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:
KJV
Eph 1:4
He chose us in him, before the founding of the world, that we should be
dedicated and blameless before him in love.
(from "The Everlasting Gospel", Copyright © 2000 by
Freed-Hardeman University. All rights reserved.)
Comments
"According as he hath chosen us in
him before the foundation of the world"
The plan whereby sinful man can be reconciled to God and saved is not a whim on
the part of the creator. The earth we walk on, the air we breath, the
rising and setting of the sun, the destruction of the earth in a great flood,
the coming of Jesus to earth, His death burial and resurrection, and His
ultimate return to pass judgment have all been part of the wondrous plan of God
since before it ever began.
The Christian should take note of the fact that Jehovah has never swerved from any promise and has never failed to bring about something He said would take place. Nothing that has taken place has been unexpected or has caught God unawares. Everything has been planned out and is being executed precisely.
He had us in mind before the first particle of dust was spoken into existence, and there is no reason whatsoever to think for an instant that God will not or can not bring about the conclusion of His eternal purpose. Four thousand years of recorded Biblical history replete with examples of God's power and omniscience stand solidly as a testament to His ability to carry out His grand design.
Let the wise and obedient believers take comfort; Let the infidels tremble; God is the great "I Am".
1 Peter 1:18-20
(18) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as
silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your
fathers;
(19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and
without spot:
(20)
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was
manifest in these last times for you,
"that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love:"
The scriptures are plain about the sinfulness of man. There is none
righteous, no not one and all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
How then can we stand before God holy, perfect and without blame?
First off, our past sins are washed away at our conversion, (Acts 2:38), we were washed, we were sanctified, (1 Cor 6:11), the blood of Jesus washed our sins away, (Rev 1:5).
Secondly, if we walk or abide "in Christ", (John 15:10), the blood that washed us clean at our conversion keeps us cleansed of the sins we commit thereafter, (1 John 1:7). Those who keep God's word have His love perfected within us, (1 John 2:5).
Thirdly, we must walk in Love for one another, (1 John 4:12).
Fourthly, we must be faithful until death, (Matt 10:22, Mark 13:13, Heb 3:6, Heb 3:14 , Heb 10:36, Rev 2:26, Rev 2:10, Rev 14:12-13)
Our salvation is a gift that we can in no way earn or merit. But by doing the will of God, we show Jesus that we love Him, (John 14:15, John 15:10), and He will Give us the gift of everlasting life:
John 6:27
"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that
meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall GIVE
unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed."