Praise God for Election (Eph 1:4-6)

Praise God for His Choosing: Eph. 1:4-6 Opening Prayer Paul is not defining or defending election and predestination. (He assumes them.) He is praising God for his choosing and preordaining those he has chosen for adoption as his own children! Read verses, then dive into explanation and application: I. The doctrine of election – is not some invention of ancient Christian theologians who were too smart for their own good. (can’t be credited to Augustine of Hippo or Calvin of Geneva) The doctrine of election is biblical. A. Consider the following verses about God’s initiation in his saving purposes, right down to the response of the one being saved: [see additional page] B. “God’s election or predestination does not operate apart from or nullify man’s responsibility to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.” (MacArthur) C. Mt. 11:27-28 (no contradiction - antinomy)  Beware extremes Explain foreknowledge D. Embrace God’s mercy on his terms (Rom. 9:11-18), and praise him for his grace (11:5-6). II. Praise God for his choosing. A. IN [CHRIST] – “God called us in Christ. He justified us in Christ. He sanctified us in Christ. He will perfect us in Christ. He will glorify us in Christ. We have everything in Christ, and we have nothing apart from Christ.” (Spurgeon) B. From before time. [exploding heads] C. To be holy and blameless before him. (This being both the purpose of God’s choosing and the result of being in Christ. – holy: morally pure, blameless: free from guilt) III. Praise God for predetermining you for adoption. (Praise him for his glorious grace) A. Illustration for election and predestination (different emphases) – recruiting football players… for specific roles, positions B. In love… Adoption – personal and emotional for me C. Again, in Christ, not anything in us. D. It pleased God to do it! (according to his good pleasure) IV. What the doctrine of God’s choosing us for adoption does for you as a believer today… A. It again brings you face to face with the Gospel and your need. B. It allows you to praise God for the merit of your Savior. (and with whom who get to be a fellow heir) C. It causes you to embrace the glory of God in its fullness (weight) and beauty (radiance). D. It makes you to really rely on him… to run as fast and far from self-sufficiency as you can, straight into the arms of the perfect, loving Father who has loved you and will hold you forever and never let you go. E. It is secure. You don’t have to wonder if you’ll be holy and blameless before him. It’s guaranteed. F. It should lead us to holiness and humility. (grounds for righteousness, not sin; making us humble as there are no grounds for boasting) G. To understand grace is to be overwhelmed with the glory and goodness of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ. (If praise doesn’t well up and spring forth, you aren’t grasping it and embracing it rightly.)  See vv. 6-8!