"just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will...also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will." (Ephesians 1:4-5; 11)
The verses in question do not say anything about God choosing before the creation of the world which individuals will be saved. In fact, Ephesians 1:1-13 does not even mention anything about the unrepentant and the unbelieving, nor an irresistible calling of the human will. Ephesians 1 discusses God predetermining the plan of salvation and how those who get saved will serve Him. It is not speaking of the issue of unconditional election.
Ephesians 1 concerns predestination for blessings, not who will specifically be recipients of salvation. It concerns what happens to those who get saved. Those who are faithful to God have been predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. We are included in Him the moment we believe from the heart the message of the gospel (Ephesians 1:13). We were not predestined to be in Christ, but are predestined "in Him." Election is conditioned on faith.
Calvinists misunderstand Scripture due to having a confirmation bias. They take out of context words such as elected, predestined, foreknew, and before the foundation of the world to fit their deterministic theological paradigm. Thus, Calvinists altogether miss the point of Ephesians 1:1-13. If our eternal destinies have already been determined by God since the beginning of time, then why would the Apostle Paul pray for the salvation of all people (1 Timothy 2:1-2)? How is it possible for people to harden their own hearts against God (Psalm 95:8)? Why should Christians even be concerned about the loss of heavenly rewards (1 Corinthians 3:15; 2 John 8-9)?
Calvinists misunderstand Scripture due to having a confirmation bias. They take out of context words such as elected, predestined, foreknew, and before the foundation of the world to fit their deterministic theological paradigm. Thus, Calvinists altogether miss the point of Ephesians 1:1-13. If our eternal destinies have already been determined by God since the beginning of time, then why would the Apostle Paul pray for the salvation of all people (1 Timothy 2:1-2)? How is it possible for people to harden their own hearts against God (Psalm 95:8)? Why should Christians even be concerned about the loss of heavenly rewards (1 Corinthians 3:15; 2 John 8-9)?
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