Ephesians Challenge Chapter 1

Ephesians deals with divine election. It is the most debated doctrines in theology today. One thing that may help is to remember 1. God is sovereign. I don't feel qualified to comment on God's ability to rule the creation & the created. He knows what's best and has put the plan into place that predestined us to be adopted as true children. He knew who would accept Him though divine foreknowledge, and put everything in place in order for us to have a choice to do that. He had to be fair and create those who would not choose Him. He loves them just as much and does not desire their destruction, but their redemption through His Son. Since the word God Elohim means Gods (actually a plurality of one), to be fair He gave Himself for us. We understand Him to be Emanuel, Jesus Christ, God with us. 

1:7 says "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in tChrist would be to the praise of His glory." (NASB)


Wow, what else could we ask for. We have a God who loved us as sinners and wants no one to perish. And cared enough to leave His throne to dwell among us. How great is our God!


Have a great week in Him.
Dan