Did God choose us or do we choose him?

In this article I wish to examine the first half of Ephesians 1:4 

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:

What does it mean that God has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world? It can’t mean that some are destined to heaven and others are destined to hell and there’s nothing we can do to change our destiny. That would negate free-will.

2 Thess. 2

13 …God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel…

This scripture reminded me of the parable about the king who arranged a wedding for his son.

Matthew 22

2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Remember back in 2 Thess. 2:14 he called you by our gospel?

The gospel is what calls everyone to the wedding.

Titus 2:11

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men

So many are called but few are chosen. What does it take to be chosen?

Now, if we consider the parable in Matthew 22 we see that to be CHOSEN a person must put on the wedding garment that was provided for them.

There was an oriental custom in bible times times, that if someone was invited to a wedding they’d be provided with a garment to wear.

The wedding garment is a “free gift” but to be CHOSEN one has to put it on.

Back in Ephesians 1:4 it says

…chosen us in him before the foundation of the world

This garment was provided before the foundation of the world.

Revelation 13:8 …lamb slain before the foundation of the world

It is the blood of Jesus that washes our garments white as snow making them robes of righteousness. 

Not that Christ’s righteousness is imputed or magically transferred to us but his blood represents his Spirit and living in the Spirit means DOING righteousness from a pure heart.

1 John 3:7 …he that doeth righteousness is righteous…

Rev. 19

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Again we’re talking about a wedding like in the parable of Matthew 22

Ephesians 5

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Jesus, by his Word and Spirit cleansed the church before presenting her to himself for marriage. She had to be without spot, wrinkle or blemish for him to marry her.

Hebrews 10

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Before we can enter the holiest, that is, a covenant relationship with God through the Spirit we FIRST must be “sprinkled” with the blood and washed clean by the Word.

Therefore many are called to the wedding but few are chosen, meaning few put on the wedding garment that was provided for them, washed clean by the blood.

Basically God chooses those who choose him. Therefore being chosen by God before the foundation of the world does not negate free-will.