Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

God is sovereign

Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases. Psalm 115:3

Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases. Psalm 115:3 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honourable use and another for dishonourable use? Romans 9:21

God has the right, the authority, and the power to govern all that happens and what has, is, or will happen being in accordance to His divine will. He has the right to achieve His purposes and has the power to bring about circumstances that dictate whatever He wills to come to pass. He has complete control of everything and there is nothing that is done that is not done by or allowed through His will. M.J. Erickson

God is sovereign God is just and good in all His ways

For I proclaim the name of the L ORD : Ascribe greatness to our God. 4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He. Deuteronomy 32:3-4

“…We fail to give God due honour unless we recognize a constant tenor of righteousness in the whole progress of His operation. Nothing is more difficult in time of trouble, when God has apparently forsaken us, or afflicts us without cause, than to restrain our corrupt feelings from breaking out against His judgments.” John Calvin

God is sovereign God is just and good in all His ways God’s ways are higher than our ways

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the L ORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

6 Seek the L ORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the L ORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts… Isaiah 55:6-7

God is sovereign God is just and good in all His ways God’s ways are higher than our ways

eklegomi to pick out, choose, to pick or choose out for one's self choosing one out of many, i.e. Jesus choosing his disciples choosing one for an office

6 “…the L ORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. 7 The L ORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples;

I'm so glad that God chose me before the foundation of the world, because he never would have chosen me after I was born!" C.H. Spurgeon

proorizo to predetermine, decide beforehand in the NT of God decreeing from eternity to foreordain, appoint beforehand

Man’s FreewillSituations Foreknowledge (God’s Will) Predestination Predestination is a product of Foreknowledge and Freewill

Charitoō to make graceful charming, lovely, agreeable to persue with grace, compass with favour to honour with blessings

Certainly, among Evangelicals there are various ways of understanding how this electing purpose of God plays out in human history, and various views…are acceptable within the parameters of our EFCC Statement of Faith. While affirming God’s sovereignty, we believe that that sovereignty never minimizes human responsibility. And while we are morally responsible creatures, making significant choices to obey, rebel, believe, etc. and are rightly held responsible for our actions, we can never make God absolutely contingent upon our wills. Gospel Truths pp.45-46

Only as we are “in Christ” are we chosen, called, regenerated, justified, sanctified, redeemed, assured of the resurrection and given every spiritual blessing. Gospel Truths p.143