This is the message that was given to us at just the right time. Crossway is a not-for-profit Christian ministry that exists solely for BUT OUR COMMONWEALTH IS IN HEAVEN, AND FROM IT WE AWAIT A SAVIOR, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO WILL CHANGE OUR LOWLY BODY TO BE LIKE HIS GLORIOUS BODY, BY THE POWER WHICH ENABLES HIM EVEN TO SUBJECT ALL THINGS TO HIMSELF. 2.2.3. Does God choose who will be saved? The biblical doctrine of election teaches that God chooses to save some, and, by necessity, if He does not choose everyone, then there are some who are passed over. 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Test yourselves. Rom. He wants none to perish and everyone to believe (2 Peter 3:9). As we come to realize how big God is, and how horrifying our sin is, we will come to understand election as a grace so impossibly great that we could not imagine it on our own. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Paul further describes the we who are chosen for the purpose of praising Gods glory by adding who were the first to hope in Christ. The Greek verb underlying this phrase, which occurs only here in the NT, can refer either to Jewish believers or, generically, to all believers. In the ancient world, a guarantee (arrabn) functioned as a down payment given to someone providing a service with the expectation that full payment would be made after the service was performed. This election is said to take place before the foundation of the world (cf. Some men read the Bible assuming theyve seen it all before. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. Suffice it to say in the end, this is the Word of God! Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Hope is the most practical power in the world. 11:19; 36:2627; 37:14; Joel 2:2829; cf. Billy Graham. The realization of this intimate relationship is possible only through Jesus Christ (1:5); he alone provides access to the Father, because of his finished work on the cross. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. In the freedom of HOPE we will love one another and will shine like lights in a dark world. 1:18; 3:8, 16; cf. 1:6, 12). And for this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. The Greek word translated redemption indicates release or liberation from imprisonment or captivity. Paul further notes that God has blessed us with this grace. Although a corporate element is present, it would be inaccurate to claim that individuals are not in view. Obviously, in some inscrutable sense, Gods desire for the worlds salvation is different from His eternal saving purpose. It could be argued that in Christ is the most important phrase of this passage (and the entire letter), as it occurs in different forms with the preposition in eleven times (Eph. Before him most likely means before Jesus, specifically referring to the day of our Lord Jesus when we will appear before him in judgment. The plan of redemption was never conceived to include the saving power of human self-determination. We must be willing to suffer, to give our all for Christ, to persevere until the end in order to obtain the final reward. 3:11), counsel, and will. After clicking 'Register', you will receive an email with a link to verify your account and to complete your registration. God chose us because He has a purpose in mind for our lives. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?unless indeed you fail to meet the test! Enter your email address and we will send you instructions on how to reset your password. 2 Cor. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. So glorify God in your body. What mystery! 15) "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.". so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised. In Deuteronomy 7:7-9 Moses tells the children of Israel why God chose them: "The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were . It overcomes discouragement and depression and irritablity and anxiety and suicide. The last phrase, in love, could modify either the previous statement (that we should be holy and blameless before him in love) or what follows (in love he predestined us). Desire is not from boulomai, which would be more likely to express Gods will of decree, but from thelo, which can refer to Gods will of desire. This article is adapted from the ESV Expository Commentary: EphesiansPhilemon (Volume 11) edited by Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar. ), Will Graham Devotion: The Perfect Sacrifice. (1 Timothy 2). ", Four Reasons for Providing the Foundation. Gods work of predestination was done according to the purpose of his will (v. 5). And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Not a result of works, so that no one may boast. God genuinely desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Some say the doctrine of unconditional election is the most despised teaching of reformed theology, but I would disagree. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 314). The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. 16) "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.". In verse 6 Paul spoke of Gods glorious grace, and now he picks up the topic of grace once more, this time referring to the wealth or abundance of Gods grace (cf. God our Savior desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). the purpose of proclaiming the gospel through publishing Christ died for the sins of the whole world (John 3:16). . And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.. Making known is often used in connection with Gods unveiling of his revelation (Rom. The world was specifically excluded from the saving design of this prayer. The Scriptures teach Gods love for the world, His displeasure in judging sinners, His desire for all to hear the gospel and be saved. . 9:15; 11:35). ( Romans 9:14 ). After all, the Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in loving-kindness. For by grace you have been saved through faith. This is Part 9 in a series on Romans 9 called The Word of God Has Not Failed., John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. . 8:23). 5:20). Contact Us. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. One relates to our good. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Were on a mission to change that. E But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O people of Israel . This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses. He is author of. This phrase describes the content of the mystery hidden in the past but now revealed in the gospel. 4:30). Romans 10:9. This points back to the commandment to pray for the lost in verses 12. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. Predestination does not refer here to the choice of who will be saved. 4:10b). Therefore, even if God did base his predestination on faith which he foresaw, it was a faith which he himself intended to create. While the concept of Gods possessing his people as an inheritance is found in the OT (e.g., Deut. God destined us to share Christ's glory in order that the glory of the Son might be magnified in the countless mirrors of those who are conformed to his image. 32:15; 44:3; Ezek. FOR THOSE WHOM HE FOREKNEW HE ALSO PREDESTINED TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT BE THE FIRST-BORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN. 33:11). I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. Gods election is a theme throughout the Bible (Gen. 12:13; Deut. