Predestined before the World

The Apostle Paul opens the letter to the Ephesians much like he does his other letters to the early Christian churches.

Grace to you and peace... (Ephesian 1:2)

But what follows in verses 3-6 is an incredible unpacking of who God is and who we are by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. (Ephsians 1:3-6, CSB)

I admit that as I read this, and re-read this a few weeks ago in preparation for our Tuesday morning mothers' Bible study group, I knew I'd have to unpack this passage before teaching it. Somehow I couldn't wrap my head around what it was saying exactly. I mean, I got the gist of it. I understood the words I was reading, but I just couldn't find a plain and simple way to articulate what it said.

So I did what I usually do. I consulted other translations (ESV, Amplified) and glanced at the original Greek, as well as a Bible study guide on the book of Ephesians.

Finally, it dawned on me. So I want to share that with you.

God chose us, decided that He wanted us, all before the world was made. He knew all the dramas that would unfold by creating humankind and yet He loved us so much that He made us anyway. Before you were a speck of cells in your mother's womb, before the world was, God knew you'd come. God knew every good and bad thing you'd do and He still said, 'I want her', 'I want him'. Not only that he wanted you. He actually made you happen.

He made you happen so that He could show His love for you, to you, through Jesus. So that He could show you just how deeply He feels for you - that no matter what decisions you've made, no matter the mistakes, not matter how wrong or damaged you think you are - God loved you. He loved you SO much that He doesn't just say, 'your past doesn't matter'. In Romans 6:23, Paul writes 'the wages of sin is death' - it's what we deserve BUT (the divine interruption I wrote about a few months ago). The Amplified Bible says it this way, 'but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is...' that Jesus wipes the slate clean with His blood. He pays the price. He took our 'wages' so we could have His 'reward'.

God knew it was all going to happen and still He thought, 'You are worth it!'

Do you hear me? He knew it all, everything you ever did or will do... and He still says, 'You are worth it. I want YOU!'

What do you say to that?

N.