Chosen Before The Foundation Of The World

INTRODUCTION

How to choose a good apple? Do you know how? What is the feeling of being chosen? Abraham is chosen. Jacob is chosen. Nation Israel is chosen.

How about you? Are you chosen? What makes you Christian special?

3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. 4 For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.

I. CHOSEN TO BE MADE HOLY AND PURE, 3-4

A. Blessed with All Spiritual Blessings, 3 (Mat. 6:33)

B. Designed for Spiritual Purity, 4 (1 Peter 1:16)

5 He did this by predestining1 us to adoption as his2 sons3 through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure4 of his will – 6 to the praise of the glory of his grace1 that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son.2 7 In him1 we have redemption through his blood,2 the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight. 9 He did this when he revealed1 to us the secret2 of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth3 in Christ,4 10 toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up1 all things in Christ – the things in heaven2 and the things on earth.3 11 In Christ1 we too have been claimed as God’s own possession,2 since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope1 on Christ,2 would be to the praise of his glory. 13 And when1 you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) – when you believed in Christ2 – you were marked with the seal3 of the promised Holy Spirit,4 14 who is the down payment1 of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession,2 to the praise of his glory.

II. CHOSEN TO BE OWNED BY GOD, 5-14

A. Predestined as Sons through Jesus Christ, 5-6 (John 1:12; Gal 4:4-6)

B. Redeemed from Sins through His Blood, 7-10 (Hebrews 9)

C. Marked with the Seal of His Spirit, 11-14 (Eph 1:13)

15 For this reason,1 because I2 have heard3 of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love4 for all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you1 in my prayers. 17 I pray that1 the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,2 may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation3 in your growing knowledge of him,4 18 – since the eyes of your1 heart have been enlightened2 – so that you may know what is the hope of his calling,3 what is the wealth of his glorious4 inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the incomparable1 greatness of his power toward2 us who believe, as displayed in3 the exercise of his immense strength.4 20 This power1 he exercised2 in Christ when he raised him3 from the dead and seated him4 at his right hand in the heavenly realms5 21 far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And God1 put2 all things under Christ’s3 feet,4 and he gave him to the church as head over all things.5 23 Now the church is1 his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.2

III. CHOSEN TO BE FILLED WITH GOD’S WISDOM, 15-23

A. Enlightened with Godly Wisdom, 15-18

B. Empowered with Power than Raised Christ from the Dead, 19-23

CONCLUSION

God is Great! He is perfect! He doesn’t make mistakes! His wisdom is heavenly. His choice is always right! And He chose you! He made you for Him. Live for Him!