Ephesians 1:4: Holy and Blameless

Ephesians 1:4

[4] even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love (ESV)

We have already considered how amazing it is that before God established the universe and spoke it into existence by his powerful word he chose us.  We were chosen in him before the foundation of the world.  But, let's consider another amazing aspect of the Creator's choosing. He also chose that we should be holy and blameless before him.

Now, let me ask you.  Do you perceive yourself as holy and blameless?  Wouldn't that be the height of arrogance?  In fact, wouldn't it also contradict a doctrine of mankind's depravity? Yet, we were chosen to be holy and blameless. 

There is another choice that we must mention.  It also happened before the creation of the universe.  God the Father chose for the Son to be killed for the sin of mankind.  God knew that if he was going to choose us to be holy and blameless, he would also have to provide the means for that to happen.  Could we be holy and blameless in our own efforts, or by our own nature? No!  And so, before the world begins, we are chosen, and so is our means of salvation, namely Jesus Christ.

Revelation 13:8
[8] and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. (ESV)

That Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world is Jesus Christ.  Friend, you can spend your whole life trying to be holy and blameless.  It will be the grandest exercise in foolishness.  I encourage you to surrender your will to the one who was slain before the foundation of the world to provide for your new holy and blameless nature. Holiness and being without blame is a gift given to us by God, through faith in Jesus Christ.  There is no other way.

Do you grasp the magnitude of God's choices?  Are you in awe of the fact that he chose you? Chose you to be holy and blameless? And chose Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice to make this happen?  How will these wonderful truths influence your choices today?