He Chose Us, Predestined Us

7-14-24

Hoonah-Hadley

Ephesians 1:3-14

Call to Worship Psalm 24

Daily Verses Ephesians 1:4-5

“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, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…” There is a reason there are books, songs and television series called “Chosen”, there is a reason God’s word tells us we are chosen, predestined, and it’s not too pat ourselves on the back. It’s “that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”  Before we boast about being chosen, holy would humble us “according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace.” As God would have it, we begin our research with the reading of the offerings Sunday evenings. In this case it was June 30th, the last day of the month. “Our Daily Bread”, which we read everyday, concluded the month with its topic: “Holiness”. Holy according to the New Riverside University Dictionary is “Belonging to, derived from, or associated with a divine power…specified or set apart for a religious purpose.” Our Daily Bread title for the devotion simplifies it, “Holiness—Set Apart in Christ”. The word is consecrate, to set apart…to dedicate to a sacred purpose. As the devotion says, it is not the negative association with “holier than thou”, it is “humility” in its finest hour, it is a life set apart for God and His purpose. Paul “urges” us in Romans 12:1-2 “to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God…” It is one thing to read and recognize you are chosen; it is something altogether different to offer your body as a sacrifice. 

-2-

For good measure, Leviticus 11:44 and 20:7 “Consecrate yourselves and be holy.” We can argue with God, doubt our “election”, procrastinate, feed the flesh or simply pack our lunch and show up for work today at our Father’s business, “then we will be able to test and approve what Gods will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 maybe the paragraph on “chosen”. Here are the cliff notes: “For you see your calling…But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things…and the things which are despised God has chosen…” Living at a time when “bundling” is popular, like TV, internet and cell service, we can put “calling”, “chosen”, “elected”, “predestined” in one envelope knowing God has paid the bill for all of it. Spurgeon calls it “God’s Strange Choice”, reflecting on God’s will verses mans will. The epitome of humanities choosing is seen in professional sports. When college players, whatever the sport, are being drafted into the pro’s, they are chosen based on their abilities, naturally. Those that can run faster, jump higher, throw faster, lift more are chosen first. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks on the heart. Man’s economy, God’s economy, two different things. God never intended to make His gospel fashionable. “But God chose the foolish things…the weak things…base things…the things which are despised God has chosen.” Praise God for choosing us! The least likely, the fallen, broken, the ones our mothers and teachers said would never amount to anything. Thank God His strength is made perfect in our weakness, for when we are weak then we are strong. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses, Joseph and David did not choose. John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you…”  

-3-

There is plenty of room in scripture for conversation but at the end of the day, it is the Holy Spirit that convicts us of the truth. 2 Timothy 2:23-26 “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes…a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition…so that they may know the truth…come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil.” The context of our lesson is found in the “greeting” by Paul. He tells us who he is, whose he is, and whose will it is. “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.” There is no question Paul is among Gods chosen. He is the penman for nearly a third of the New Testament. His greeting here sets us in the grandest of company, himself, Jesus Christ and God. Whom is he addressing? “To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus.” Because all scripture is God breathed, living and active, useful for teaching, correcting and training, you can safely substitute your location for Ephesus here. What is critical in our lesson and without substitute and applicable today, “saints…and faithful in Christ Jesus.” I know, I know, most would agree, we ain’t no saints, but some may be found faithful. We’ll leave the definition of saints and faithful to you and let you ask yourself if you might be included in either conversation, for this is who the apostle is addressing. Vs. 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.” “Blessed” is the first of 3 crucial verbs in our lesson. It is used twice here in verse 3 and each having slightly different meanings. The first means “worthy of being worshiped: Holy”, that’s God. The second means “enjoying the eternal happiness of heaven, fortunate”, that’s us. Paul is clear with his greeting of who we are, whose we are, that God in Christ reached out and laid hold of us, you and me.

-4-

Vs. 4 “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…” Often times it’s against all odds. Who among us feels unworthy? Who among us asks God, “why me?” Why does God “choose” the foolish things, the weak, the despised? Forget about who you were, your new identity is in Christ. Stop using your weakness, your broken body, your filthy rags for an excuse and use if for the very reason God intended to use it for His glory. Put off the old, put on the new, God in Christ purchases us a brand-new wardrobe, walk in closet, filled to all the fullness of His riches and glory. Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” 2 Cor. 2:15-16 “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.” God chose us to be in the world but not of it, to cloth ourselves with Christ, that is, not to dress like the world dresses, not walk like the flesh does, not talk like the wayward soul that we might put our lamp on the table for all the world to see, to be a light in the darkness. Vs. 2 continues: “that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” I know what you’re thinking, “that will never happen.” With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Like the creamer in the coffee, you keep diluting the old and putting on the new and pretty soon you’ll start carrying yourself differently, there will be hope where there was none, joy replaces sorrow. Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”  Vs. 5 “Having predestined us to adoption…by Christ Jesus to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will…” Stop the senseless debate with God, it’s His will, He adopted us, we have a new identity, He Chose Us, Predestined Us period. Amen.