Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him (Eph 1:4).
Before the NFL Draft, teams put their potential picks under the microscope. Forty yard dash times. Shuttle runs. Height. Weight. Something called the Wonderlich test.
Personnel directors and scouts go as far back into a player's background for clues to future performance. They comb through video from college and high school.
Teams bring the top talent to the NFL Combine for what's really no more than an athletic meat market.
And if that's not enough, experts like Mel Kiper and Todd McShay run mock drafts to predict which franchise will select which players.
Personnel directors and scouts go as far back into a player's background for clues to future performance. They comb through video from college and high school.
Teams bring the top talent to the NFL Combine for what's really no more than an athletic meat market.
And if that's not enough, experts like Mel Kiper and Todd McShay run mock drafts to predict which franchise will select which players.
Here in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul talks about God's research and selection of His picks. It seems He's been at it a long time.
With apologies to NFL talent scouts, His evaluations go back farther than they can imagine. "Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him" (v4).
With apologies to NFL talent scouts, His evaluations go back farther than they can imagine. "Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him" (v4).
Let's back up a second for a little context. A nasty heresy has infected churches down the road from Ephesus in Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis.
A group of spiritual hucksters have duped disciples into thinking that Jesus may be good but He's not God. The risen Rabbi might be able to get you into His kingdom but it's up to each one of us to work hard to stay in.
As a result, Paul fires off a letter of correction to the folks in those churches (Colossians). He reminds them that Jesus is more God than we can wrap our brains around (Col 1:15-20).
We're to simply keep our eyes on Jesus and "seek the things that are above" (Col 3:1-4).
At the very same time, the apostle writes a letter to folks in Ephesus. If Colossians is a treatment for the disease, Ephesians is an inoculation against it.
With the Colossian churches just 100 miles away, he wants to make sure he gets ahead of the heresy. That's why much of the content in both Ephesians and Colossians are incredibly similar.
As he wrote to the folks in Colossae, Paul wants the Ephesians to simply remember who they are in Christ.
Remember who He is. Remember what He's done. Remember who were were without Him.
A group of spiritual hucksters have duped disciples into thinking that Jesus may be good but He's not God. The risen Rabbi might be able to get you into His kingdom but it's up to each one of us to work hard to stay in.
As a result, Paul fires off a letter of correction to the folks in those churches (Colossians). He reminds them that Jesus is more God than we can wrap our brains around (Col 1:15-20).
We're to simply keep our eyes on Jesus and "seek the things that are above" (Col 3:1-4).
At the very same time, the apostle writes a letter to folks in Ephesus. If Colossians is a treatment for the disease, Ephesians is an inoculation against it.
With the Colossian churches just 100 miles away, he wants to make sure he gets ahead of the heresy. That's why much of the content in both Ephesians and Colossians are incredibly similar.
As he wrote to the folks in Colossae, Paul wants the Ephesians to simply remember who they are in Christ.
Remember who He is. Remember what He's done. Remember who were were without Him.
The apostle begins by describing the jaw-dropping goodness of God through His Son Jesus. (Eph 1:3). Paul begins listing the blessings.
Once he gets going, he can't stop. It's an avalanche of God's goodness from verse 3 through14. As a matter of fact, it's one, long, run on sentence.
The dude from Tarsus gets so stoked over the Lord's non-stop blessing machine that he just can't stop, won't stop.
Once he gets going, he can't stop. It's an avalanche of God's goodness from verse 3 through14. As a matter of fact, it's one, long, run on sentence.
The dude from Tarsus gets so stoked over the Lord's non-stop blessing machine that he just can't stop, won't stop.
Here we see the first of that list of blessings. "He chose us" (v4). The "He" here is God the Father. Our Heavenly Dad has apparently taken a leadership role from way back when.
While all three Persons of the Godhead are equal, the Son and Spirit submit to the Father's leadership. And as a result, "He chose us" (v4).
