Thursday, December 13, 2007

WHEN GOD CHOOSES...

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-" (Ephesians 1:4-5).

"For he chose us..." -- for some, they teach that "us" means "all" -- everyone. But though they teach that God chose ALL and included ALL, yet, they also add that NOT all will be adopted as God's children, NOT all will be glorified.

But, God's Word is clear. It says, "...chose us IN HIM.." He chose those who are "IN HIM" -- meaning, those who believe. As we read in verse 19, "...his incomparably great power for us WHO BELIEVE..."

Paul also wrote in verse 13, as he told the Christians in Ephesus:
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. HAVING BELIEVED, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit..."


We are "in Him" -- in Christ -- when we heard the gospel and when we believed. Not all are chosen. Not all are "in Christ" -- not all believe the gospel.

How do we know if we are chosen?

We read in the early part of 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, "For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, BECAUSE our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction..."

Paul knew that the Christians in Thessalonica were chosen, because they heard the gospel "not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction." Not only they believe, but they BELIEVED IN HIM -- "with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction."

We read in Romans 8:30, "And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified" -- it does not say "SOME will be glorified" -- God did not choose all to be adopted as His children. But all those who really believed in Christ would be adopted as His children and would be glorified.

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