Ephesians 1:4

“According as he hath chosen us in him, &c.] This choice cannot be understood of a national one, as Israel of old were chosen by the Lord; for the persons the apostle writes to were not a nation; nor does he address all the inhabitants of Ephesus, only the saints and faithful in Christ that resided there; nor are they all intended here, if any of them. However, not they only, since the apostle includes himself, and perhaps some others, who did not belong to that place, nor were of that country: nor does this choice regard them as a church; for though the saints at Ephesus were in a church state, yet the apostle does not write to them under that formal consideration, but as saints and…”

“hath chosen us--Greek, "chose us out for Himself" (namely, out of the world, Gal 1:4): referring to His original choice, spoken of as past. in him--The repetition of the idea, "in Christ" (Eph 1:3), implies the paramount importance of the truth that it is in Him, and by virtue of union to Him, the Second Adam, the Restorer ordained for us from everlasting, the Head of redeemed humanity, believers have all their blessings (Eph 3:11). before the foundation of the world--This assumes the eternity of the Son of God (Joh 17:5, Joh 17:24), as of the election of believers in Him (Ti2 1:9; Th2 2:13). that we should be holy--positively (Deu 14:2). without blame--negatively (Eph 5:27; Th1 3:13).…”

“According as - The importance of this verse will render proper a somewhat minute examination of the words and phrases of which it is composed. The general sense of the passage is, that these blessings pertaining to heaven were bestowed upon Christians in accordance with an eternal purpose. They were not conferred by chance or hap-hazard. They were the result of intention and design on the part of God. Their value was greatly enhanced from the fact that God had designed from all eternity to bestow them, and that they come to us as the result of his everlasting plan. It was not a recent plan; it was not an afterthought; it was not by mere chance; it was not by caprice; it was the fruit of an…”

“As he hath chosen us - Both Jews and gentiles, whom he foreknew as believing in Christ, Pe1 1:2. Ephesians 1:5”

“1:4 God’s people are holy and without fault in his eyes because they trust in Christ’s atoning sacrifice for their sins (see 1:7; 5:25-27; Col 1:22; Titus 3:5-7; Jude 1:24).”

“as: Deu 7:6, Deu 7:7; Psa 135:4; Isa 41:8, Isa 41:9, Isa 42:1, Isa 65:8-10; Mat 11:25, Mat 11:26, Mat 24:22, Mat 24:24; Mat 24:31; Joh 10:16; Act 13:48, Act 18:10; Rom 8:28, Rom 8:30, Rom 8:33, Rom 9:23, Rom 9:24, Rom 11:5, Rom 11:6; Th2 2:13, Th2 2:14; Ti2 2:10; Tit 1:1, Tit 1:2; Jam 2:5; Pe1 1:2, Pe1 2:9 before: Mat 25:34; Joh 17:24; Act 15:18; Pe1 1:20; Rev 13:8, Rev 17:8 that: Eph 2:10; Luk 1:74, Luk 1:75; Joh 15:16; Rom 8:28, Rom 8:29; Col 3:12; Th1 4:7; Ti2 1:9; Ti2 2:19; Tit 2:11, Tit 2:12; Pe2 1:5-10 without: Eph 5:27; Co1 1:8; Phi 2:15; Col 1:22; Pe2 3:14 love: Eph 3:17, Eph 4:2, Eph 4:15, Eph 4:16, Eph 5:2; Gal 5:6, Gal 5:13, Gal 5:22; Col 2:2; Th1 3:12; Jo1 4:16 Ephesians 1:5”