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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,<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n God chose those who would accept Christ as Savior.<\/p>\n \u201cChose<\/span>\u201d is translated from the verb ekleg\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of ek<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cout\u201d and leg\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto choose.\u201d Hence, we see that ekleg\u014d<\/em> <\/span>means \u201cto choose out\u201d or \u201cto select.\u201d 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 \u201cHe chose for Himself.\u201d<\/p>\n The word \u201cfoundation<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word katabol\u0113<\/em><\/span>. This is another compound word; it is made up of kata<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cdown\u201d and a form of ball\u014d<\/em>, meaning \u201cto throw.\u201d Hence, it literally means \u201cto throw down.\u201d It is the word used of deposited seed or of a building\u2019s foundation.<\/p>\n The expression \u201cthat we should be<\/span>\u201d 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<\/em><\/span>, 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 \u201cfor us to be \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWithout blame<\/span>\u201d is the translation of am\u014dmos<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of the privative a<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cnot,\u201d and m\u014dmos<\/em><\/span>, which refers to \u201ca blot, a flaw, or a blemish.\u201d Thus am\u014dmos<\/em> <\/span>means \u201cwithout blemish.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBefore Him<\/span>\u201d is katen\u014dpion<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cdirectly in front of\u201d or \u201cin His very presence.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s purpose in choosing us was so that in Jesus Christ, we will be Holy and flawless in His presence. Let\u2019s look at this a piece at a time.<\/p>\n 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\u2019t 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\u2019s criteria were for selecting us. However, he states very clearly that God chose us. It was His choice, not ours.<\/p>\n When did this choosing (election) occur? Paul says that it was before \u201cthe throwing-down of the world,\u201d 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!<\/p>\n Does this mean that we are relieved of any responsibility in believing God\u2019s truth and accepting the blood of Christ as payment of our sins? Absolutely not! God\u2019s election and our responsibility are two opposites that are both taught in the Bible. How can this be? We don\u2019t 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<\/em>!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Signature1.gif\" "\\"Will\\"")
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