Chosen, Redeemed, And Alive In Christ Ephesians 1:4-5 Series

Chosen, Redeemed, and Alive in Christ - Ephesians 1:4-5

Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT) – “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”

Introduction

I invite you today to reflect on a powerful truth: You are chosen, redeemed, and alive in Christ. These are not just theological terms; they describe a living relationship with the Almighty God. Today, as we explore these truths in light of Scripture, I pray that God will speak to each one of us—revealing how His love, grace, and purpose have shaped our very existence. Our past no longer defines us; our life is found in Christ!

The Apostle Paul, writing to the Ephesians, reminds us that God chose us before the foundation of the world. Let’s dive deeper into this passage and other Scriptures to grasp the fullness of God’s calling on our lives and the power of being transformed by the truth.

1. Chosen in Christ Before the Foundation of the World

Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT) says, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”

Before the world began, God had already set His love upon you. The word “chose” here comes from the Greek ??????µa? (eklegomai), meaning "to pick out" or "to select." This wasn’t some random selection; God deliberately chose you to be His own. He knew your flaws, failures, and imperfections, yet He still chose you to be holy and blameless in His sight.

The key point here is that you were not chosen because of your merit but because of God’s love and grace. He adopted you into His family through Christ. This is echoed in Romans 8:29 (NLT): “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

Imagine a father who sees a child playing alone at an orphanage. Despite knowing the challenges that lie ahead, he chooses that child—out of love, not duty. God, in His infinite love, chose us not because we were perfect but because He is perfect.

Let this truth fill you with confidence. You are not an afterthought; you are God’s beloved child. Live in the knowledge that you are chosen to be part of His eternal family. Your identity is found in this truth, not in your past or present struggles.

2. Redeemed by Faith, Not Works

Philippians 3:9 (NLT) declares, “I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.”

The righteousness we have is not of our own doing but is found in Christ alone. The Greek word for righteousness, d??a??s??? (dikaiosune), refers to a state of being right with God. We often try to earn our righteousness through good deeds, religious acts, or moral behaviour, but Paul makes it clear that our righteousness comes solely through faith in Christ.

This truth is reinforced in Romans 3:23-24 (NLT): “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.”

Consider the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. When he returned home after wasting his inheritance, he expected to be treated as a servant. Instead, his father ran to him, embraced him, and restored him to full sonship. That’s the kind of grace we receive through Christ!

Stop striving to earn God’s favour. Instead, rest in the righteousness that comes through faith in Jesus. We are redeemed not because of our own actions but because of Christ’s sacrifice. He has done the work; we simply need to trust Him.

3. The Old Life is Gone—Alive in Christ

Romans 6:6 (NLT) tells us, “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.” The word “crucified” here is s?sta???? (sustauroo), meaning to be crucified together with someone. When we place our faith in Christ, our old sinful nature is put to death alongside Him.

But not only is our old self crucified, we are made alive in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:14 (NLT) says, “Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.” His love compels us to live differently because the old has gone, and the new has come.