We Should Be Holy and Without Blame

Ephesians 1:4-5 According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will

‘Chosen’ [Greek: eklegomai] choose (1:4; Mark 13:20; Luke 6:13; 10:42; 19:7; John 6:70; 13:18; 15:16, 19; Acts 1:2, 24; 6:5; 13:17; 15:22, 15:25; 1Cor. 1:27-28; Jas. 2:5) and make choice (Acts 15:7).

‘Foundation of the world’ – Overthrow of the world that Lucifer ruled before Adam. Foundation [Greek: katabole] to cast or throw down. Katabole should have been translated “overthrow” or “casting down of the world” in Matthew 13:35; 25:34; Luke 11:50; John 17:24; Ephesians 1:4; Hebrews 4:3; 9:26; 11:10; 1Peter 1:20 and Revelation 13:8; 17:8. Except for Hebrews 11:10, katabole is used with kosmos, social world, and refers to the overthrow of the pre-Adamite world by the flood of Genesis 1:2; 2Peter 3:5-7; Psalm 104:5-9; Jeremiah 4:23-26 and the defeat of Lucifer and his earthly kingdom before Adam (Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-17; Luke 10:18).

‘That we should be holy’ – God’s choice: This is what God chose before the overthrow of Lucifer’s world – that all of the new race of Adam who accepts Jesus Christ should be holy and without blame before Him in love. It is this plan that is chosen for all believers, not the individual conformity of any one person to that plan. The final choice is left up to the individual, not God. All are called and chosen to become holy before God in love if they want to accept this plan and choice of God, but only those who meet the conditions will be so blessed (John 3:16-20; Mark 16:15-16; 1Tim. 2:4; 2Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17). This is the true meaning of election and predestination wherever found in Scripture (1:5; Rom. 8:29, note). In other words, the plan is predestined and foreknown, not the individual conformity to the plan.

‘Without blame’ [Greek: amomos] (1:4; 5:27; Col. 1:22; Heb. 9:14; 1Pet. 1:19; Jude 1:24; Rev. 14:5).

‘Predestinated’ [Greek: proorizo] foreordained. Here God has predestined all children of God to be adopted into His family, but who becomes a child of God is left up to each individual (John 3:15-20; Rev. 22:17; cp. 1Tim. 2:4; 2Pet. 3:9).

‘Adoption’ [Greek: huiothesia] adoption (1:5; Rom. 8:15, 23; 9:4; Gal. 4:5). God has adopted us by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to His pleasure and will, to the praise and glory of His grace, and has made us accepted in Christ (1:5-6).