# 4 Ephesians 1:4-6

# 4 Ephesians 1:4-6

Chosen and Predestined: A Theological Conundrum – Or Words of Great Affection?

For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will — to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. . . Eph. 1:4-6; 11

CONUNDRUM is one of my favorite words – it means “a mystery, puzzle or riddle.” I find many conundrums when I read the Bible. I have many questions; there is so much I don’t understand. Here’s what I do understand though:

• God wants us to know Him – to know His heart and mind
• We have been created in a way that makes it possible to know Him
• He has given us His Word precisely so we can know Him
• And He has put His Spirit into us so we can know Him

Now, if it were true that God wants us to understand Him through His Word, why would He include such difficult theological ideas as PREDESTINATION and CHOSEN BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD? How can we say we have been chosen, yet believe that God holds people responsible when they don’t choose Him? This is a true conundrum! Does God open this up to us so we can understand it?

No, actually, He does not! He simply predestinates and chooses. He chose and set aside Israel without the slightest explanation as to why that particular nation was selected. He chose Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, John, Paul and many others to accomplish His purposes – and He felt no need to tell us why these particular people were chosen for the part they played in His plan. He chose them, revealed Himself to them, and then included them in His plan.

Even though we cannot open our Bibles to a few verses that define PREDESTINED or CHOSEN, we can observe what it means to be chosen by God. How He loved His chosen nation! How He loved David! God personally revealed Himself to Abraham and Moses in the days of old, and Jesus took great care to make Himself accessible to Peter in the New Testament. One cannot read the writings of John the Apostle, or Paul, without feeling the heartbeat of the Lord Jesus. To be chosen by Him is to receive individual and very personal love and attention.

We have been chosen for adoption as His sons, according to His pleasure and will. The Amplified Bible says He “picked us out for Himself as His own” and “set us apart for Himself.” Again I ask, why? So He could pour His incredible love out out to us (John 17:26) and so we will enjoy His favor forever. We were CHOSEN to be included in the love the Father has for the Son; it is the beginning of our ‘holy and blameless’ life and the foundation for spiritual intimacy and maturity. The word CHOSEN is a term used to communicate His great affection.

Predestination is not a problem (as so many make it out to be), it is God’s solution to the fact that we have a rebellious nature and cannot know Him unless He makes a way for us to do so. Let the wonder of it overtake you. It is not necessary to understand this truth in order to BELIEVE IT, ENJOY IT, AND PRAISE HIM FOR IT!

Ephesians begins by showing us God the Father, the ONE WHO BLESSES; He blesses because it gives Him pleasure and it is consistent with who He is. You and I didn’t do a thing to make God love us – He loved us even before we drew our first breath. It makes me think of how a mother falls in love with the baby inside her womb, long before she sees its human form. She can’t wait to see that baby, and hold him close – so great is her affection. She names him and plans for him and counts the days until she will see him.

God loved you and planned for you even before He created the earth – you are as set apart to Him as were the kings, prophets and apostles. You have been chosen by Him. Why? So that He can lavish His riches upon you and bring you into intimacy with Himself for His own pleasure, and for your blessing. Enjoy Him! Rest in Him!

My thanks to Tom Wonthrop, whose discussion on this topic freed me, once and for all, from frying my brain trying to define and understand predestination. A few of his words, here and there, have been borrowed to write this paper.
LJ 2/09