Who am I?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love, - Ephesians 1:3-4 (LSB)

The doctrine of election is emphasized throughout Scripture. God not only chose by Himself but for Himself to the praise of His own glory. God's election or predestination does not operate apart from or nullify man's responsibility to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. - John MacArthur

by predestining us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graciously bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our transgressions, according to the riches of His grace which He caused to abound to us in all wisdom and insight, - Ephesians 1:5-8 (LSB)

Human parents can bestow their love, resources, and inheritance on an adopted child, but not their own distinct characteristics. But God miraculously gives His own nature to those whom He has elected and who have trusted in Christ. He makes them His children in the image of His divine Son, giving them not just Christ's riches and blessings but also His very nature. - John MacArthur

making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him for an administration of the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth in Him. - Ephesians 1:9-10 (LSB)

At the end of this world’s history, God will gather believers together in the millennial kingdom called here "an administration suitable to the fullness of the times," meaning the completion of history. After that, God will gather everything to Himself in eternity future, and the new heaven and the new earth will be created. The new universe will be totally unified under Christ. - John MacArthur

In Him, we also have been made an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, to the end that we who first have hoped in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. - Ephesians 1:11-12 (LSB)

Christ is the source of the believers divine inheritance, which is so certain that it is spoken of as if it has already been received. When God created the world, He gave it sufficient energy to begin immediately to operate as He had planned. It was not simply ready to function, but was created functioning. As God works out His plan according to "the counsel of His will," He energizes every believer with the power necessary for his spiritual completion. - John MacArthur

In Him, you also, after listening to the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, unto the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. - Ephesians 1:13-14 (LSB)

God's own Spirit comes to indwelling the believer and secures and preserves his eternal salvation. The sealing of which Paul speaks refers to an official mark of identification placed on a letter, contract, or other document. That document was thereby officially under the authority of the person whose stamp was on the seal. Four primary truths are signified by the seal; security, authenticity, ownership, authority. The Holy Spirit is given by God as His pledge of the believer's future inheritance in glory. - John MacArthur

Be Encouraged to know that as believers, God has made us His children in the image of His divine Son, Jesus Christ.



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