Ephesians 1:4 is one of the most discussed verses in the New Testament, and often one of the most misinterpreted. Paul writes, “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” Many use this verse to argue that God predestined certain individuals for salvation and left others to damnation. But a closer look at the context, language, and cross-references shows that Paul is not speaking of individual election, but of God’s eternal purpose in Christ… that all who are in Him would be the chosen people of God.
The Foundation of the World
Paul says we were chosen “before the foundation of the world.” This phrase points us to God’s eternal plan of redemption, not to the pre-selection of individuals. Scripture shows us that Jesus Himself was central to God’s plan from the very beginning.
“The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8)
Before Adam sinned, before man ever drew breath, God’s plan of redemption was already settled in Christ. The phrase “before the foundation of the world” reminds us that salvation was never an afterthought or Plan B, it was determined in Christ before time began.
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” (1 Peter 1:19–20)
Notice, it is Christ who was foreordained, and therefore, all who are in Him are included in that eternal plan. The choice was not about individuals being selected arbitrarily, but about Christ being chosen as the Redeemer. God’s electing purpose is centered in His Son.
The Phrase “In Him”
The key to interpreting this verse rightly lies in the phrase “in Him.” Throughout Ephesians 1, Paul repeats this phrase or variations of it (“in Christ,” “in the Beloved”) again and again (Ephesians 1:3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13). Everything God has purposed is tied to being in Christ.
To be “in Him” means to be united with Christ by faith. It is covenantal language… those who are in Christ share in all the blessings God purposed for His Son. God chose Christ before the foundation of the world, and therefore He chose all who would be in Him.
Paul expands on this idea elsewhere:
“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Election, then, is not about God picking certain individuals and rejecting others, but about God choosing Christ, and all who are joined to Him by faith are counted among the chosen. The scope is universal and anyone may enter into Christ through faith.
Chosen for What? The Purpose of Election
Paul does not leave us guessing about the purpose of being chosen. He writes:
“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” (Ephesians 1:4)
Look very carefully… the purpose of this choosing is not about who gets saved and who doesn’t. The text itself says the purpose is holiness. God’s choice was that all who are in Christ would be set apart, cleansed, and made holy before Him. Election is not about choosing who comes to Christ, but about what God has planned for those who do.
This same truth is echoed throughout Scripture.
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.” (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.” (Romans 8:29)
In both cases, the emphasis is on the purpose of God’s choosing: holiness, sanctification, and transformation into the likeness of Christ. God did not arbitrarily choose some individuals for salvation and reject others. Instead, He predetermined that all who are in Christ would be conformed to His image.
Israel as an Example of Corporate Election
To understand Paul’s meaning, we must also remember how election functioned in the Old Testament. Israel was God’s chosen nation, yet not every Israelite walked faithfully with Him. God’s choice of Israel was corporate. He chose the nation as a whole to be His covenant people. Individuals within Israel still had to believe and obey to enjoy the blessings of that election.
“You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (Amos 3:2)
God’s election of Israel was about privilege and purpose, not automatic salvation. In the same way, being “chosen in Him” is corporate. God chose Christ, and in choosing Christ, He chose all who would be in Him by faith. Salvation is available to all, but it is only enjoyed by those who enter into Christ.
In Summary: Refuting the Calvinist Interpretation
Calvinists often point to Ephesians 1:4 as a cornerstone for the doctrine of unconditional election… the belief that God, before the foundation of the world, chose certain individuals for salvation and passed over others. But this interpretation does not hold up when we examine the text carefully.
The Choice is in Christ, Not Apart From Him
Paul is not saying that individuals were chosen to be saved before they were born. He is saying that God chose us in Him. Christ is the Chosen One, and God’s choice was that all who are united with Him by faith would share in His blessings. This is why Paul repeats “in Him,” “in Christ,” or “in the Beloved” over and over in this chapter (Ephesians 1:3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13). The focus is not on individuals being picked in eternity past, but on the corporate body that exists in Christ.
“Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” (2 Timothy 2:10)
Here Paul shows clearly that the elect still must obtain salvation. Election is in Christ, not in individual pre-selection.
The Purpose is Holiness, Not Eternal Destiny
The verse itself tells us the purpose of election: “that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” If Paul meant that election was about who gets saved, he would have said so. Instead, he speaks of sanctification, which is God’s plan for all believers to be conformed to Christ.
“For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” (1 Thessalonians 4:7)
Corporate Election Mirrors Israel’s Example
Just as Israel was chosen as a nation but individuals within Israel had to respond in faith, so it is with the church. God chose Christ and therefore all who are in Him. The invitation is universal in that “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). But the blessings of election are only realized by those who enter into Christ by faith.
Calvinism Ignores God’s Universal Desire for Salvation
Calvinism must redefine or ignore verses where God declares His desire for all people to be saved.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3–4)
If God truly desired only some to be saved, these verses would be meaningless. Instead, they affirm that His election is corporate and Christ-centered: He chose Christ, and He desires all to enter into Him by faith.
My Final Thoughts
Ephesians 1:4 is not a verse about God arbitrarily selecting individuals for salvation while excluding others. It is a verse about God’s eternal plan in Christ. Before the foundation of the world, God chose His Son as Redeemer, the Lamb slain from the beginning, and in choosing Christ, He chose that all who are in Him would share in His blessings.
The phrase “in Him” is the key. Our election is not individualistic; it is corporate. God’s choice is Christ, and all who believe and enter into Him by faith are counted among the chosen. The purpose of this election is not about who goes to heaven and who goes to hell, but that those in Christ would be holy, blameless, and conformed to His image.
Far from teaching Calvinistic determinism, this passage magnifies the grace of God. Salvation is offered freely to all, but only those who are in Christ enjoy its benefits. Jesus is the center of God’s plan, and He invites all to come to Him. Our confidence is not that we were selected while others were rejected, but that in Christ we are secure, holy, and loved. We are a people who have elected to be set aside and bring glory to His name.
