Why we are in this World?
In John 15:16 Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” Ephesians 1:4 says, “He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” First Peter 2:9 says, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” It is undeniable that God has chosen those who are believers in Jesus. But why? Is there something special about me that led God to choose me? The short answer is, no, God did not choose us because of anything inherent in ourselves. He chose us out of His love and mercy, and for His glory.
Ephesians 1 goes on to say, “In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (verses 5–6). We see that God’s choosing of us is linked to His love. God’s choice is something that gives Him pleasure and brings Him praise. God’s choosing of us highlights His gracious character, not our merit. As we know from Ephesians 2:8–9, we are not saved because of our good works but solely because of God’s grace. We are all sinners who fail to measure up to God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Apart from Jesus all deserve death (Romans 6:23). But in Jesus, we can have life. It is not because of who we are that God chooses us but because of who He is. As 1 Peter 2:9 indicates, the proper response to being chosen by God is to declare God’s praise and give Him worship.
God also chose us so that we could join in His work in the world. Ephesians 2:10 says God has prepared good works in advance for us to do. Jesus spoke of His followers’ bearing fruit that would last. Ephesians 1:4 links the election to be holy and blameless in God’s sight. God chose us because He has a purpose in mind for our lives.
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