What is God's purpose for believers according to Ephesians 1:4?
According to Ephesians 1:4, God’s purpose is that believers should be holy, or set apart, and without blame before Him. They have been set aside and are intrinsically in His program to be used as He sees fit, because they are His. This reflects their being set apart for God’s purposes.
Les explains that the priest’s utensils illustrate believers’ position: they were holy and set apart only for God’s purposes, and could not be taken home for common use. In the same way, believers have been set aside and are intrinsically in His program to be used as He sees fit, because they are His. The resulting purpose is that they should be holy, or set apart, and without blame before Him. Although every believer is a sinner saved by grace and still has the old sin nature and still sins, God declares them blameless. Les contrasts the carnal Corinthians, saved out of paganism but not yet understanding Ephesians, to show this position in the heavenlies.
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
More Questions
What does Ephesians 1:4 teach about God choosing believers?
Ephesians 1:4 says God chose believers in Christ before the foundation of the world, intending them to be holy, set apart, and blameless before Him in love.
What does Ephesians 1:4 say about when God chose us?
Ephesians 1:4 says God chose us in Him before anything was ever created.
What does Ephesians 1:4 mean when it says God chose us before the foundation of the world?
When Ephesians 1:4 says God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, Les explains that God's choice was based on His foreknowledge of what every individual would do in the exercise of their own free will, not on God arbitrarily picking certain people or leaving anyone without a chance.