Ephesians 1:11

"In Him" (Ephesians 1:10) probably begins the thought continued in this verse, as the NIV indicates.

For the first time in this epistle Paul made a distinction among believers. Until now he spoke of all believers, but here he contrasted "we" and "you" (Ephesians 1:13). The "we" evidently refers to Jewish Christians and the "you" to Gentile believers, as the context suggests (Ephesians 1:12-13). Note the presence of "also" in both Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 1:13 that provides continuity as well as marking discontinuity.

Some translators who rendered the Greek word eklerothemen "obtained an inheritance" (NASB) introduced the idea of the believer’s inheritance. The word really means "chosen" (NIV, lit. appointed or obtained by lot). God has chosen Jewish believers for salvation because He predestined them to have a part in His sovereign plan. Paul would say later that God’s plan for the present involves the church, which consists of both Jewish and Gentile believers (Ephesians 2:14-22). However, God chose the Jews first (cf. Acts 3:26; Romans 1:16).

This verse contains one of the strongest statements in Scripture that God is sovereign (cf. Psalms 115:3; Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 16:33; Daniel 4:34-35). God is sovereign over all things. This includes the election of some people to salvation. "Purpose" (Gr. prothesin) refers to the goal God intends to accomplish. "Counsel" (Gr. boule) refers to God’s purpose or deliberation. "Will" (Gr. thelema) denotes willingness. The idea contained in this verse is that God chose a plan after deliberating on the wisest course of action to accomplish his purpose. [Note: B. F. Westcott, Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians, p. 15; T. K. Abbott, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles to the Ephesians and to the Colossians, p. 20.]

How does God carry out His plan? He accomplishes some things directly and exclusively Himself without using other agents. He accomplishes other purposes through the agency of others, secondary causes, which include angels and humans. Unquestionably God is absolutely sovereign (i.e., the ultimate authority over all things). How He carries out His plans-working with secondary causes, giving people freedom to choose, and then justly holding them responsible for their choices-is difficult to understand and explain. [Note: See Basinger and Basinger for four explanations.] I believe the solution to this puzzle lies beyond the ability of human beings to understand and explain fully. However, Scripture clearly teaches both divine sovereignty and human responsibility. [Note: See the note in The New Scofield Reference Bible, p. 1273, for a clear, concise distinction between predestination and election. For a very helpful article on how prayer fits into the sovereign plan of God, see John Munro, "Prayer to a Sovereign God," Interest 56:2 (February 1990):20-21. See also Thomas L. Constable, Talking to God: What the Bible Teaches about Prayer, pp. 149-52.]