Bless God for His Election - Eph 1:4-6

Today, we gathered around the table of communion, remembering the love of Christ poured out for us while we were still sinners. The bread and the cup remind us of the body and blood of Jesus, given so that we might be washed clean and called saints—holy and set apart by God’s grace. As we continue our journey through Ephesians, we find ourselves standing before the towering doctrine of election, a truth that can be both humbling and difficult to grasp, yet is meant to lead us into deeper worship and assurance.

Election, as revealed in Ephesians 1:4, is God’s eternal, gracious choice to save sinners in Christ—not because of anything we have done or could do, but solely out of His love and for His glory. This choice was made before the foundation of the world, long before we could ever earn or desire salvation. The reality is that apart from God’s initiating grace, none of us would seek Him; our wills are bound by sin, and we are unable and unwilling to come to God on our own. Yet, in His mercy, God draws us, gives us faith, and makes us holy and blameless in His sight.

This doctrine is not meant to divide or to stir up pride, but to humble us and fuel our worship. It reminds us that our salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace, from beginning to end. We are not saved because of our own will or effort, but because God, in His sovereign love, set His affection upon us. This truth removes all grounds for boasting and calls us to walk in humility, gratitude, and holiness.

God’s sovereignty does not negate our responsibility; rather, it upholds it. We are called to believe, to repent, and to proclaim the gospel, knowing that God uses these means to draw His people to Himself. Election does not kill evangelism—it fuels it, giving us confidence that God will save those He has chosen as we faithfully share the good news.

Ultimately, this truth is meant to unite us as one body in Christ, to assure us of our salvation, and to lead us into joyful worship. No matter where we are on our journey of understanding, we are loved and welcomed, called to marvel at the riches of God’s grace and to live for the praise of His glory.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s election is an act of pure grace, not based on anything we have done or could do. Before the foundation of the world, God set His love upon us, choosing to save us in Christ. This means our salvation is secure, not because of our performance, but because of God’s unchanging purpose and love. [35:21]
• 2. The depth of our sin reveals the necessity of election. Scripture teaches that apart from God’s grace, our minds are darkened, our wills are enslaved, and our hearts are hostile to God. We do not seek Him on our own; salvation must begin with God’s initiative, or none would be saved. [44:07]
• 3. God’s sovereignty and human responsibility are not in conflict but work together in a mysterious harmony. While God ordains all things, including our salvation, we are still called to believe, repent, and act. This tension is not meant to be fully resolved but to lead us to trust and worship the God whose ways are higher than ours. [60:41]
• 4. Election is not a doctrine to fear or avoid, but one that should humble us and deepen our worship. It strips away pride, reminding us that faith itself is a gift, and that all boasting is excluded. Our response should be gratitude, humility, and a pursuit of holiness, knowing that God’s grace both saves and transforms us. [72:44]
• 5. Far from discouraging evangelism, election empowers it. God not only ordains who will be saved but also the means—our proclamation of the gospel. We share the good news with confidence, knowing that God will draw His people to Himself, and that our labor is never in vain. [68:32]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [15:46] - Communion: Remembering Christ’s Sacrifice
• [16:54] - The Meaning of Communion
• [17:13] - Saints and the Cleansing Blood of Christ
• [23:22] - Introduction to Ephesians 1
• [23:54] - Every Spiritual Blessing in Christ
• [26:07] - Climbing the Mountains of Grace
• [28:35] - The Doctrine of Election Explained
• [30:11] - Wrestling with Election: A Personal Journey
• [33:27] - Approaching Difficult Doctrines with Humility
• [34:53] - What Is Election?
• [41:34] - Six Common Questions About Election
• [44:07] - Why Is Election Necessary?
• [52:58] - How Did God Choose?
• [59:43] - God’s Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
• [62:30] - Is Election Just?
• [65:40] - Do the Non-Elect Want to Be Saved?
• [67:03] - Does Election Kill Evangelism?
• [71:20] - The Assurance and Impact of Election
• [73:44] - Worship, Unity, and Our Response
• [75:12] - Looking Ahead and Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Ephesians 1:3-14 (ESV) — Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 1:4, when did God choose us, and for what purpose?
2. In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the result of God’s election, not the cause? ([40:42])
3. What does the passage say about the role of the Holy Spirit in our salvation?
4. How does Paul describe the attitude we should have in response to God’s election? ([28:04])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that God’s election is “an act of pure grace, not based on anything we have done or could do.” How does this understanding affect the way someone views their own salvation? ([35:21])
2. The pastor mentions that apart from God’s grace, “our minds are darkened, our wills are enslaved, and our hearts are hostile to God.” What does this say about our ability to seek God on our own? ([44:07])
3. The sermon teaches that God’s sovereignty and human responsibility “are not in conflict but work together in a mysterious harmony.” How might this tension affect the way we live out our faith? ([01:00:41])
4. The pastor says that election is not meant to divide or stir up pride, but to humble us and fuel our worship. Why do you think this doctrine can sometimes cause division instead? ([42:14])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says that election should lead us to humility, gratitude, and holiness. Is there an area of your life where you struggle with pride or self-reliance instead of gratitude for God’s grace? What would it look like to walk in humility this week? ([01:12:44])
2. The pastor shared his own struggle with the doctrine of election and how it took years for him to accept it. Have you ever wrestled with a difficult teaching in the Bible? How did you respond, and what helped you move forward? ([30:11])
3. The sermon says that “God’s sovereignty does not negate our responsibility; rather, it upholds it.” How does knowing that God is in control encourage you (or challenge you) to share your faith with others? ([01:08:32])
4. The pastor emphasized that our salvation is secure, not because of our performance, but because of God’s unchanging purpose and love. Are there times when you doubt your salvation or feel insecure in your faith? How can the truth of God’s election bring you assurance? ([01:11:51])
5. The sermon teaches that “election empowers evangelism.” Is there someone in your life you feel called to share the gospel with? What is one step you can take this week to move toward that conversation? ([01:08:32])
6. The pastor said that election is meant to unite us as one body in Christ. Are there ways you see division in the church (locally or globally) over doctrines like election? How can you personally contribute to unity in the body of Christ? ([01:13:44])
7. The sermon calls us to “marvel at the riches of God’s grace and to live for the praise of His glory.” What is one practical way you can intentionally worship God this week in response to His grace? ([01:13:44])