BIG IDEA:
GOD BLESSED US TO MAKE US HOLY
“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)
I. OUR SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS PROCEED FROM GOD ALONE. (GOD BLESSED US)
This “kathos” clasue can be translated “in conformity with the fact that . . . He hath chosen us.” In other words, all our spiritual blessings are in conformity with the fact that God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.
GOD CHOSE US. Note that this is a statement and not a speculation.
Only two valid views of election:
A. God chose us, then we believed.
B. God saw we would believe, then He chose us.
Two reasons why view “A” is the correct one:
1. The Greek word “eklegomai” (elect) and its definition.
a. Definition: “To pick out for oneself; to choose or select”
b. Note 4 different elements deduced from the texts in which this word is used in the New Testament:
(1) When this word is used there are always several objects to choose from.
(2) When this word is used the person making the choice is not tied down by any circumstances which force his hand, but is free to make his own decision.
(3) When this word is used the person making the choice has the person or thing chosen at his disposal.
(4) When this word is used the act of choosing involves a judgment by the one choosing — whether based on subjective or objective criteria.
Therefore, this word indicates that God chose us out from a group without any input from us, and His choice was abased solely on His own criteria.
2. Based on the statement “before the foundation of the world”
This statement not only designates time but also indicates that the decision of election was made before anything was made. It originated in the eternal counsels of the Godhead and had nothing whatsoever to do with us other than we were the objects of the election.
Consequently, election promotes humility in the believer and not boasting or arrogance.
Transition: Having seen that God blessed us, now we see that God blessed us to be holy:
II. OUR SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS SHOULD PRODUCE A GODLY PRODUCT
“to make us holy and without blame”
“holy” implies a relationship with God which is expressed not primarily through the ritual, but through the fact that believers are led by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8;14)
“holy” behavior is behavior that relates to the Holy Spirit — Gal. 5:22
ELECTION IS AN INCENTIVE TO HOLINESS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR SIN.
“without blame” — this is not the best translation, it should be “without blemish.” This was a technical term designating absence of anything amiss in a sacrifice. It is used in Ex. 29:2; Num. 6:14 and Ezek. 43:22 in the Greek translation of the Old Testament.
God’s Goal: HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH
Application: Is this my goal?
Regarding anything, we should stop and ask: Will it blemish me?