BBC: Ephesians 1:4-5

Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will - Ephesians 1:4-5

The blessing from the Spirit (Eph 1:3) is not vastly different from the “laying aside/setting apart”, the literal meaning of the Greek, of God’s saints. This election is found in Christ from the foundation pouring of creation. Christ is also the foundation of the church (Eph 2:20).

The demand for holiness here is nothing different from the saintliness by which the church is called (Eph 1:1). The major difference then is the conclusion of this holiness is eschatological preceding and concluding. This is the adoption of sons for which we still wait patiently (Rom 8:23). This is the church presented without blemish for the marriage supper of the lamb (Eph 5:27).

Christ’s purpose for the church is purification and presentation. Those saints who refuse the former will not participate in the later. In the sister letter of this epistle, Paul writes similar words to the church a Colossi only to provide the warning “if you continue in the faith” (Col 1:22-23).