Ephesians 1:4 says, “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” This verse teaches the biblical doctrine of election – that God chose believers in Christ before the world was even created. Here is an explanation of what this means and its implications.
God’s Sovereign Choice
The first thing Ephesians 1:4 reveals is that God’s choice of believers was a sovereign act of His will, independent of any qualities, actions, or faith on our part. The verse says God chose us “in Christ” before the foundation of the world. This means His choice was not based on foreseeing that certain individuals would believe in Christ or live holy lives. Rather, it was simply God’s sovereign, electing love setting His affection on certain people apart from any conditions they met.
God’s choice of believers took place in eternity past, outside of time and human history, before God had even created the world and humanity. There was absolutely nothing about us as individuals that compelled God to choose us. It was simply according to His divine prerogative and good pleasure to select some from fallen humanity to receive His saving grace. As Romans 9:11 says, God’s choice of individuals “depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”
For the Praise of God’s Glory
Why did God choose to set His electing love on certain individuals? Ephesians 1:5-6 tells us it was “to the praise of his glorious grace.” God predestined those He foreknew to salvation so that the glory of His grace would be magnified throughout eternity as the riches of His grace are demonstrated in the lives of His redeemed people.
God’s sovereign, gracious choice of sinners to receive new spiritual life in Christ makes it clear salvation is all of grace from start to finish. There is no room for human pride or boasting. Even the initial choice to save us was God’s alone according to His wise, mysterious purposes.
Chosen for Holiness and Blamelessness
Ephesians 1:4 tells us another key truth – God chose believers “that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Here we learn that election is for the purpose of holiness. In His gracious sovereignty, God predestined that those He chose would bear the fruit of being conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).
When God looked upon those He chose, He saw them as they would appear after being cleansed from their sins by Christ’s blood – holy and blameless. This indicates God’s choice was not mechanistic or cold, but that He had a loving, relational purpose in view – that those He chose would be brought into a right relationship with Himself, made acceptable in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6). Election is unto holiness and blamelessness.
The Act of God the Father
The one doing the choosing in Ephesians 1:4 is clearly God the Father. It says He chose us before the foundation of the world. Other Scriptures confirm it is the Father who has authority over election (John 6:37,65; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:28-30).
The Father’s choice was “in Christ.” This means that Jesus Christ is the representative head of the elect. The Father chose people to be “in Christ” where they would enjoy all the benefits of His saving work – including regeneration, faith, justification, sanctification, and glorification. The salvation of the elect is entirely tied up with their federal headship under Christ.
Unconditional Election
Ephesians 1:4 teaches the doctrine of unconditional election. Unconditional election refers to the biblical truth that God chose individuals for salvation apart from anything they did or deserved. God’s choice was based entirely on His sovereign will, not human works or merit.
This opposes the false teaching that God’s choice was somehow based on His foreknowledge of human faith or good works. Scripture makes clear that these result from God’s saving grace, not the cause of it. God foreknew and chose people, not because of future actions, but according to His unfettered discretion.
Individual Election
The reference to God choosing “us” is best understood as referring to the election of specific individuals, not just the corporate election of the church as a whole. Clearly, the apostle Paul is addressing individual believers and declaring they were chosen by God before time began.
While some verses may refer to the corporate election of the church, other Scriptures make individual election undeniable (see John 13:18; Acts 9:15, 22:14; Romans 9; Ephesians 2:8-10). The doctrines of unconditional election and predestination only make coherent sense within the framework of individual election.
A Comforting Doctrine
For believers, the doctrine that God chose us in Christ before the world began is an immense comfort. It ground our assurance of salvation in God’s eternal, electing love rather than anything we have done. It humbles us when we consider that God set His affection on us before time began and destined us for holiness and adoption (Ephesians 1:4-5).
This doctrine also gives us confidence that our salvation is indestructible. If God chose us unconditionally, not based on foreseen actions or qualities in us, then nothing can thwart His sovereign purpose to save us. Those whom God predestines, He brings to glory (Romans 8:29-30).
An Incentive for Worship
Election is a doctrine that elicits worship of God for His glorious, mysterious grace. That God would set His electing love on those who deserved wrath magnifies His mercy. Believers can do nothing but marvel and rejoice that the Father would choose them in Christ, by grace alone, out of pure love, before the world existed.
The proper response is to exalt God’s supreme sovereignty. That He has authority to choose sinners to salvation demonstrates His omnipotent will. Election displays God’s absolute dominion as the only independent, self-determining agent in the universe who does what He desires without constraint.
Summary
God’s sovereign election of believers before time began demonstrates His grace, wisdom and authority. Election humbles man, exalts God, and provides comfort and assurance to believers. While the doctrine presents difficulties, Scripture clearly teaches that God chooses people unconditionally to be saved. We are compelled to accept and wonder at this profound spiritual mystery.