Tag: chose

2 Thessalonians 2:13 – Believe the Truth

Posted on by Will

But we are obliged to give thanks to God always for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,

Truth to Learn

Belief in the truth is of critical importance to everyone.

 

Behind the Words

The word “obliged” is translated from opheilō, which means “to be indebted” or “to owe something to someone.”

“Give thanks” is from the verb eucharisteō, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” and a form of charidzomai, meaning “to give” or “to grant.” It means “to show oneself grateful” or “to be thankful.”

The Greek word translated “beginning” is archē, meaning “the beginning.” When it is used without a definite article (the) or a direct object, as it is here, it nearly always refers to the very beginning (of time).

Haireō is the verb translated “chose.” This word means “to take.” When expressed in the middle voice (subject acting on itself), as it is here, it means “to take to oneself” or “to choose for oneself.”

“Salvation” is translated from soteria, which means “preservation from danger or destruction.”

The word “sanctification” is hagiasmos, which is based on the verb hagiadzō, meaning “to sanctify.” To sanctify something means to set it apart from common usage unto usage devoted to God. Thus, sanctification carries the meaning of being set apart or separated. Sanctification and holiness are often used interchangeably, both indicating separation from sin and dedication to God.

 

Meaning Explained

Discussion among Christians regarding election versus the responsibility of man is often charged with emotion and bias. Those who hold to the doctrine of election will often quote today’s verse or Ephesians 1:4,

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

While those who hold to the doctrine of “free will” will often quote Romans 10:13,

For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

The fact is that both election (God’s choosing of who will be saved) and the responsibility of man (man’s decision to accept Christ as Lord and Savior) are taught in the New Testament and both are true. We can’t understand how they can both be true anymore than we can understand how God can be three persons and still be one God.

In today’s verse Paul very clearly states that from the beginning (of everything) God chose us for salvation. It was not based on anything we would do, for then it would not be His choice, but ours alone. This choice, according to Paul, was accomplished through an act of the Holy Spirit who set us apart (sanctified us) for Himself and through belief in the truth of the Gospel.

Paul’s reason for talking about this here is not to correct any error in the church, but to contrast the “permanent earth dwellers,” about whom he has been talking, with believers. Those who will follow the antichrist will not believe the truth because God will cause them to believe the lie. We who are saved by the Spirit believe the truth because God chose us to do so.

 

Application

The real key to salvation is belief in God’s truth as presented in the Bible. Do you believe the truth?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 1:4 – God’s Choice

Posted on by Will

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, for us be holy and without blemish before Him in love,

Truth to Learn

God chose those who would accept Christ as Savior.

 

Behind the Words

“Chose” is translated from the verb eklegō, which is made up of ek, meaning “out” and legō, meaning “to choose.” Hence, we see that eklegō means “to choose out” or “to select.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense (past completed action) and the middle voice (action done by the subject to himself), so it could be interpreted as “He chose for Himself.”

The word “foundation” is from the Greek word katabolē. This is another compound word; it is made up of kata, meaning “down” and a form of ballō, meaning “to throw.” Hence, it literally means “to throw down.” It is the word used of deposited seed or of laying a building’s foundation.

The expression “for us to be” is translated as “that we should be” in some translations. In this form it appears to be a translation of the Greek subjunctive mood (the mood of probability or possibility), but it is not. It is the verb eimi, the verb of being (I am, you are, etc.), but it is written as an infinitive. In other words, it should literally be translated as “for us to be …”

“Without blemish” is the translation of amōmos, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not,” and mōmos, which refers to “a blot, a flaw, or a blemish.” Thus amōmos means “without blemish.”

“Before Him” is katenōpion, which means “directly in front of” or “in His very presence.”

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul told us that God the Father blessed (aorist tense, indicating a completed action in the past) us with all spiritual blessings. In the same way, before the foundation of the world, God the Father chose us for Himself. Paul also tells us that God’s purpose in choosing us was so that in Jesus Christ, we will be Holy and flawless in His very presence. Let’s look at this a piece at a time.

God chose us. Paul makes it very clear that God selected us (all who are saved). The fact that this verb is in the middle voice indicates that God chose for Himself, for His own reasons. Paul doesn’t tell us that God chose those of us whom He knew would one day accept Christ as Savior. In fact, we are not told what God’s criteria were for selecting us. However, he states very clearly that God chose us. It was His choice, not ours.

When did this choosing (election) occur? Paul says that it was before “the throwing-down of the world,” in other words, before time began. And what was the purpose for choosing us? It was not so that we could avoid the punishment of Hell. It was so that we will be able to stand in His presence, set-apart from the rest of humanity, with righteousness as spotless as the Lamb. God now sees us as perfect and He wants perfect fellowship with us!

