Chosen and Loved

Ephesians 1:1-6 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

What you do no longer defines who you are.  

Your future will largely be determined by what you believe about God and who you are in Him. 

Central Truth: The Father chose me and loved me before I chose or loved Him.    

I. The Father chose me before I chose Him:
    i.  Don’t interpret God’s attributes (who He is) or actions (what He does) through your personal lens of right and wrong. 
    ii.  Look at the main point.
    iii. God’s choice of us does not mean we have no choice in the matter.  

Ephesians 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 

II. Be Humble.

    iv. The Father loved me before I loved Him. 

APPLICATION

1. Our primary blessings are things we will inherit when we die, not things we receive while we live. 

2. We must never lose sight of the big picture.

Ephesians 1:6  to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.