Paul uses the Greek verb εκλεγομαι/eklegomai, which means to pick out, choose out of many and select for a purpose.
This is not a random choice. God didn't just stick His divine hand into the barrel and pull you out.
He choses you specifically. He picks you out of the crowd. He handpicks you from everyone else at the draft.
While all three Persons of the Godhead are equal, the Son and Spirit submit to the Father's leadership. And as a result, "He chose us" (v4).
Paul uses the Greek verb εκλεγομαι/eklegomai, which means to pick out, choose out of many and select for a purpose.
This is not a random choice. God didn't just stick His divine hand into the barrel and pull you out.
He choses you specifically. He picks you out of the crowd. He handpicks you from everyone else at the draft.
Don't believe me? Check out the other uses of this term in the New Testament. On the mountain top, the Father makes sure that Peter, James and John understand Jesus' authority. "This is My Son, My Chosen (Gr. εκλεγομαι/eklegomai) One; listen to Him" (Lk 9:35).
When Christ held His own draft for His starting lineup, "He called His disciples and chose (Gr. εκλεγομαι/eklegomai) from them twelve, whom He named apostles" (Lk 6:13).
Jesus had a lot of disciples. He drafted a dozen to be His official representatives.
Dr. Luke used that same verb when he wrote of the discerning choices of Judas' replacement (Acts 1:24) and the first deacons (Acts 6:5).
The resurrected Jesus described Paul as His "chosen (Gr. εκλεγομαι/eklegomai) instrument" to spread the Good News (Acts 9:15).
The Father chose His Son. Jesus handpicked His apostles. Christ personally selected Paul. Nothing random or haphazard. Intentional draft picks.
When Christ held His own draft for His starting lineup, "He called His disciples and chose (Gr. εκλεγομαι/eklegomai) from them twelve, whom He named apostles" (Lk 6:13).
Jesus had a lot of disciples. He drafted a dozen to be His official representatives.
Dr. Luke used that same verb when he wrote of the discerning choices of Judas' replacement (Acts 1:24) and the first deacons (Acts 6:5).
The resurrected Jesus described Paul as His "chosen (Gr. εκλεγομαι/eklegomai) instrument" to spread the Good News (Acts 9:15).
The Father chose His Son. Jesus handpicked His apostles. Christ personally selected Paul. Nothing random or haphazard. Intentional draft picks.
You might wonder what role we had our selection. Well when it comes to the choosing, we are the choosee (Jn 15:16, 19). We didn't pick Jesus. He picked us.
Why? Certainly not anything we bring to the game. At the heavenly draft, He didn't pick according any of the prognosticators.
Mel Kiper and Todd McShay would've been shocked when He drafted the foolish, weak, low and despised (1Cor 1:27-28).
When you take a look at God's draft record throughout Scripture, you have to wonder why He continually picks such losers.
Time and again, He drafts liars (Abraham), cheats (Jacob), murderers (Moses) and adulterers (David) to be a part of His team.
These aren't heroes or superstars. Not even close.
After religious leaders interrogated Pete and John, they called them "uneducated, common men" (Acts 5:17). The honest translation of this description is "illiterate idiots."
The big point? Jesus specializes in drafting from the losers and the leftovers. Only then does His power truly shine through (2Cor 4:7).
Let's not look to the Bible as a list of can't miss draft picks. No, let's read it for our one and only Hero. Jesus.
Why? Certainly not anything we bring to the game. At the heavenly draft, He didn't pick according any of the prognosticators.
Mel Kiper and Todd McShay would've been shocked when He drafted the foolish, weak, low and despised (1Cor 1:27-28).
When you take a look at God's draft record throughout Scripture, you have to wonder why He continually picks such losers.
Time and again, He drafts liars (Abraham), cheats (Jacob), murderers (Moses) and adulterers (David) to be a part of His team.
These aren't heroes or superstars. Not even close.
After religious leaders interrogated Pete and John, they called them "uneducated, common men" (Acts 5:17). The honest translation of this description is "illiterate idiots."