 

Application

Does this mean that we are relieved of any responsibility in believing God’s truth and accepting the blood of Christ as payment of our sins? Absolutely not! God’s election and our responsibility are two opposites that are both taught in the Bible. How can this be? We don’t know, but God does! And, the fact that God chose us should at once drive us to our knees and put thanks and praise in our hearts and on our lips!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved

2 Thessalonians 2:13 – Believe the Truth

Posted on by Will

But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,

Truth to Learn

Belief in the truth is of critical importance to everyone.

Behind the Words

The Greek word translated “beginning” is archē, meaning “the beginning.” When it is used without a definite article (the) or a direct object, as it is here, it nearly always refers to the very beginning (of time).

Haireō is the verb translated “chose.” This word means “to take.” When expressed in the middle voice (subject acting on itself), as it is here, it means “to take to oneself” or “to choose for oneself.”

“Salvation” is translated from soteria, which means “preservation from danger or destruction.”

The word “sanctification” is hagiasmos, which is based on the verb hagiadzō, meaning “to sanctify.” To sanctify something means to set it apart from common usage to usage devoted to God. Thus, sanctification carries the meaning of being set apart or separated. Sanctification and holiness are often used interchangeably, both indicating separation from sin and dedication to God.

Meaning Explained

Discussion among Christians regarding election versus the responsibility of man is often charged with emotion and bias. Those who hold to the doctrine of election will often quote today’s verse or Ephesians 1:4,

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

While those who hold to the doctrine of “free will” will often quote Romans 10:13,

For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

The fact is that both election (God’s choosing of who will be saved) and the responsibility of man (man’s decision to accept Christ as Lord and Savior) are taught in the New Testament and both are true. We can’t understand how they can both be true any more than we can understand how God can be three persons and still be one God.

In today’s verse Paul very clearly states that from the beginning (of everything) God chose us for salvation. It was not based on anything we would do, for then it would not be His choice, but ours alone. This choice, according to Paul, was accomplished through an act of the Holy Spirit who set us apart for Himself and through belief in the truth of the Gospel.

Paul’s reason for talking about this here is not to correct any error in the church, but to contrast the “permanent earth dwellers,” about whom he has been talking, with believers. Those who will follow the antichrist will not believe the truth because God will cause them to believe the lie. We who are saved by the Spirit believe the truth because God chose us.

Application

The real key to salvation is belief in God’s truth as presented in the Bible. Do you believe the truth?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

 

Ephesians 1:4 – God’s Choice

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 1:4 – God’s Choice

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

Truth to Learn

God chose those who would accept Christ as Savior.

Behind the Words

“Chose” is translated from the verb eklegō, which is made up of ek, meaning “out” and legō, meaning “to choose.” Hence, we see that eklegō means “to choose out” or “to select.” It is expressed here in the aorist tense (past completed action) and the middle voice (action done by the subject to himself), so it could be interpreted as “He chose for Himself.”

The word “foundation” is from the Greek word katabolē. This is another compound word; it is made up of kata, meaning “down” and a form of ballō, meaning “to throw.” Hence, it literally means “to throw down.” It is the word used of deposited seed or of a building’s foundation.

The expression “that we should be” appears to be a translation of the Greek subjunctive mood (the mood of probability or possibility), but it is not. It is the verb eimi, the verb of being (I am, you are, etc.), but it is written as an infinitive. In other words, it could literally be translated as “for us to be …”

“Without blame” is the translation of amōmos, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not,” and mōmos, which refers to “a blot, a flaw, or a blemish.” Thus amōmos means “without blemish.”

“Before Him” is katenōpion, which means “directly in front of” or “in His very presence.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul told us that God the Father blessed (past tense, completed action) us with all spiritual blessings. In the same way, before the foundation of the world, God the Father chose us for Himself. Paul also tells us that God’s purpose in choosing us was so that in Jesus Christ, we will be Holy and flawless in His presence. Let’s look at this a piece at a time.

God chose us. Paul makes it very clear that God selected us (all who are saved). The fact that this verb is in the middle voice indicates that God chose for Himself, for His own reasons. Paul doesn’t tell us that God chose those of us whom He knew would one day accept Christ as Savior. In fact, we are not told what God’s criteria were for selecting us. However, he states very clearly that God chose us. It was His choice, not ours.

When did this choosing (election) occur? Paul says that it was before “the throwing-down of the world,” in other words, before time began. And what was the purpose for choosing us? It was not so that we could avoid the punishment of Hell. It was so that we will be able to stand in His presence, set-apart from the rest of humanity, with righteousness as spotless as the Lamb. God wants perfect fellowship with us!

Application

Does this mean that we are relieved of any responsibility in believing God’s truth and accepting the blood of Christ as payment of our sins? Absolutely not! God’s election and our responsibility are two opposites that are both taught in the Bible. How can this be? We don’t know, but God does! And, the fact that God chose us should at once drive us to our knees and put thanks and praise in our hearts and on our lips!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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