Divine election: Chosen some to Salvation but not All
By Pastor Jesse Licardo
Saturday Fellowship
May 18, 2024, Lakewood Ca
Studying Ephesians 1: 1-14 in context by Inductive method. How?
- What does the text say? ( EXEGESIS) (OBSERVATION) Ask questions because it is the foundation that must be laid to accurately understand, interpret and properly apply Gods word.
2. What does it mean? ( INTERPRETATION)
-involves careful observation/scripture is subject to scripture. Scripture interprets scripture. The final authority is scripture, not scholars.
3. Now that I know what it means, how do I apply it in my life? (APPLICATION)
- your responsibility is putting into practice what you learn. 2 Tim 3:16-17 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
- Rule:
- avoid presuppositions, to properly understand what the greater context of the passage is.
— apply only an honest evaluation of the text at hand
- The title of this teaching, presupposes that some will be chosen and some will not be chosen, some will be saved and some will not be saved.
- Presupposing disposition creates the conclusion that this is what the overall context of the passage is. Let us investigate further to get to the bottom of the truth.
-Definition of election: to choose - according to lexham bible dictionary. In Greek “eklogay”. Which simply means the act of choosing.
-Greek terms associated with election: Ekloegomai; electos; ekloge also describes a choice, or something that is chosen.
-The term elect means essentially to choose, it involves the will when the determination is made.
- The doctrine of election affirms that purposes known only to himself, God chose those whom he would use as instrument for specific purpose.
- God’s choices not only arise within his eternal being and are consistent with who he is, but they are also based on his own divinely chosen plan. Because his choice is purposeful according to his an eternal plan based on his goodness, grace, and love.
-Ephesians 1 is a highly contested passage because it brings up a complicated topic of the DOCTRINE OF PRE-DESTINATION. Eph. 1, Rom. 9 and John 6 is the foundation of the Calvinist for unconditional election, pre destination, and limited atonement based on 5 points Calvinism TULIP.
T- total depravity
U- unconditional election
L- limited atonement
I- irresistible grace
P: perseverance of the saint
Based on the book titled Historical Theology by Alister E Mcgraph
Augustine developed a doctrine of predestination the term “Predestination” refers to God’s original or eternal decision to save some and not others. This create a presupposition and presumption misapplying exegesis to eisegesis
How Calvin defines predestination?
Predestination we mean the eternal decree of God by which he determine with himself whatever he wished to happen with regards to every man.
All are not created on equal terms but some are pre ordained to eternal life others to eternal damnation and accordingly as each has been created for one or the other of those ends we say that he has been predestined to life or death.
from Calvin institute of the Christian religion
Word to know; pre destination defined: Destination that is set beforehand
- ex. GPS, preplanning
— Root word destination
Prefix Free
A destination determined beforehand from vocabulary.com something that predestination has been planned or arrange already there is no way to change its outcome from Greek prior id so strong number G4309
To predetermine, decide before hand for ordain
The question is, whose destination is set beforehand? Those unconditionally chosen based on unconditional election before the foundation of the world in Eternities pasta for reason beyond their control? OR
Those who have believed and placed their faith in Jesus Christ.
In verse 1 Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is addressed to the Saints who are faithful in Christ Jesus.
The first 13 verses the word “in Christ”or “chosen in Him” is repeated 10 times. Who are those Chosen in Him?
In HIM, in WHOM, In CHRIST, in the Beloved is the theme of Ephesians 1. If there was no In HIM, there would be no choosing before the foundation of the world.
Verse 1 tells us the Saints, the faithful in Christ.
In verse 3-14 Paul opens in prayer about Spiritual Blessing in Christ, in the original Greek text this sections is one long elegant sentence.
Pay attention to pronouns being used by Paul to identify the recipient of Spiritual Blessings.
Ephesians 1:4 “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”in love
Ephesians 1:5 “he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”
Did Paul mean that God has chosen individuals before they were born? To be placed in Him, so as to be made Holy and blameless? OR
Has God chosen whoever is in HIM in Faith to be Holy and blameless?
When Paul said he chose us in Him, Who is he talking about?
The answer: The Saint, The Faithful in Christ in vs. 1.
What has he chosen the Faithful in Christ to become?
Answer: Eph. 1: 4- to be Holy and blameless before Him.
Ephesians 1:5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will.
Paul defines adoption in Romans 8:23
And not only the creation, but we ourselves who have the first fruits of the Spirit, grown inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies
— Adoption is the redemption in the body in the future event which believers are waiting after they are save
In verse 4 & 5, does the passage say anything about Salvation or that we should be holy without blame?
Who is doing the choosing? God
Who is being chosen? US the saint
Romans 8:15-17
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whose we cry “ABBA! Father!. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children then heirs—heirs of God Ana’s fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also glorified with him.
Greek word for adoption Huiothesia
Here is the US adoption is when a child who is not someone’s biological offsprings is legally made to be a person’s son or daughter
In Greco-Roman culture, children had the coming of age ceremony in which they were considered an adult and become the legal heir of the parents and gain authority over the disposition of some assets and property.
Paul uses the same concept in Galatians 4:1-7,
1 Peter 1:23
As unto the adoption
From Ephesians 1: 3-10, described every spiritual blessing that God and our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us with.
“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, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 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.”
All of which including:
- to be made Holy and Blameless (verse 4)
- To be adopted to himself as sons through Jesus Christ
- Redemption through his blood
- Forgiveness of our trespasses
Ephesians 1: 11
If you are saved you are predestined to that inheritance noticed the aspects of that inheritance 1 Peter 1:4-9,
Is the passage dealing with people predestinated to be converted or is it dealing with save people being predestinated to their inheritance
Romans 8:29-30
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,”
Does this passage mean that God predetermined certain indictable to believe?
Or
Has God chosen believing individuals for a predetermined (predestined) end?
Who is we in vs 11? The Saints in vs. 1 including Paul.
The passage in Ephesians 1: 1-14 is not about God predetermining which individuals will be in Christ and which ones will be sent to Hell. It is about predetermining what will become of those who are in Christ.
Predestination is not about God choosing to save some and the rest to destruction.
It is about the destination God has set for those who are in Christ. The destination of those who are in Him has been set beforehand, that is Predestination.
The most important questions: How does one come to be in Him? How can I be in Christ, and when am I placed in Him?
Answer: Ephesians 1:13
1 Corinthians 12:12-13/27
“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,”
Ephesians 1:13
Paul tells us ORDO SALUTIS, in Latin for order of salvation.
- When you heard the word of truth, Romans 10:17
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Romans 10:17 ESV
- Believe. Romans 10:9-10
“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
Romans 10:9-10 ESV
- Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. 2 Cor. 1:21-22
“And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 ESV
Based on exegetical rendering of this passage, it is not about God predetermining which individuals will be in Christ and which ones will be damned. It is about God predestining/ predetermining what will become of those who are in Christ through Faith.
Romans 8:29-30
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
Romans 8:29-30 ESV
Human responsibility (application) God ordained and decree human responsibility and that is to put your trust and faith in Christ.
John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Our responsibility ( RESPONSE - ABILITY reason why?)
Because we have the ability to respond to gods gracious truth by the power of the Holy Spirit telling us to repent and believe in him.
2 Cor 5:20
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
2 Corinthians 5:20
It is our responsibility to believe and to confess our sins so that you can be a part and included in him
1 Tim 2:3-6 “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”
1 Timothy 2:3-6
Acts 17:30 “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,”
Acts 17:30 ESV
