"For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will.
*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4309
Predetermined: to predetermine, to foreordain
From the Greek word 'proorizó' (pronounced pro-or-id'-zo). To pre-determine limits (establish boundaries).
This word 'predestine' sure gets a lot of bad press. Some people think it means God has chosen only so many people to be saved, when in fact God has chosen everyone to be saved. Sadly, not everyone will be, but that is their choice, not God's. It simply means that God has set up the means by which we become His children. And that means, that Way is His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. John 14:6 "Jesus answered, “I am The Way and The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
CHOSEN BY HIM
Before the foundation of the world, the Word tells, we are chosen in Christ. Those who come to salvation through faith in the blood of Christ to wash away our sins are the saints, the born again, the prophets and anyone who believes God is Savior and the means of salvation. The Book of Hebrews outlines a few Old Testament people who had righteousness credited to their account because of their simple, faithful (faith-filled) lives. I call it The Hall of Faith.
We are chosen in Him, in Jesus Christ. We are chosen by God to be His people simply because we believe Him, we trust Him.
CHOSEN TO BE HOLY IN HIS PRESENCE
We are chosen by the Holy God to be a holy people. We are chosen to be set apart from the rest of the world. We are chosen to be sacred, different. We now have a Christ-like nature because Christ lives in us, changing us, growing us into Himself.
CHOSEN TO BE BLAMELESS IN HIS PRESENCE
We are chosen by God to be without blemish or spot. For sin cannot exist where God is, so God's people must be spiritually clean. A feat which can only be accomplished by God's transforming power through His Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit Who leads us to God. It is the Spirit Who reveals the Truth of God's Word to us.
CHOSEN IN LOVE TO BE GOD'S CHILDREN
The most beloved verses in the Bible tell us that God loves us so much He sent His Son to die for us and save us from eternal damnation and punishment for sin.
John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
CHOOSING GOD
Are you one of the 'whosoevers'? Have you believed in the Name of the Son of God for your salvation? I am a whosoever. And you can be a whosoever, too. God has chosen you in His love to be a member of His family. Listen to the stirrings of your heart. That's the Holy Spirit calling you to salvation. That's the voice of God calling you to come near and stay by Him. Today is your opportunity to choose God just like He chose you.
God chose us in Love, we need to choose God in Love. God chose us in Christ; in Christ we need to come to God. God's Word is God's Way. In Christ we are made holy, we are made blameless, we are made perfect. Now is the time to answer the call of God on your life. Hear the Word of the Lord and be made complete in Him.
