As I listen to some Christians talk, I sometimes wonder if we hear Scripture in the following way:
Paul, an apostle…by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful…peace to you from God our Father...Praise be to the God and Father…who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing…For He chose us…before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight…He predestined us to be adopted as His sons…in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of His glorious grace which He has freely given us…we have redemption…the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches…that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed…to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together…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, in order that we, who were the first…might be for the praise of His glory. And you were included…when you heard the word of truth, the gospel…Having believed, you were marked…with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory. –Ephesians 1:1-14
I also sometimes wonder if this was read from a pulpit if anyone would notice something missing. In this passage of Scripture, every reference to Jesus and His redemptive work was taken out. When we remove phrases like, “of Him”, “for Him”, “by Him”, “and through Him,” the emphasis of the text makes a dramatic shift. And yet, that’s the way we sometimes read Scripture.
Sometimes we make a big deal about predestination. Sometimes we make a bigger deal about being chosen and being the blessed of God. But what I think Paul wants us to see is that election is not possible without Jesus Christ. Paul is telling us that if Jesus was taken out of Scripture, he would not be an apostle, no one could claim to be a child of God, and we would be destitute of every spiritual blessing. This is why Paul continues to remind us not only what’s important, but WHO it is that we should remember, honor, and WHO really is the CHOSEN ONE before the creation of the world, “to the praise of His Glory.”
Paul, an apostle…by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful…peace to you from God our Father...Praise be to the God and Father…who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing…For He chose us…before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight…He predestined us to be adopted as His sons…in accordance with His pleasure and will—to the praise of His glorious grace which He has freely given us…we have redemption…the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches…that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed…to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together…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, in order that we, who were the first…might be for the praise of His glory. And you were included…when you heard the word of truth, the gospel…Having believed, you were marked…with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory. –Ephesians 1:1-14
I also sometimes wonder if this was read from a pulpit if anyone would notice something missing. In this passage of Scripture, every reference to Jesus and His redemptive work was taken out. When we remove phrases like, “of Him”, “for Him”, “by Him”, “and through Him,” the emphasis of the text makes a dramatic shift. And yet, that’s the way we sometimes read Scripture.
Sometimes we make a big deal about predestination. Sometimes we make a bigger deal about being chosen and being the blessed of God. But what I think Paul wants us to see is that election is not possible without Jesus Christ. Paul is telling us that if Jesus was taken out of Scripture, he would not be an apostle, no one could claim to be a child of God, and we would be destitute of every spiritual blessing. This is why Paul continues to remind us not only what’s important, but WHO it is that we should remember, honor, and WHO really is the CHOSEN ONE before the creation of the world, “to the praise of His Glory.”
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