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NASB | Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 1:4 just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love |
Subject: Theological Term: Election |
Bible Note: Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, He has out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of His own will, chosen from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault from the primitive state of rectitude into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom He from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect and the foundation of salvation. This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than others, but with them involved in one common misery, God has decreed to give to Christ to be saved by Him, and effectually to call and draw them to His communion by His Word and Spirit; to bestow upon them true faith, justification, and sanctification; and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of His Son, finally to glorify them for the demonstration of His mercy, and for the praise of the riches of His glorious grace; as it is written "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will -- to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves." (Eph 1:4-6). And elsewhere: "And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." (Rom 8:30). --Canons of Dort "It is striking how the holy truth of election was woven into the common speech of the early church. When Paul greets the Thessalonians, he writes, 'Knowing brethren beloved, your election of God.' Peter begins his epistle with, 'Elect according to the foreknowledge of God;' and when he closes the same epistle he says, 'The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you.' John writes, 'The elder unto the elect lady,' and closes the letter with, 'The children of my elect sister greet thee.' It was not at all awkward for election to come out even in these greetings and goodbyes! Why? Because election was not merely a doctrine they believed the Bible taught. They worshipped the God of election! Election tells us God is God, and election tells us salvation is all of grace. This was not doctrine that only a few of the more mature believers believed. It was woven into the ways and woof of the way of thinking of the early church. It was the first thing Annanias told Paul about; 'The God of our fathers hath chosen thee' (Acts 22:14). Remember this–you cannot separate election and God Himself. He is the God of election. The early church knew this, and the church of the 20th century knows it also!" --Todd Nibert "The marvel of marvels is not that God, in his infinite love, has not elected all this guilty race to be saved, but that he has elected any." --B. B. Warfield "The ground of discrimination that exists among men is the sovereign will of God and that alone; but the ground of damnation to which the reprobate are consigned is sin and sin alone." --John Calvin "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." (John 6:37) " I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours." (John 17:9) "When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:48) "So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." (Romans 9:16) "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:44) |