#216–EP16 ~ A Life with Purpose
Here we continue with still another blessing we all have as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.
14 – He gives us PURPOSE in living. And we find this to be for ALL BELIEVERS in this present age of grace. (We’ll study this more later, but the #14 coincides with where we are in our study of Ephesians.)
Ephesians 1:3-6 [all together = purpose]
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Question: Did God just choose some for salvation and not others? NO!!! Let’s look at some Scripture.
1 Timothy 2:4
4 Who will have [THELO = desires] all [PAS = all without exception] men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. [Emphasis added]
All this clearly shows that God truly desires for all to be saved. However, there are people who deny this. Many are called Calvinists. They refuse to believe what the Bible clearly says about all this. They believe God did the choosing and we literally had nothing to do with it. But Peter also says God DESIRES salvation for ALL, not just some.
2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack [BRADUTES = slow] concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering [MAKROTHUMIA = patient] to us-ward, not willing [THELO = wishing or desiring] that any should perish [APOLLUMI = destroy], but that all should come to repentance [METANOIA = a change of mind]. [Emphasis added]
Please note how simple that is. He wants ALL to be saved, not just some or a few. Now let’s notice specifically what election is–
1—It is a choice on the part of God that ultimately includes some, but not all. But He chose to save ALL those who accept by faith His provision for salvation.
2—This is a choice God made before the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:4
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
3—It is a choice based on God’s grace, providing something totally undeserved.
Romans 11:5-6 speaks of this.
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
4—It is a choice that is certain to be fulfilled. If you accept Christ, you have no worries about this.
Again, Romans 8:30
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
5—It is a choice that in no way interferes with man’s free will. God wants friends, not robots. He could have created man to be that way, but He did not. Instead, He gave man complete freedom to choose. We see that when he was in the Garden of Eden and then also outside the Garden of Eden. By doing it that way He gave man the ability to love. As a controlled or programmed robot, he would not be able to do that. But as a free agent he can do either. We can choose God’s way or do otherwise. For instance, the Bible tells us God gave the Israelites their freedom to choose who they would serve.
Joshua 24:15
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Deuteronomy 30:19
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
If man didn’t have the freedom to choose, what would be the point of such a command? It would not be a genuine offer.
We’ll continue with more on all this in our next video.
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