The big point? Jesus specializes in drafting from the losers and the leftovers. Only then does His power truly shine through (2Cor 4:7).
Let's not look to the Bible as a list of can't miss draft picks. No, let's read it for our one and only Hero. Jesus.
That's why it's important that Paul describes how the Father handpicks us "in Him" (v4). This is such a big deal that he's going to use this idea 28 times in this letter in one form or another.
The "Him" is Jesus. This is what really smart folks call "union with Christ."
Jesus has done for us what we could never, ever do for ourselves. He lived a life of perfect obedience to God's rules and laws. We didn't.
He died a brutal death for our sin on the cross. We should have. He rose to a new life from a cold, empty tomb. We don't deserve it.
When we trust in what He's done FOR us, we're "in Him." When the Father looks at us, He sees His sinless Son. We're "in Him." Our heavenly Dad drafts us "in Him."
The "Him" is Jesus. This is what really smart folks call "union with Christ."
Jesus has done for us what we could never, ever do for ourselves. He lived a life of perfect obedience to God's rules and laws. We didn't.
He died a brutal death for our sin on the cross. We should have. He rose to a new life from a cold, empty tomb. We don't deserve it.
When we trust in what He's done FOR us, we're "in Him." When the Father looks at us, He sees His sinless Son. We're "in Him." Our heavenly Dad drafts us "in Him."
NFL teams scout players for years before committing to them in the draft. But that's nothing compared to God's personnel operation.
He made His selection "before the foundation of the world" (v4). We're not talking college. We're not talking high school
Tell Doc Brown to fire up the DeLorean. Get the Flux Capacitor fluxing. That's a long, long time ago.
Back BEFORE the beginning. Back BEFORE Creation. Back BEFORE Genesis 1.
God handpicked you. Paul uses the Greek word kosmos here. This is not just before the creation of our little blue planet but the entire universe.
He made His selection "before the foundation of the world" (v4). We're not talking college. We're not talking high school
Tell Doc Brown to fire up the DeLorean. Get the Flux Capacitor fluxing. That's a long, long time ago.
Back BEFORE the beginning. Back BEFORE Creation. Back BEFORE Genesis 1.
God handpicked you. Paul uses the Greek word kosmos here. This is not just before the creation of our little blue planet but the entire universe.
God has a plan and a purpose for selecting you. Just as teams try to project what position their picks will play, the Lord sees you as you will be.
The Father drafts us to "be holy and blameless before Him" (v4). He handpicks each one of us for a specific purpose. Holiness. Blamelessness.
In his letter to his Roman buddies, Paul talks about God's purpose and process in drafting us.
"For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified" (Rom 8:29-30).
God specifically drafts you and me, not just to be underachieving benchwarmers. He's making us holy. He's making us blameless. Just like His Son and our Savior.
The Father drafts us to "be holy and blameless before Him" (v4). He handpicks each one of us for a specific purpose. Holiness. Blamelessness.
In his letter to his Roman buddies, Paul talks about God's purpose and process in drafting us.
"For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified" (Rom 8:29-30).
God specifically drafts you and me, not just to be underachieving benchwarmers. He's making us holy. He's making us blameless. Just like His Son and our Savior.
The realization of our divine draft status helps you and I fall even more deeply in love with God. He selects us specifically.
There's absolutely nothing in our scouting report that would cause our draft stock to rise. We don't even deserve to be drafted. But we are.
God pick us long before He spoke the universe into being. He handpicked us in Jesus. He drafted us to make us holy. And He selected us for a specific position: "before Him."
There's absolutely nothing in our scouting report that would cause our draft stock to rise. We don't even deserve to be drafted. But we are.
God pick us long before He spoke the universe into being. He handpicked us in Jesus. He drafted us to make us holy. And He selected us for a specific position: "before Him."
And with the first pick in the draft, God selects…
©2013
Jay Jennings
©2013
Jay Jennings
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