Here is the first chapter of Ephesians Paul's writings have been used to further the idea that some people are chosen and some are not, also know as predestination. As we read through the rest of Ephesians it will be easy to see this is not what Paul intended, but it will be easy to see that being chosen is part of the equation.
The challenge is found within our North American context. We think if we are chosen, someone else must be not chosen. It is the competitive nature which is deep within our American ethos. When the word chosen is used by Paul however the meaning is much more broad than we often understand. All of humanity has been chosen. Each person has been selected by God to be a part of the Kingdom of God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. While all are chosen by God, not all choose to follow God.
The way we chose to follow God is through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to accept being chosen by God. If we reject Jesus, we reject the fact that we are a chosen people. In fact the evidence of our chosenness is found in the fact that God sent Jesus to rescue us all.
You are chosen, have you chosen the One who chose you?
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