After looking briefly at the use of “Predestinated,” in the last two articles; we will now have a look at “Chosen,” which is also based mainly on Ephesians 1:1-5, specifically verse 4.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 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:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

First, a reminder that only God’s word is authoritative for us as believers and not the teachings of men. Although we can learn many things from the teachings of biblical scholars, we must always test these things against the Holy Scriptures, Acts 17:11.

That means you must especially test the things I have written here.

Ok, verse 3 says that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. These heavenly blessings are for those in Christ; meaning believers. So, the following verses then lists the blessings that we as believers have inherited. It is important to understand that inheritance, although guaranteed is not always received until a certain point in time.

I Peter 1:3,4 states: 13 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 14 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

Ephesians 1:4 is the major text for believing that we are chosen or predestined to salvation as taught by Calvinism. However, looking at the verse itself in the context of the passage; it does not support this teaching. 

Verse 4 is the first of the spiritual blessings listed, that we as believers receive; and that God has prepared these spiritual blessings from before the foundation of the world for those who are in Christ. Those who have been saved by the gospel of Jesus Christ; hence the “in Christ,” in the text.

In verse four we have been chosen for what? Salvation? No, the text says that we have been chosen to be holy (separated unto God), and to be without blame before him in love. In other words, we have been chosen for a purpose; to be holy and blameless before Him in love. Nowhere in the text does it refer to being chosen for salvation. The message here is for believers, the ones already saved. The one writing is the Apostle Paul and he is writing to believers.

In Matthew 12:18 the word chosen is used of Jesus the Messiah. Is Jesus chosen for salvation? No, He is chosen to fulfil a purpose; to show judgment to the Gentiles. Jesus having to be saved is a teaching among the prosperity preachers so popular on TV. 

Israel is called God’s elect and chosen people, but is every Israelite saved, no, Israel was elected and chosen for a purpose. It is through them that the Messiah would come and that the Abrahamic covenant ensures that all the families of the earth would be blessed, Genesis 12:1-3.

If you do a search for the words chosen or elect, you will find that in the context of each passage where the words are used, it is in reference to service or spiritual blessing, or used of the best “choice,” of soldiers or of things but never for salvation.

In conclusion, the Bible does not support the definition of Elect, Chosen and Predestined to mean, unto salvation. A proper exegesis of the texts does not agree with the Augustinian definition of these words but the actual meaning is that we are elect chosen for a purpose, for service as believers in Christ Jesus and we have been predestined to receive spiritual blessings in the heavenly places. These blessings we will receive at the resurrection/translation during the rapture which is also the adoption as mentioned in Romans 8.