Ephesians 1:1-11
Last week we looked at Total Human Inability. Man in his natural state has neither power nor desire to come to Christ. We are totally unable to save ourselves. Turn with me again to Romans 3:10-12. Now let us go to Romans 5:6 "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." "Without strength" means more feeble, impotent, sick, without strength, infirm, weak, and feeble. In a moral sense: wretched, diseased, i.e. in a state of sin and wretchedness.
This is the state we are born into; therefore, we have no power to save ourselves, nor do we desire to be saved. This is a terrible place to be. Because of our depraved state, soul salvation must be sole a work of God's Sovereign Salvation. Please remember that God is in total control. He is not a puppet on a string. No one controls God. He is self-sufficient; He is not dependent upon any one or thing. He is Sovereign God.
Sovereign - Supreme in power; possessing supreme dominion; as a sovereign prince. God possess the highest authority without control. No one controls God, nor does anyone influence Him. If someone did then He would cease to be God.
Salvation - In the Christian sense, salvation is deliverance from sin and its spiritual consequences and admission to eternal life with blessedness in the Kingdom of Christ.
Mankind is born dead in trespasses and sins, and is unable to save himself. God, who is sovereign over all, had a plan from before the foundation of the world. God does everything decently and in order. Salvation is a work of God's sovereignty. God must do the saving because we cannot save ourselves. "To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus," Romans 3:26. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God," Hebrews 12:2. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ," Philippians 1:6. It is God that justifies us, Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith; and God completes the work He starts in us. This is plainly laid out in Ephesians 1:1-11. Please take your bible and turn there and follow along.
Verse 1- when was Paul saved? Most of us know the story of Paul's conversion while on the Damascus road. Why did God save Paul there at that time? Look in Galatians 1:15. The word "pleased" means, by implication to determine, resolve, choose with pleasure to do something. Here in Galatians 1:15 it is speaking of God. In short, God chose to save Paul. Look back in Ephesians 1. Verse 2- Notice where this grace and peace came from. Verse 3- who did the blessing? All the focus is on God. Now let us go to verse 4. "He" speaking of God. "Hath chosen" is simple undefined action occurring in past time. The subject, which is God, as acting in some way upon Himself or concerning Himself. So God, before time began, acted in some way without any outside influence. God did something; what did He do? Verse 4- "hath chosen". "Chosen" by implication: to choose out, with the accessory idea of kindness, favour, love. Romans 5:8.
When did God choose out? What did God choose out? How did God choose out? Verses 4- God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world; He did this in love.
Verse 5- "Having predestinated" this is to limit in advance, i.e. (figurative) predetermine: - determine before, ordain, predestinate. Predestinated is used to declare God's eternal decrees of both the objects and goal of His plan of salvation. The objects are those whom He has chosen to save, and the goal is that He be glorified.
Verse 6- He hath made everyone who has and will believe accepted in the beloved. "Accepted" is to bestow grace, highly honour or greatly favour. Remember, this is done without any kind of influence. God did this by Himself. Beloved is to love; to regard with strong affection.
Verses 7-11- We have been chosen unto salvation and love; according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will, hence, Sovereign Salvation. This is very humbling. Take your bible and look at the verses we just went over.
So we understand according to the Bible we are chosen unto salvation by God from before the foundation of the world. It is God that chooses, it is God that justifies, and it is God that receives all the honour and glory. We did nothing to earn favour with God.
This leads us to some questions. Don't we have to have faith in order to be saved? Yes we do, so let us turn to Ephesians 2:8-9. Notice the phrase, "And not of yourselves". This faith came from God. It is a working of His grace towards us. Another question is, "Didn't we at some point have a desire to come to Jesus Christ"? Turn to John 1:12-13. This takes us back to Ephesians 1. God the Father has purposed to give a people to His Son. Turn to John 6:35-44, 65.
Let us use another word that shows God's Sovereign Salvation. Turn to II Peter 1:10. "Election" is the benevolent purpose of God by which any are chosen unto salvation so that they are led to embrace and persevere in Christ's bestowed grace and the enjoyment of its privileges and blessings here and hereafter. This means that God's intention was according to the principle of election which is God's free choice without being affected by any outside circumstances or the worth of the individuals concerned.
How do I know if God has chosen me to salvation? I John 5:13. He quickens us, Ephesians 2:1. He gives us grace and faith, Ephesians 2:8-9. He gives us grace to repent, II Corinthians 5:17 and I Corinthians 6:9-11. We love Him because He first loved us, I John 4:19. We have love of the brethren, I John 3:14. We love the Scriptures, Psalm 119:47 "And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved". We live a life of repentance and constant cleansing, I John 3:3. Colossians 3:5-25.
Our hope is built upon the finished work of Jesus Christ; nothing more and nothing less. We have looked at Sovereign Salvation according to the Bible. I want to encourage you to study the Scriptures. We have no confidence in our flesh. Yes we call upon the Lord to save us, but it is not words which save us. Those who trust in what they have said or did usually live like it. The Bible says that we can know that we are saved. Do you know according to the Scriptures that you are saved? Thank God for His Sovereign Salvation and for the Scriptures that gives us clarity and confidence. To God be the glory.
