2. Last Week’s Sermon:
God “chose us in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world.”
Ephesians 1:4

3. Last Week’s Sermon:
God “chose us in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world.”
Two pressing questions:
A logical question about God’s sovereignty and human willing
A question about God’s character and justice
Ephesians 1:4

4. Last Week’s Sermon:
Part of the solution – God’s ways are a mystery to us:
“33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”
Romans 11:33

5. Paul Gives Two Additional Insights
in Ephesians 1:3-10
Paul gives us more detail about the character of God.
Paul helps us understand part of the purpose of God’s choosing.

6. The Character of God Displayed in Christ’s Death
“3 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, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.”
Common assumption – God simply chooses from the comfort and luxury of heaven.
Ephesians 1:3-4

7. The Character of God Displayed in Christ’s Death
Paul reminds us of the character of God – he chose to suffer with us and for us.
“7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight….”
Ephesians 1:7-8

8. God Chose Us to Be Instruments of His Overflowing Goodness
Common assumption – God has a VIP waiting line.

9. God Chose Us to Be Instruments of His Overflowing Goodness
Paul reminds us that God has not only chosen us for eternal life but also for his redemptive work in this world.
Ephesians 1:4: we are chosen “…that we should be holy and blameless before him.”
Ephesians 1:10: “…to unite all things in him [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth.”

10. God Chose Us to Be Instruments of His Overflowing Goodness
Matthew 6:9-10: “9 Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Ephesians 2:10: “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”