choosing us is the core of the Gospel. What we believe matters because it drives how we live. If our salvation and spiritual growth depends on us (sinners), we’d have to admit that’s not very good news. But if God works in us both to save and transform our lives, that certainly is good news!
Does your life show that God is working in you?
Consider this passage from Paul “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” - Philippians 2:12-13
PRAY: Ask God to help you work out your salvation and help you live holy and blameless.
