Chosen

                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                        

Aloha Dearest Family,

By looking at Ephesians 1:4 we see some incredible truths.

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.

Here we see that God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. God chose us way back then and I thank God that He did. But some people misunderstand this verse. I've even heard some teach that God has chosen certain people for salvation and certain people He has chosen for damnation. Does this sound like a loving God to you? Wouldn't this make God very cruel and also a respecter of persons?

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34) 

This means that God does not show favoritism. He will not choose one person above another. If this is true how can He "choose" us from before the foundation of the world?

To answer this question, we must first understand that no one can pull a single scripture out of the Word of God without pulling out dozens of others also. This means that we cannot isolate one scripture alone and make our view point from this single verse. We must look at other scriptures on the same topic to really understand the meaning of a verse. Let's look at a couple.

Put on therefore, as the elect (chosen) of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. (Colossians 3:12)

 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect (chosen)? It is God that justifieth. (Romans 8:33) 

These verses make it clear that we are indeed the elect or chosen of God. The Greek word is defined as "chosen out, preferred, or selected". The next verse should bring further light to our discussion.

Elect according to the foreknowledge  of God the Father,.. (I Peter 1:2a) 

This shows us how God could "choose" us from before the foundation of the world and not "choose" others. God knew, by His foreknowledge, that we would one day believe on His son Jesus Christ and become born again. This is how He can say that He "chose" us. God CANNOT AND WILL NOT over-step our free will. He does not possess people like the devil does at times and force us to do His will. We must decide, by our own free will, to accept Christ or not accept him. Furthermore, God does not want anyone to perish,

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:4) 

God wants ALL men to be saved, not just some. He also knows, by His foreknowledge, what they will choose. He knows that some will not believe. Let's now look at some more verses that are often misunderstood.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained (to prepare beforehand) that we should walk in. (Ephesians 2:10) 

God had prepared beforehand the good works that we should walk in. He can do this because God knew we would one day believe. God has prepared the works that we should do, but believers do not always do them. Believers do them by their own free will.

Him (Jesus Christ), being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. (Acts 2:23) 

God knew beforehand that Christ would be crucified therefore He could foretell it. God knew ahead of time what Christ would choose to do and therefore God could foretell hundreds of wonderful prophecies concerning him. Jesus Christ did not have to obey God but he chose to do so. Remember, God WILL NOT force you to obey. Not truly understanding God's foreknowledge and man's free- will has caused no end of trouble for the believers and have placed doubt in the minds of God's children who are searching for the truth.

For whom He did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 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." (Romans 8:29 and 30)

God was able to predestine us, call us, justify us and glorify us, because He first foreknew us. God knew from the beginning what we would choose, and therefore could predict our future. God knows the ending from the beginning and thank God that He does.

 Remember the former things of old: for l am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:" (Isaiah 46:10)

I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass (Isaiah 48:3)

Love Always, Ray