PODCAST
Predestined to Praise
June 8th, 2013
Ephesians 1:1-10
Ephesians 1:3-14 is a hymn-like expression of prayer and praise to God for His blessings. The object of praise is the Triune God (1:3). Its occasion is the celebration of “redemption” (1:7, 14) by its grateful recipients–“us” and “our.” The words “before the creation of the world” (1:4) remind us that redemption was no afterthought. The plan was “predestined” (1:5, 11).
Biblical predestination is not about God’s arbitrary choice of some people to be saved and others to be lost. It is, instead, a reminder of God’s gracious plan to unify “all things . . . under Christ” (1:10). Through the death of His beloved Son, God would adopt believers as His children through “the forgiveness of sins” (1:7). He would send “the promised Holy Spirit” (1:13) to make us “holy and blameless in his sight” (1:4).
But the ultimate purpose of God’s plan was to create a people who lived to “the praise of his glory” (1:12, 14; see 1:6). God was not seeking redeemed people to flatter His fragile ego. Our redeemed lives may be a spontaneous expression of gratitude to God.
Author: George Lyons
June 8th, 2013 at 11:20 pm
“Biblical predestination is not about God’s arbitrary choice of some people to be saved and others to be lost.”
Agreed!
God knows HIS creation. HE knows by giving us “free will” praise would have to come from the heart. He also knows that the heart was selfish (as Adam & Eve displayed), jealous and evil (as Cain displayed), and self-righteous (as Adam displayed by placing blame on Eve for his disobedience). Thus, the all-knowing God devised a plan that would prove out good from evil (by allowing temptation to be the catalyst).
Only through the acceptance of HIS Son are we able to overcome the evils in our heart which prohibit the proper praise due God. The learning that this all-powerful God desires (not demands) our love brings to light the effects that evil has on our heart versus the effects that good (the Holy Spirit through Jesus) has on our heart.
Evil breeds evil; whereas, good (seen through our example of Jesus) breeds appreciation. Appreciation grows to where love and praise is given freely.
June 8th, 2013 at 11:28 pm
Correction: He also knows that the heart “is” (not was) selfish. . .