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-71-
The God Who Is
The Time of God's Choosing
In II Thessalonians chapter 2, beginning in verse 13, the apostle writes, "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
In Ephesians chapter 1, in verse 1, we read, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, ..." Note, that he was not "Mama called and Papa sent." Paul knew he was an apostle by the will of God.
"...To the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ." Note first, that Paul is addressing Christians. Second, note that there can be no peace where there is no grace. Grace always precedes peace. "Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 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: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved" (verses 3-6).
Note first, that the Father has chosen some men in Christ. Second, note that He chose them "before the foundation of the world." And third, note why He chose them: "that we should be holy and without blame before him in love."
In verse 5, He is said to have predestinated us unto the adoption of children." He did it "by Jesus Christ to himself;" and the standard by which he did it was "according to the good pleasure of his will." The purpose was simple: "to the praise of the glory of his grace." Wherefore, "he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (verse 7). Note here the work of the Son of God is to redeem His people. The primary work of the Father is to choose them. Predestination is eternal since God has chosen us in Christ "before the foundation of the world." The people of God are chosen in order that they should be holy, for whom God declares to be holy, He makes holy. He accomplishes this by Jesus Christ, and by the Holy Spirit.
Peter wrote, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied" (I Peter 1:1,2).
Note the Trinity in the passage. Believers are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father ..." Election is the work of God the Father. "...Through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience..." Sanctification is the work of God the Holy Spirit. "...And sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." Redemption is the work of God the Son. "Grace be unto you and peace be multiplied."
Return to Ephesians chapter 1, and continue with verse 7. Having declared that we are accepted "in the beloved," i.e. in the Lord Jesus Christ, Paul says, "In whom," i.e. in the beloved, "we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
"That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory" (verses 3-14).
Note first, that God has made known unto us the mystery of His will. He does not make His will known to everyone, but only to His people. Note second, that God works all things after the counsel of His own will. He does as He will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of earth.