The Journal

The Christian—God's Chosen One

He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him. Ephesians 1:4

In verse three of the first chapter of Ephesians, reference is made to certain blessings that are realized only by the Christian. They are spiritual blessings which have their source in the heavenlies. They are for the Christian because he is in Christ. When one comes to appreciate, even in a small degree, these privileges in Christ, he cannot help but express himself in worship and complete devotion to 'the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

As we think on this verse which is our text, let us consider the Christian as a chosen one of God.

We notice first that the true Christian was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. Even before the universe was brought into being, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit planned salvation (its method and purpose) for men (I Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8; Acts 2:23). Before the world was, God determined 'the objects of His grace and decreed all the means necessary to the realization of His purpose.' God, the Father, determined to select or pick out certain ones for Himself. This choice was because of the person and work of His Son Jesus Christ. It was based on the Father's foreknowledge (I Peter 1:2). So those who will confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour become the chosen ones of God.

God's purpose in choosing these particular individuals is that they might 'be holy and without blame before Him.' The word holy has the meaning of being sanctified or separated unto God for His use and glory. So the Christian is one chosen by God and set apart for His service and glory. From I Corinthians 1:27, 28 we see that the Christian has been chosen to manifest the wisdom and power of God. In I Peter 1:2 we see that it is 'unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.' While in I Peter 2:9 we read that the believer is chosen 'that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.' This sanctifying work was accomplished by the Holy Spirit (I Peter 1:2; II Thessalonians 2:13).

God chose the believer not only to be holy (His own personal property), but also that that one might be 'without blame.' That reminds us of Romans 5:1 where we read that 'being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,' and Romans 8:1, which reads, 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.' Truly, the Christian has nothing to be ashamed of. He has no apologies to make for being a Christian, because God 'hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began' (II Timothy 1:9).

Roy E. Wikander