COMMENTARY ON EPHESIANS
LESSON 4
Eph 1:4 "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 . . . ." (Eph 1:4)
CHOSEN IN HIM
Verses three through twelve are a single sentence in the Authorized Version. This is also true of the NASB. In the NKJV verses three through ten are a single sentence. Whether one wishes to make an issue out of the punctuation or not, it must be acknowledged that there is a single thread of thought from verses three through twelve. The beginning words of verses four through twelve also confirm this to be the case: "according . . . having predestinated . . . to the praise . . . in whom . . . where He hath . . . having made known . . . that in the . . . in whom also . . . that we should be." There is a logical flow in the text as truth is opened up like a panorama, providing a large context for the rest of the book. In a day when short sentences, and brief homilies are the fad, such thinking is not being cultured. People are craftily being moved to have brief and unrelated thoughts. Because of this, in the average congregation, understanding, particularly "spiritual understanding" (Col 1:9) is nearly impossible to attain. That is precisely why the illogical nature of many formal presentations, whether in speaking or writing, is so evident. To the "spiritually minded" (Rom 8:6), things are regularly spouted in the name of Christ that make no sense. They are like the babbling of someone deprived of understanding, and often amaze godly people that anyone has had the courage to speak in such a fashion. The thing to be seen in this passage is that Paul, being a true servant of the Lord, was not content for the people to maintain small peep-hole views of the Kingdom of God, or the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The power of truth is realized in the perception of its inter-relationary nature. Individual inspired statements are like pieces of a puzzle that are being properly assembled. The comprehension of this is absolutely revolutionary in its effects. Sin becomes unreasonable, and holiness becomes reasonable. Satan's encroachments are seen more readily, and a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is realized. Those who are realizing these benefits have a robust spiritual appetite, a certain abhorrence of the flesh, and a profound longing to be with the Lord. Who can adequately state the satisfaction, joy, confidence and peace that are so realized?
ACCORDING AS
Eph 1:4a "According as . . ." Other versions read, "just as," NKJV "for He," NIV "even as, " NRSV "as He," DOUAY and "thus He." NJB
The word from which "according to" is translated is kaqw.j [ka-thos] which means, "according as, just as, even as . . . it is annexed to preceding words . . . in proportion as, in the degree . . . agreeably to the fact that," THAYER "as a causal because, since, in as much as," FRIBERG "as a causal because, since, in as much as." LOUW-NIDA
This word is used thirty-one times in the Scriptures (Mk 11:6; Lk 1:2; 19:32; John 5:23; 12:50; 15:10; 17:14,16,22; Acts 7:17; 11:29; 15:14; Rom 1:28; 11:8; 1 Cor 1:6,31; 11:1; 13:12; 2 Cor 9:7; Gal 3:6; Eph 1:4; 5:25; Phil 1:7; 1 Thess 5:11; 2 Pet 3:16; 1 John 2:6,27; 3:3,7; 3 John 1:2,3). In each of these cases, the words "according to" or "even as" are an elaboration of the previous statement - an explanation of the factors that caused that described condition to take place.
Here we touch upon the Divine attribute of doing everything for a cause. As it is written, "and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it [to Jerusalem (14:22)], saith the Lord GOD" (Ezek 14:23).
When God does something, there is a cause for the action - something that gave rise to His working. This is speaking more particularly of an underlying cause, even though there are secondary causes also. For example, considere the flood of Noah's day. The secondary, or immediate cause, was the wickedness of man (Gen 6:5-6). The foundational cause, however, was the fact that God made man for His glory (Isa 43:7). There was also another foundational cause: God is repulsed by iniquity, and therefore will not allow it to go on unrestrained.
Another example of God being moved by a cause is Abraham. From an immediate viewpoint, it was Abraham's faith that moved God to bless Him (Gen 15:6). From a foundational point of view, it was because He had chosen Abraham to be the one through whom the Messiah would come (Gen 12:3). From another foundational point of view, it was because He knew Abraham would faithfully pass along what God had told him to his children (Gen 18:17).
There is a marked tendency in the Christian community to over-simplify God's "great salvation." Rarely is it seen in association with a purpose - an "eternal purpose." Often God is not seen as purposing to save men for His own glory, even determining to do so before the foundation of the world. Because of the failure of men to see this association, all manner of teachings have arisen that actually contradict the revealed character of God. Some imagine that once a person is accepted by God nothing can be done that will negate that acceptance. Others see God as loving every person alike, having no preferences among men, and considering everyone the same - whether it is Judas and Paul, David and Goliath, or Abraham and Abimelech.
