Chosen in Christ

"Chosen in Christ: The Riches of God's Grace"

Text: Ephesians 1:3-14 Key Verse: 1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

The Inheritance

Imagine receiving a letter that changes your life forever. You learn that someone you barely knew has left you an inheritance worth millions. You didn’t earn it or expect it, but it’s now yours—out of pure generosity. How would you respond? You might be overwhelmed with gratitude, eager to know more about the person who gave you this gift, and ready to live in light of such a blessing.

A few months back we went through the book of Ephesians and today we come back to take another look at Ephesians 1:3-14. This wasn’t intentional on my part but how the lectionary works out in season of Christmas. In our passage Paul delivers a life-changing message much like the message of getting an inheritance. He’s writing to remind believers of their inheritance in Christ—a gift of unimaginable grace. God has chosen, redeemed, and sealed us, pouring out His riches so that we may live for His glory. This isn’t just theology; it’s the foundation of our identity and purpose.

Today, let’s walk through this text and see how God’s love changes everything about who we are and how we live.

I. We Are Chosen for God's Glory (Ephesians 1:3-6)

We start off in verse 3 and if you happen to remember or had been looking in your Bible you may have notice the first two verses start with a greeting similar to many of Paul’s greetings. Ephesians 1:1-2

Ephesians 1:1–2 (ESV)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then following this greeting we get verse 3 Ephesians 1:3

Ephesians 1:3 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

Jumping right into the topic Paul is addressing two important doctrines right off, first is that we should honor and bless God for all the blessings we have recieved from him. That is the second part of this that he has blessed us in Christ Jesus with every spiritual blessing int eh heavenly places. When we are in Christ, when we have been baptized and believe in the one who died and rose again for us, Jesus, then we endued with every spiritual blessing. What then is that spiritual blessing? As I pondered this I can only come to the conclusion that it is a faith given to us, to believe in the only begotten Son, having worked through the word that was proclaimed, brining us into faith, turning us from our unbelief unto faith, and that we know the truth and that truth has set us free. Freed from the bondage of sin and death, freed from the lies of the world, freed to live our lives in him, knowing that he has saved us and given us the Holy Spirit. This is a lot to take in just one sentence.

Ephesians 1:4 ESV

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

It only gets worse from there for then we have this that He chose us in him before the foundation of the world. Think about what that means and the implications, before anything existed that exist, God knew that you would be born, you would hear the gospel and be saved. While this is a bit simplistic in form it holds true that you were chosen by God before he even spoke a word into creation. That we should be holy and blameless before him. We look at our live, we know we are anything but holy and blameless, for we know our sin. Don’t worry God knows it too, and he sent His Son Jesus to die in your place anyways.

Ephesians 1:5 (ESV)

(In love) he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

There is that word again, love, it is interesting in the Greek there are three main words that can be translated as love and I am sure many of you have heard this before, but it is worth saying again. The first word is eros from which we get the erotic, it means a passion or lust for something. As is implied then it sexual in nature. The second word is phileo, it is having a deep affection for someone, like a brother or close friend. Then there is agape the word which is used here, and it means to love unconditionally. All other forms of love has this I love you based on what you do for me. Like I am your friend phileo because you have similar values, interest and likes. Whereas an unconditional love can only come close to understanding by a the love a parent has for their child. They love them just because they are theirs, because they are a part of them, this is the way that God loves us, but do not misunderstand today there are those who want to say love is love, with the implication that love is complete acceptance of everything and anything. True love has boundaries, true love does not accept that a child plays in a busy street, or that the child wants to play with fire. No true love first and foremost always has truth front and center.

Now in that love, agape God predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Many will get caught up in that first part of predestined meaning as if we do not have a choice and if we do not have a choice then those who do not believe are off the hook because God simply didn’t want them. No that is not exactly what is being said and more so that it is according to his purpose and his will. Bondage of the will Luther wrote. The will is bound, but the gospel sets us free, from the bondage to sin and death.

Luther writes: “If “free will” exists, it does not seem to be able to help men to salvation because it still leaves them under the wrath of God.”

“If all men have a “free will” and all men are guilty and condemned, then this supposed “free will” is powerless to bring them to faith in Christ. So, their will is not free after all.”

“free will” is nothing but a slave of sin, death, and Satan. Such “freedom” is no freedom at all.”

“No matter how much goodness men may naturally achieve, this is not the same thing as the knowledge of God. The most excellent thing about men is their reason and their will, but it has to be acknowledged that this noblest part is corrupt.”

“All men without exception are as ignorant of the fact of their guilty unbelief as they are ignorant of Christ Himself. The guilt of unbelief has to be revealed to them by the Holy Spirit.”

I would dare to say then that it is by knowing that guilt that the gospel becomes that much clearer, that much sweeter, and that much more important. Even that is what Paul says.

Ephesians 1:6 ESV

to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Rest in the assurance that you are chosen and loved by God. Your worth isn’t based on your achievements but on His grace.Live as a reflection of God’s glory, knowing that you are His beloved child.

II. We Are Redeemed Through Christ's Blood (Ephesians 1:7-10)

We move then from election to redemption: Ephesians 1:7

Ephesians 1:7 ESV

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Redemption means to be set free at a cost. In the ancient world, it referred to the price paid to free a slave. For us, the cost of our freedom was the blood of Jesus. His sacrifice on the cross secured the forgiveness of our sins and brought us into a relationship with God.

Ephesians 1:8 ESV

which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

How? Well simple through his word. through the preaching of grace and truth, and most of all through Christ.

Ephesians 1:9 ESV

making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

Again harkening back to Romans 10:17

Romans 10:17 ESV

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Ephesians 1:9–10 ESV

making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Here is why they include this in the lectionary as we talk about Jesus in the Christmas season, coming as a small child we have to also look at that purpose for why he came, and ultimately where this is all leading. Well its right here for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him.

Again it is according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ. It is the power of the Holy Spirit working through the word and the means of grace, creating in us faith.

III. We Are Sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:11-14)

Ephesians 1:11 ESV

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

This is an inheritance, like any inheritance do we dare ask what did I do to inherit this? No we are thankful and glad and we know that we inherit for we are certain that the person we are inheriting from loves us, agape, unconditionally thus why we have been given such a wonderful gift.

Now God loved us so much that he gave his only begotten Son to die in our place, so that we too would inherit eternal life, through him.

Ephesians 1:12 ESV

so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

Soli deo gloria, all for the glory of God!

Ephesians 1:13 ESV

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

We talked about this already but here it is again Romans 10:17, faith comes by hearing, and when we hear this good news and the Holy Spirit working in us has brought us to know this truth, in which we are now sealed and promised eternal life. Talk about the ultimate Christmas gift.

Then to think there is nothing we have done to deserve in, that truly is amazing grace.

The Gospel Gift

A little boy once broke his mom’s favorite vase while playing inside. Panicked, he tried to glue it back together, but the cracks were obvious, and glue was dripping everywhere. When his mom walked in, he held up the mess and said, “I tried to fix it!”

Instead of getting angry, she knelt down, hugged him, and said, “It’s okay. I love you more than any vase.” Then she gently took the broken pieces and fixed it herself, making it more beautiful than before.

That’s the gospel. We bring God our brokenness, trying to fix ourselves, but He takes us as we are, loves us unconditionally, and through Jesus, makes us whole again.

So, bring your broken pieces to Him. He’s not just the God who saves—He’s the God who restores.

To Him who makes all things new, be glory forever. Amen.