Ephesians 1:5

‘Having foreordained us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.'

He has not only chosen us but ‘decided on us beforehand', ‘marked us out beforehand' (pro-orizo) for a special purpose, that we might be adopted as His sons. Yet this is not because of our deserving but ‘through Jesus Christ' and in accordance with His own pleasure and will. It was by His own will that He chose us, and of His own will that He begat us by the word of truth (James 1:18). Thus our being saved is not of our own merit but in accordance with the gracious will of God.

When God marked us out it was not because of anything special that He saw in us, but because in His eternal purpose He loved us (Jeremiah 31:3; Deuteronomy 7:6; Isaiah 43:4; Malachi 1:2; Romans 9:11; Romans 9:23). And He thus purposed beforehand to adopt us as sons, putting the Spirit of His Son into our hearts so that we cry ‘Abba, Father' (Galatians 4:5; Romans 8:15), which will result in the final adoption, the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23). It is not just as servants that He purposed to bless us but as those who were to be His sons.

‘According to the good pleasure of His will.' And all this is in accordance with the good pleasure of His will. Compare Romans 8:4 ‘in love', Romans 8:7 ‘according to the riches of His grace', Romans 8:9 ‘according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him', Romans 8:11 ‘according to the purpose of Him Who works all things after the counsel of His own will'. All that comes to us was and is in His good purpose, in accordance with His good pleasure and wisdom, because of the greatness of His love for His ‘intended'. God cannot be thwarted, nor is He coerced. He carries out His purpose and will throughout the ages without fear or favour.

And fore-ordination guarantees fulfilment. Those whom the Father gives to Him will come to Him (John 6:37; John 6:39; John 6:44; John 10:28) and of all who are given to Jesus Christ in the purpose and will of God not one will be lost, for they are guarded and kept by Him (John 17:12). (The exception proves the rule!)