In the previous blog, we saw why the ecclesia is chosen. The cause of our election lies not in ourselves, but in God. He does not choose what is wise, strong, and significant in the eyes of the world, but rather the foolish, weak, and ignoble. In doing so, He exposes everything that is highly regarded in this world. But that is not the whole story. For election has not only a cause, but also a purpose. To what end has God chosen the ecclesia?
It also holds true for our election that it does not come at the expense of others. On the contrary, we are chosen so that God will bless the rest of His creation through us. Paul makes this known in Ephesians 1.
Ephesians 1
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who blesses us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
all
Pay close attention to what is written here. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. Not as the NBG translation says, with “all kinds,” but with “all.” What Paul does next is explain what these blessings consist of.
4 Just as He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before His face, in love.
first spiritual blessing
The first blessing he mentions is our election. We are chosen in Him, before the foundation of the world. We were chosen before we were born or had done anything good or evil, as is also said of Jacob (Rom. 9:11). Our election was already established before the world had its beginning.
He presents us “holy and blameless before His face.” That is not something we must become, but what we are. This, too, is God’s work.
4 …in love
5 predestining us beforehand to sonship, through Christ Jesus, into Him, according to the good pleasure of His will.
in love
It is not clear whether “in love” belongs to the conclusion of verse 4 or to the beginning of verse 5. But we do not need to choose, for both are true. God has chosen us “in love,” says verse 4. We might perhaps first think of His love for us here. But then we are thinking too small, for election is always connected with God’s goodness for the whole. From what follows, it becomes clear that this election is ultimately connected with God’s love for His entire creation.
The same applies to the following blessing that Paul mentions. God has predestined us beforehand in love to “sonship.” In the Bible, a son is an heir, or rather: a lotholder.
lotholder
A lotholder is someone who receives the position of heir (Rom. 8:17; Gal. 3:29) and shares in the possession of the Father. This aligns well with the concept of election, because the elect, just like lotholders, are designated in accordance with God’s electing action (Rom. 9:11; 11:5). After all, a lot is not earned or chosen, but assigned. It emphasizes that the share of the lot arises from God’s choice and allocation.
sonship
Our sonship concerns the position in which we will be placed in the future. We will share with Christ in His dominion over heaven and earth. God has subjected all things to His Son (1 Cor. 15:27-28; Heb. 2:8) and the ecclesia shares in this. We are co-lotholders of Christ (Rom. 8:17).
This sonship becomes reality at “the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23). Until that time, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is a pledge of our lotholding (Eph. 1:13-14). Therefore, the spirit is called in Romans 8:15: “the spirit of sonship.”
When we receive this position, we will, with Christ as Head and body, liberate the entire creation from the slavery of decay.
Romans 8
19 For the eager anticipation of creation awaits the revelation of the sons of God.
20 (…) in hope
21 that creation itself will also be freed from the slavery of decay…
to the blessing of the entire creation
The ecclesia is not chosen as an end goal in itself. Creation awaits the revelation of the sons of God, because God will give liberation and glory to the rest of creation through them. Romans 8:19-21 shows that the election of the ecclesia ultimately has a goal that extends much further than just the ecclesia itself: the entire creation!
In the next blog, we will see that Paul teaches the same thing in Ephesians 1