All of this is owing to the failure to understand God as He has revealed Himself. However, Paul, in his writings, will not allow false perceptions of God to continue. He will shatter simplistic views of God with sound doctrine. He will speak of salvation as primarily a work of God, and secondarily a benefit to men. Because the Ephesians were noted for their faith toward God, and their love toward the saints (Eph 1:15), they will be able to digest more of what Paul has been given to see. He will speak to then of matters he did not make known, for example, to the churches of Galatia. The reason for this circumstance was that they had been so diverted from the truth, that they were no longer able to comprehend "what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Eph 3:18-19). That is one of the immediate penalties for embracing a fraudulent Gospel.
In our text, the cause for verse three is being stated: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph 1:3). Why has God so blessed those in Christ with such plentitude? How are we to think of such marvelous provisions? Have they been supplied to us because God "loves us so much?"
It is interesting to note that no sinner of Scriptural record was ever told that God loved Him. We should not conclude from this that it is necessarily wrong to do so. However, it seems to me that we are responsible to present the love of God as it is presented in Scripture. So far as Scripture is concerned, those who were told of the love of God were always earnest inquirers (John 3:1,16), Christ's disciples (John 14:21; 16:27), or those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 5:5; 8:39; Tit 3:4; 1 John 3:16; 4:9). Those who were told of the love of God were always reminded that His love is in and through Christ Jesus (John 3:16; 14:21; 16:27; 17:23; Rom 8:39; Eph 2:4-62; Thess 2:16; 1 John 4:10-11; Jude 1:21).
The reason for this circumstance is that the love of God expressed toward men is motivated by another cause. It is not a love than stands on its own, so to speak. Now Paul reasons with the brethren about foundational matters moving tghe Lord to bless men. He will not leave them thinking that it is what they have done that has so moved the Lord of glory.
CHOSEN IN CHRIST BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD
1:4b " . . . He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world . . ."
The statement that follows represents the cause for which God has "blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." It ought to be evident that the Divine motivation for so blessing us has to be rooted in God Himself, and not in us or our response to Him. The situation with which we are faced today is this: most professing Christians in the United States, are unaware of the abundance that has been supplied in Christ Jesus. They also are unaware of the nature the God of salvation. In addition to that, this deficiency has been duplicated throughout the world by means of an erroneous gospel that is being promulgated. For these reasons, the passage before us will clash with many people's view of the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. The very words Paul employs will prove to be a stumbling block to the carnal mind.
HE HATH CHOSEN US. Other versions read, "He chose us," NKJV "He made election of us," BBE "He had previously chosen us," MRD "God chose us to be His very own," LIVING "He picked us out," WILLIAMS "God had Christ choose us," CEV "God had already chosen us to be His," GNB "He elected us," LITV "He had us in mind, had settled on us," MESSAGE and "He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own]." AMPLIFIED
The word translated "chosen" means "to pick or choose out for oneself," THAYER "choose from among a number . . .choose for some purpose," FRIBERG "select," UBS and "to make a choice of one or more possible alternatives - 'to choose, to select, to prefer." LOUW-NIDA From the standpoint of language itself, there is no question concerning the meaning of this word. It is a choice that is selective by nature, in which a person or persons are distinguished from all others. In the choice itself, there is an association with a specific purpose - a reason that dictated the choice.
Additionally, this choice preceded our personal choice - i.e. it happened in the past. Whether this fits handily into one's perspectives of God and man, the point of the text is that a previous choice is what determined the fact and action of the Father placing "all spiritual blessings in heavenly places," where they could be accessed by those who live by faith.
Men often speak of making "Jesus the Lord of their life," or the time when they "received Christ" into their heart," or when they were "baptized for the remission of sins." It is certainly not that there is no reality in any of those statements. However, they are not at the basic causal level. The truth of the matter is that the greatness of the resources that have been provided to us can in no way be accounted for by our own response. We must not confuse having access to "all spiritual blessings" with the fact of their provision.
Your faith will not be caused to increase, and spiritual growth and advancement will not be realized simply because you availed yourself of "spiritual blessings in heavenly places." Spiritual growth and productivity, as well as access to these blessings, can be traced to a Divine choice - a choice that was made independently of your own achievement.
IN HIM. That is "in Christ" (verse 3). Not only is Christ alone the distributor of these blessings, but their very existence is because of Him. Other versions read, "in the Messiah He chose us," CJB "through Christ," GWN "through what Christ would do for us," LIVING "Through Him He picked us out," WILLIAMS "God had Christ choose us," CEV "through our union with Christ" GNB
The meaning here is that God has never considered Jesus apart from those who belong to Him - His children, or His bride, or those given to Him by God. The salivation of God has always been considered with the Savior and the saved in mind. God did not simply provide an opportunity for men to be saved - although that is how it appears on the underside, or earth-side of things. He did not provide "all spiritual blessings" in hopes that some men would be saved. The perspective of our text is a higher view that accounts for the precise provisions of a Savior, and everything required to bring men safely to glory. It was a choice - a Divine choice of those who would be given to the Son (John 5:39; 17:7,9,11,24; Heb 2:13)! The ground of that choice was not the decision of the people, but Christ and His merits.
BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. The choice was made before the world was founded - at the same time the Lamb was determined to be slain (Rev 13:8). This means that the ground for the choice cannot be something that those living in the world would do, for the choice was made before the world was founded.
Jesus identified "before the foundation of the world" with when He was with the Father in all of His glory (John 17:24) - "before the world was" (John 17:5). Peter declares that at that time - before the world was founded - it was determined that the Lamb would be slain. The wisdom with which salvation is associated was "ordained before the world" (1 Cor 2:7). The "purpose and grace" given to us in Christ Jesus, were provided "before the world began" (2 Tim 1:9). The eternal life that has been given to us was "promised before the world began" (Tit 1:2).
If we are ever going to grow up into Christ in all things (Eph 4:15), or mature to the point where we can accurately discern good and evil (Heb 5:14), we must come to the point where we trace the origin of our salvation to a Divine choice that was made before the world was even created, or the works of men were considered. That is the point Paul is making.
THE PURPOSE OF THE CHOICE
1:4c " . . . that we should be holy and without blame before him in love."
The purpose of God is now related not only to His choice of those in Christ Jesus, but to what He was to do in them. What we WERE necessitated the provision of salvation. What we ARE confirms that we are or are not saved. This is foundational teaching. It is not approaching the lives of the saints as those who are tempted, need grace, and are caused to stand. Those are certainly valid areas of thought, but that is not what is in the mind of Paul as he write these words. He is aiming at grounding the saints by clarifying why they are in Christ in the first place, and the purpose for which they are there. A grasp of these two realities greatly impacts thinking.
THAT WE SHOULD BE. Again, the word "that" means "in order that," or "to this end." This is why God chose us. Other versions read, "to be," NIV "so that we might be," BBE "for our being," YLT "He decided then to make us," LIVING "He wanted us to be," IE and "for us to be." ABP
There is no such thing as a salvation that is not initiated by Divine choice and carried out to a determined conclusion. God does not determine the means without also determining the objective. In salvation, if the means are avoided, salivation will not be experienced. If the purpose of salvation is not realized, no one can assume they have participated in it. This is not "should be" from the standpoint of Law-i.e. we ought to be , It is rather the determination of what will be produced by the choice that has been declared.
HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME. Other versions read, "holy and blameless," NASB "holy and without blemish," ASV "holy and free from all evil," BBE "holy and without defect," CJB "holy and unspotted,": DOUAY "holy and perfect," GWN "holy and faultless," NJB "saints and without blame," TNT and "holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless." AMPLIFIED
The word "holy" means exclusively belonging to God - sanctified, and set apart. The expression "without blame" refers to a state of moral spotlessness and purity. This same circumstance is described in a number of ways in the apostolic writings. Those in Christ are said to be "created unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph 2:10). Zacharias said of the salvation of God, "that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life" (Luke 1:74-75). Paul wrote, "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness" (1 Th 4:7). Those who claim identity with God through Christ are admonished, "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim 2:19). The grace of God effectively teaches us "that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:12). Believers are exhorted, "yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness" (Rom 6:22). Solemnly we are admonished, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor 7:1), The Lord works in His people to make them "increase and abound in love toward one another, To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints" (1 Thess 3:12-13).
An unholy church is a reproach to God, and is set at variance with the Lord Jesus. No person can live in contradiction of the purpose of God and expect to land in heaven with all of the advantages promised to the faithful. It simply is not possible to ignore or contradict the revealed purpose of God, and still remain in His favor. Those who present such a God have lied!
BEFORE HIM IN LOVE. Other versions read, "in His sight, in love," NIV "before Him," RSV "in love . . . in His presence," CJB "before Him through love," TNT "before Him covered with His love," LIVING " loving people," CEV "Because of His love," GNB and "by His love." MESSAGE
Some versions have the expression "in love" as the beginning of verse five: "In love He predestinated us . . ." ISV There is an element of truth in this, for the two verses go together in this rather extended thought. The idea is that His love produces these marvelous effects because of His predestinating choice. That is, Paul is identifying the root reason why people are holy, separated unto God and living for Him. From one point of view, it is true that this is an objective, as is taught in the sixth chapiter of Romans. However, that is not the perspective of Ephesians. The love of God is like a fountain from which His salvation flows. However it is also the cause of true holiness within those who abide in the love of Jesus (John 15:10).
Jesus referred to the impact of Divine love when He said to His disciples, "If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with Him" (John 14:23). To the degree that God the Father, together with Jesus the Son, take up residency in the believer, a holy life results.
A purported Divine love that does not produce this holiness is spurious. Here, the love of God is not an abstract, or theoretical idea. When Jesus said the one receiving and keeping His words would be "loved of My Father" (John 14:21), He was speaking of an active love that produces real holiness that will stand the test of the day of judgment.