Chosen

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 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 (Eph 1:3-4 KJV).

Paul tells us that we have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ. The blessings Paul describes are already given. The first is our election in Him before the foundation of the world.

This may seem contradictory to your experience; however, the Scriptures are clear on this matter. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you (Joh 15:16 KJV).

This is not to say our will was not involved at any time. However, we did not initiate our conversion; God did.  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (Joh 1:12-13 KJV) [Emphasis Added].

Beloved, this is not a doctrine to shy away from. Without God’s choosing, we would never come to Christ for salvation. The Scriptures say: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others (Eph 2:1-3 KJV).

This deadness is what infected the human race with sin when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. God said if they ate of the fruit, they would die (Gen 2:17). Die they did, not physically but spiritually. Of course, they began to die physically also. So death spread to all men (Rom 5:12).

So, what a blessing it is to be chosen. And for what purpose did He choose us? That we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. The context likely indicates that this is referring to us in a positional sense, as the Father looks on us and sees Christ as our sin-bearer. However, it impacts us experientially, also. Why, because conversion begins a life of sanctification.

Maybe you don’t feel very sanctified. Maybe you say my sanctification is not going well. However, if you are in Christ, it is going! God has promised this to you. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Php 1:6 KJV). Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord (1Co 1:8-9 KJV).

Sometimes we do kick against the goads, but God has an answer for that. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons (Heb 12:5-8 KJV).

If you are in Christ, you are positionally holy and blameless, and you are being made holy and blameless through progressive sanctification. Therefore, whether you are on the mountain top or in the whipping shed, be thankful you have been chosen. 

But dear friend, if you are indifferent to the things of Christ, and you can sin without conscience, you must repent. Don’t say in your heart, I don’t know if God has chosen me. If today you believe, God will save. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed (Rom 10:10-11 KJV).