Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. How does the apostle Paul define the ultimate cause of the Christian’s salvation in Ephesians 1:4a (printed below?)
…he chose us in him before the creation of the world in order for us to be holy and blameless in his presence. (Ephesians 1:4)
In verse 4 the apostle Paul declares, “he (God) chose us.” In John 6:37 the Lord Jesus testifies, “All whom the Father gives me will come to me; and he who comes to me I will by no means reject.” The ultimate reason a man comes to Christ is because the Father has chosen him, not because the man has first chosen Christ. God chose us in Christ “before the creation of the world.” God chose us long before we even had the opportunity to chose or reject Christ (note Acts 13:48b). If the choice were left to us, we would never choose Christ (note John 1:10-11 and John 3:19-20).
2. How does Ephesians 1:4b (printed above under question #1) define the purpose of God’s work of sovereign grace?
God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world “in order for us to be holy and blameless in his presence.” Note: we were chosen not because we were holy, or because we displayed the potential for holiness (note Isaiah 53:6 and Romans 3:10,23); on the contrary, we were chosen in order to become holy. The purpose for which we were chosen is to participate in and share with God in the beauty of His holiness (note Isaiah 61:1,3).
3. What does Scripture tell us motivated God to carry out His work of predestination? See Ephesians 1:4c-5 (printed below)
In love (5) he predestined us to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ, by his own will and desire (Ephesians 1:4c-5)
The apostle informs us that “in love” God predestined us. What motivated God to predestine the Christian for salvation was His own sovereign love. God’s act of predestining us unto adoption is defined as an expression of His love, an act of His divine love.
4. God predestined the Christian to what status and for what ultimate purpose? See Ephesians 1:5-6 (printed below)
…he predestined us to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ, by his own will and desire, (6) for the praise of the glory of his grace. This grace he freely bestowed upon us in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:5-6)
God predestined us “to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ.” By way of illustration, in the Broadway musical, Annie, little orphan Annie was adopted out of her bondage and poverty in a New York orphanage by Daddy Warbucks who had the wealth and was willing to spend that wealth for her adoption—he was under no obligation to adopt her, his act of doing so was a free act of his will motivated by his love and compassion. God predestined us to be his adopted sons “for the praise of the glory of his grace.” The ultimate purpose of our adoption is that God’s grace—which is glorious—may be praised. In His sovereign act of adopting us—an act motivated by His grace—the Lord’s grace is displayed; and as it is revealed, His grace is seen to be glorious, and consequently, it elicits the praise of which it is worthy.
5. What has God revealed to be His ultimate purpose for His creation? See Ephesians 1:9-10 (printed below)
…he has made known to us the mystery of his will, which originates from his own desire and which he determined by himself. (10) This mystery pertains to the final dispensation, namely, his determination to unite all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth. (Ephesians 1:9-10)
The apostle Paul goes on to further inform us that God has “made known to us the mystery of his will.” God’s “will” here is a reference to His ultimate plan and purpose for His creation. What God has graciously chosen to make known to us is His ultimate plan concerning the final arrangement of all things (i.e.; the eternal state). God’s will, or sovereign plan, is “to unite all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth.” This present creation, shattered by sin, is destined be “re-assembled” in an altogether more glorious formation by the redeeming work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
