The Deep Comfort of Difficult Doctrines

Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1:4-6

To some Christians’ surprise, Paul clearly and unashamedly teaches the doctrines of election (“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”) and predestination (“In love He predestined us for adoption”) here in Ephesians 1. Though the scriptural “evidence” for these doctrines abounds, some Christians—and scores of non-Christians—refuse to accept that God “works” like this. There is neither time nor space in this brief devotional to answer all objections. But whenever a large portion of people reject or disregard a doctrine clearly taught in Scripture, we should ask, “Why?”

So why do so many people have a problem with election and predestination? The idea that God in His sovereign grace chooses a people for Himself and predestines them to be His children offends our pride. We think too much of ourselves and too little of our sin. We think too much of our ability and too little of God’s holiness. We desperately want to believe that something as important as salvation ultimately depends on us and that we have something meaningful to contribute. As much as we may like the song, our hearts rebel against the confession: “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” We’d like to think that salvation depends on our will and is for our glory, but if we read Ephesians 1 closely, we see that Paul repeatedly emphasizes that salvation is according to God’s will and for His glory.

May we reason together for a moment? Paul shares this controversial doctrine in the context of what Sinclair Ferguson calls “one of the most amazing sentences ever penned in any language”. Paul is so overwhelmed with God’s grace to us in Jesus Christ that he seems to forget his grammar rules as he layers phrase upon glorious phrase about the amazing privileges we have in Christ. English teachers may not approve of such a run-on sentence, but Paul’s intention is clear: he is seeking to encourage and comfort the church with the message of God’s gracious choice and loving adoption. If Paul wants us to be encouraged and comforted, why are we not? Charles Spurgeon articulates the humble gratitude that should fill our hearts when we consider these great doctrines. Spurgeon writes:

I believe in the doctrine of election, because I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never have chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards; and He must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why He should have looked upon me with special love.

What would cause Spurgeon and others to cherish these doctrines? Some of us have heard stories of women who have been rescued from the nightmare of human trafficking. These women feel so ashamed, dirty, and worthless. When they hear the good news of God’s love for them and what Jesus Christ did for them, they cannot accept it. Their first thought is, “There’s no way that God could love someone as dirty as me.” Can we guess what teaching is the key that unlocks the door of their hearts? The very doctrines that so many of us find offensive and unbelievable! This example may seem extreme, but can’t we all relate to the sentiment: “How could God ever love me after what I’ve done or what has been done to me?” If that question rings true, lean in and hear what God the Father would say to all of His children who need to be rescued from the nightmare of sin.

I loved you before you ever did any of that, before any of that was ever done to you. I chose you in Christ before the foundation of the world that you should be holy and blameless before Him. In love I predestined you for adoption to Myself as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of My will, to the praise of My glorious grace, with which I have blessed you in the Beloved.

Brothers and sisters, what if these doctrines that most disturb us are, in God’s wisdom, our greatest source of comfort? May the Lord give us grace to take Him at His word and to rest in His love.