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Amen. With contributions from a team of pastors and scholars, this commentary through 9 of Pauls letters helps students of the Bible to understand how each epistle fits in with the storyline of Scripture and applies today. Wickedness in every form will cease. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. The idea that the God of the Old Testament is a vengeful, wrathful ogre mollified by the gentle, loving, New Testament Christ is not at all accurate. And he said, This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.. Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. . And even within our church, worship suffers the bain of triviality when we do not know and love the God who elects and predestines and calls and justifies and glorifies. While it is not impossible that Paul might want us to supply extra words to make sense out of his sentence, it would seem better not to insist on adding a whole phrase if the meaning of the verse is plain and coherent with the context without adding any extra words. 4 God wants everyone to be saved and to fully understand the truth. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. ESV Expository Commentary With contributions from a team of pastors and scholars, this commentary through 9 of Paul's letters helps students of the Bible to understand how each epistle fits in with the storyline of Scripture and applies today. It will be a glorious day when He comes to bring peace to the whosoevers., (This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. The Meaning of God's Foreknowledge. First, Gods decree of election is secret. Amen. 8:17; Gal. Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that. As it is, you boast in your arrogance. FOR THOSE WHOM HE FOREKNEW HE PREDESTINED TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON. for Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.. We are not to try to limit evangelism to the elect only. And the list of reasons why this study is important could go on and on. I MYSELF AM AN ISRAELITE, A DESCENDANT OF ABRAHAM, A MEMBER OF THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN. Or should modern Christians simply downplay election in order to highlight Gods desire for the salvation of all? AVOID SUCH GODLESS CHATTER, FOR IT WILL LEAD PEOPLE INTO MORE AND MORE UNGODLINESS . Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. The lost suffer the agony of sin, shame, and meaninglessness in this life, and the eternal hell of unrelenting agony in the life to come. Publisher: OpenBible.info. The completed registration allows us to send order and donation receipts to the email address you provided. First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. And yet, the benefits Christ secured are available to his children here and now (though not fully). No true biblical theology can teach that God takes pleasure in the damnation of the wicked. Here at Grace to You Europe we take our data protection responsibilities very seriously and, as you would expect, have undertaken a significant programme of work to ensure that we are ready for this important legislative change. Crowning the Scriptures teaching on this matter is the great truth that God has elected who will believe and saved them before the world began. John Murray and Ned B. Stonehouse wrote, We have found that God himself expresses an ardent desire for the fulfillment of certain things which he has not decreed in his inscrutable counsel to come to pass (The Free Offer of the Gospel [Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presb. Gods choice of his people is related to their being predestined (or foreordained or predetermined) to be a part of his family and thus receive all the accompanying benefits. Because our blessings are in Christ, they are also in the heavenly places, where Christ is now ruling. vv. In verse 13, Paul now highlights the final reason why God is worthy of the praises of his people: he has sealed them with his Holy Spirit. If we can be sure in our deepest heart of hearts that this promise is true, then we will be the freest of all people. The concept of redemption is found also in the OT, where it describes both the release of slaves from bondage (Ex. Rom. We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!. This verb can be used to convey at least four ideas: (1) security; (2) authentication; (3) genuineness; and (4) identification of ownership (cf. The only other NT use of the verb to unite is in Romans 13:9, where Paul notes that all of the OT commandments can be summed up by the command to love your neighbor as yourself. If God desires the salvation of all men, they argue, then all will be saved, or God wont get what He wants. 1:1832). He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Such prayer is also consistent with His nature as Savior. As it stands, the concept of God electing those who will be saved (predestination) isn't controversial. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 in all English translations. In verse 7 Paul specifically indicates that our redemption in Christ is through his blood; the means by which redemption is procured is the sacrificial death of Jesus. Christianity is centered on the Gospel that brings comfort and the assurance that God will forgive sin. And wont election erode the energy and incentive for global missions and evangelism that we derive from Gods desire for all to be saved? And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." As part of this initiative, Desiring God is putting on regional events focused on certain passages of Scripture. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. O I am praying for them. Paul further assures the Ephesian believers of their inheritance (which is both present and future) by reminding them again that God has predestined them to possess it. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turnedevery oneto his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Some might argue that Jesus said in John 17:9, I do not ask on behalf of the world. But there Christ was praying as Great High Priest for Gods elect. 2:13 ). who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. That is, the presence of Gods Spirit will not be undone but will endure until we acquire possession of it (Eph. This final expression of praise concludes not only the fourth and final section but also the entire eulogy as a whole (vv. M & Ref., 1979], 26). Who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. B I am speaking the truth in ChristI am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. Paul begins the body of this letter in a typical OT or Jewish style of a prolonged blessing (berakah). For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. The act of Gods choosing (v. 4) is now expanded and emphasized in these verses. Labs You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Love C.S. 2.2.2. K It opens the future and invites vision and dreams and planing and prayer. gain access to 50+ premium resources to enhance your study of Scripture. God is to be blessed or praised because of his great grace that provides believers in Jesus Christ a plethora of spiritual blessings (cf.
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