Sermon: God Chose Us by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Date: July 15, 2018
Scripture Passages:
Key Points:
Ephesians 1:3-14 tells us that all of us are blessed to be chosen by God as His children. We are predestined to be adopted by Him. Earthly adoptions give us an idea of what it means for God to adopt us, but it is not a complete picture. In earthly adoptions, we have somewhat of a say in who we adopt. We can ask for certain age, gender, race. We can interview the child to see if it would be a good fit. Adoption is a very long process in which the parents and the child all go through a complete and very personal evaluation process.
With God, it is different. God chose us before we were born. Verse 4 says that “…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”. He is omniscient, which means God knows everything, but God did not choose us because of our race or gender or age. He did not choose us because of our gifts or passions. In fact, God did not choose us BECAUSE of us, God chose us BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS. God created mankind for His own purposes. God always intended us to be His. And no matter what we have done or not done, we are predestined to be God’s children. He wants that for us, so much so that He sacrificed His one and only son, Jesus, for us.
We have all had friends that will not go to church or will not accept Christ, because they have done too much. They think that they have done so many bad things that they are not worthy of God’s grace and redemption. That is the beauty of the Ephesians 1 chapter: God wants us, no matter what.
Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
God is with us. God delights over us. God loves us. He loves us so much that He breaks out in joyful song over us. Just think about that for a moment: God sings love songs about us.
In the Ephesians passage, Paul is reminding these new Christians that GOD CHOSE US.
But why? Why are we here?
Are you ready for the answer to the ultimate question? The purpose of our entire existence is the glory of God. It is all about God’s glory. Ephesians chapter 1 verses 6 and 7 talk about the purpose of God’s will according to His glorious grace. Verses 12 and 14 have the phrase “to the praise of His glory.” The meaning of life is God. Our purpose is to praise God and honor Him for His glory and grace.
To me, Ephesians 1:3-14 is one of the most intimately and beautifully written passages of the Bible. Paul is sharing with the Ephesians that message of redemption and grace that only God can give us and wants to give us. Look at what is promised to those who follow Christ:
All of these blessings are sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives protects us, prepares us, and keeps us in Christ until we are ready to receive our inheritance. He serves as a trustee, and He is our guarantee that we are and will be members of God’s kingdom. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives is what provides us that blessed assurance that we truly are God’s children and will get all of the spiritual blessings listed in Ephesians one.
Why am I here? As Christians, we are blessed to be able to know the answer to that ultimate question. The answer is this:
God chose us as His children. He wants to redeem us and make us holy and blameless in order to reunite us to Him in perfect love. All of it is for the purpose to praise the glory of God and His precious grace.
Date: July 15, 2018
Scripture Passages:
- Ephesians 1:3-14
- Acts 19-20
- Zephaniah 3:17
Key Points:
Ephesians 1:3-14 tells us that all of us are blessed to be chosen by God as His children. We are predestined to be adopted by Him. Earthly adoptions give us an idea of what it means for God to adopt us, but it is not a complete picture. In earthly adoptions, we have somewhat of a say in who we adopt. We can ask for certain age, gender, race. We can interview the child to see if it would be a good fit. Adoption is a very long process in which the parents and the child all go through a complete and very personal evaluation process.
With God, it is different. God chose us before we were born. Verse 4 says that “…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”. He is omniscient, which means God knows everything, but God did not choose us because of our race or gender or age. He did not choose us because of our gifts or passions. In fact, God did not choose us BECAUSE of us, God chose us BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS. God created mankind for His own purposes. God always intended us to be His. And no matter what we have done or not done, we are predestined to be God’s children. He wants that for us, so much so that He sacrificed His one and only son, Jesus, for us.
We have all had friends that will not go to church or will not accept Christ, because they have done too much. They think that they have done so many bad things that they are not worthy of God’s grace and redemption. That is the beauty of the Ephesians 1 chapter: God wants us, no matter what.
Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
God is with us. God delights over us. God loves us. He loves us so much that He breaks out in joyful song over us. Just think about that for a moment: God sings love songs about us.
In the Ephesians passage, Paul is reminding these new Christians that GOD CHOSE US.
But why? Why are we here?
Are you ready for the answer to the ultimate question? The purpose of our entire existence is the glory of God. It is all about God’s glory. Ephesians chapter 1 verses 6 and 7 talk about the purpose of God’s will according to His glorious grace. Verses 12 and 14 have the phrase “to the praise of His glory.” The meaning of life is God. Our purpose is to praise God and honor Him for His glory and grace.
To me, Ephesians 1:3-14 is one of the most intimately and beautifully written passages of the Bible. Paul is sharing with the Ephesians that message of redemption and grace that only God can give us and wants to give us. Look at what is promised to those who follow Christ:
- Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (vs. 3)
- We should be holy and blameless before Him (vs. 4)
- Love and adoption as His children (vs. 4-5)
- Redemption through His blood, forgiveness of our sins, and the riches of His grace (vs. 6-7)
- Making known to us the mystery of His will (vs. 8-9)
- To unite all things in heaven and on earth in Him (vs. 10)
- An inheritance (vs. 11)
- That in our hope in Christ we might be the praise of His glory (vs. 12)
- Promise of the Holy Spirit (vs. 13-14)
All of these blessings are sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives protects us, prepares us, and keeps us in Christ until we are ready to receive our inheritance. He serves as a trustee, and He is our guarantee that we are and will be members of God’s kingdom. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives is what provides us that blessed assurance that we truly are God’s children and will get all of the spiritual blessings listed in Ephesians one.
Why am I here? As Christians, we are blessed to be able to know the answer to that ultimate question. The answer is this:
God chose us as His children. He wants to redeem us and make us holy and blameless in order to reunite us to Him in perfect love. All of it is for the purpose to praise the glory of God and His precious grace.
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