Ephesians 1:3-5

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Ephesians 1:3-5).

Question:

In the commentary in the Life application study Bible, it says for verse four (in part), “We are not saved because we deserve it, but because God is gracious and freely gives salvation.” And later in the same commentary, it says this: “God chose us, and when we belong to him through Jesus Christ, God looks at us as if we have never sinned.” Verse five talks about us being '”predestined” for adoption into sonship, but later in that commentary for verse five, it asks: “Have you entered into this loving relationship with God?”

It seems to me the commentary is saying two different things—first that God gives us salvation, graciously and freely, and then in verse five’s commentary, there is a qualification to receive it. I looked up these verses because of an email message from the Hour of Power, which quoted them.

Am I reading and interpreting the verses and commentary correctly? I would like to know your interpretation of these verses.

I do enjoy and learn from your podcasts. Thank you for doing them and everything else you do for Unity.

Comment:

The idea that these verses are about ‘salvation’ is strictly a matter of traditional interpretation. As I read it, Paul is not discussing salvation at all, so a question of whether we are chosen for it or have to earn it misses the point. The author is describing the truth of who we are—expressions of God as the Christ, just as Jesus Christ both taught and demonstrated in his earthly ministry. This is our true identity “in the heavenly places” of the spiritual realm from which we came into this human experience, and to which we return. We are, in spirit, fully One with God. So we are “holy and blameless” because it is impossible that God could be anything but. Our intended destiny is to realize our spiritual identity while still here in human form, as Jesus did, so that we can make the creative choices that will bring the kingdom of heaven into expression as a state of elevated spiritual consciousness.

Thanks for your question—and for the kind words!

Blessings!

Rev. Ed