We are Chosen

Ephesians 1:1–4 NASB95

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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 would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

We are returning to the passage that we started this year off with. A reminder of the title was “Being Blessed Begins with GOD”. But I now want to expound on the spiritual blessings Paul says we have from GOD. To begin a series “I am Spiritually Blessed”. This passage is rich with information that confirms who is spiritually blessed. And I want everyone to understand what it means, so there are no doubts or ambiguity in our minds when we say “I’m living the blessed life”.

Another reminder about this passage, Paul is breaking out into praise to GOD, shown by the phrase “Blessed be the GOD and Father...” Whenever you see that phrase, it is praise language. Also, the “us” in the text goes back to verse 1, “the saints who are faithful in Christ Jesus!” What is your praise about Paul, it is for him blessing us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. What Paul does from there is break down what those spiritual blessings are. You might hear some familiar themes from what we’ve covered the first half of the year, and that’s great because it demonstrates the unity of the Spirit! Amen!

GOD Chose Us

Now notice as you hear these spiritual blessings, you hear divine actions that have brought “us” something from heaven!! To what extent have the faithful been blessed Paul? The the extent that he, that being God the Father, chose us.

Application: If we pause there, we should smile, praise, whatever you do to express joy. Because it says that GOD chose. And I thank GOD that it was not through human agency.

Example: You remember in PE, it was time to play dodge ball. Usually two captains. And some times there are like two or three people neither of them wanted to choose.

Application: This is not a human process. You can’t vote me in or out!!! Because GOD chose!!

GOD Chose Us from Eternity

To solidify the spiritual, it is where and when GOD made his decision. In HIM, that being Christ, and before he said the first “let there be”. Which means God’s choice for us who are In Christ, originated in eternity.

Application: If GOD chose me from eternity, then what happens in this temporal period we call “time”, can’t alter God’s choice!

GOD Chose Us for a Purpose

But understand more about this chosen or election process. Anytime GOD chooses us (an individual or group), it is with purpose! The purpose here is to occupy a certain position continually before GOD. What position or status? Holy and blameless in his presence.

Application: Thank you Father. Obviously, before I responded to my chosen status, I wasn’t either of these.

We need to see the Honor, Duty, and Accountability.

It comes with:

Honor (which deals with status before GOD and humans)

Honor Example: Dt 14:2 “2 “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”

Application: Surely the Spirit through Paul is streamlining the concept. It is a privilege. Not for self boasting, but to boast in him. That’s why Paul is praising GOD about it!!

Duty (our dutiful response to God’s choice)

Responsibility Example: 1 Ch 15:2 “2 Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.””

Application: If we’ve been chosen, we should also know that status comes with responsibility. The world isn’t expected to be holy and blameless in his sight, we are! Because if we are in Christ, you have been chosen!!

Accountability (answerable for obedience or disobedience)

Accountability Example: And because I know I have a duty, there is accountability. Staying with the previous example verse, the reason why David stressed that with everybody is because he learned from Uzza’s mistake of reaching his hand out to prevent the ark from falling, but Uzza wasn’t a Levite. GOD struck him down that day.

Application: Since we are chosen to be holy and blameless, it is a status he has put us in, our goal should be to live holy and blameless lives, aiming for the perfection of Jesus our Lord while we’re still here until he returns. Php 1:9-10 “9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;”

Thus, there are virtues that must grow in us so we know what’s blameless. In the end, Christ can present us as such, Col 1:22. Lord willing, I will build on this foundation.

Conclusion: The main point I want everyone to see and be sure of, is that we are spiritually bless because we are chosen. GOD chose us, he chose us from eternity, and he chose for a purpose.