Authored by Mary Lucas
Read: Ephesians 1:4-6
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Reflect:
Ask someone who claims to be a Christian “How do you know you are a Christian?” or “How do you know you are saved from your sin?” and the most common replies are “Because I decided to trust in Jesus” or “Because I asked Jesus to save me however many years ago” or “Because I have given my life to Jesus.” Notice how each of these replies begins with the words, “Because I….”. We are not saved because we decided to do something however many years ago. Instead, we are saved from our sin ultimately because Jesus decided to do something two thousand years ago. And based upon his grace, his mercy, and his love in coming to us (sinners totally unable to save ourselves) we have been invited to follow him. The love of God in the life and death of Christ is the only foundation for authentic salvation. God planned to adopt his children before we were ever born. That is what the apostle Paul means when he says in Ephesians 1: 4-6
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So, we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.”
Each of us must make the decision to follow Jesus. But don’t think that such a decision begins with an invitation born out of our own initiative….the Bible clearly reminds us that left to ourselves we would be lost forever. The only reason we can seek Christ in our sinfulness is because Christ has sought us as our Saviour.
To be a Christian is to be loved by God, pursued by God, and found by God. To be a Christian is to realize that in your sin, you were separated from God’s presence, and deserved nothing but God’s wrath. Yet despite this, his voice spoke to you inviting you to follow him. His majesty captivated your soul and his mercy covered your sin, and by his death he brought you life. Do you know for sure that you are his child, not ultimately because of any good you have done – any prayers you have prayed, steps you have taken, or boxes you have checked – but solely because of the grace he has given? How does it feel to know that even before God made the world, he loved you and chose you to be adopted as one of his children?
