Ephesians 1
4 According as he
hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be
holy and without blame before him in love.
All their names were
written in the Lamb's Book of Life from before the foundation of the world.
Of the elect of God,
there are those
- who are not yet
conceived; they don't have personal existence even though they exist in the
mind and purpose of God.
- who are conceived
but not yet born; they have personal existence and can be effectually called to
grace and salvation in Jesus Christ.
- who are born but
not yet effectually called by God.
- who are born and
are effectually called: the effectually called are immutably called to grace
and salvation in Jesus Christ in exactly the same manner, to exactly the same
extent, on exactly the same basis, unto exactly the same blessings; it's solely
and wholly by Divine activities ALONE. Every elect shall be effectually called
by God at God's approved and appointed time between his conception and death.
The effectual call to grace and salvation in Jesus Christ made an elect
completely fitted for eternal glory. The effectually called are Justified, Regenerated, and Adopted; thus, they are God's children.
- who are
effectually called by God but not yet CONVERTED to Christ through the ministry
of the word.
- who are
effectually called and are also CONVERTED to Christ. These are disciples who
have professed Christ through water baptism. These are Christians and disciples.
- those that are
converted are converted to vastly different degrees/extents... because of many
human factors, within and without. There are good disciples and there are bad
disciples and multitudes in between. This conversion is ongoing throughout a
disciple's life.
- who have lived,
died, and passed on from this life into the intermediate state, waiting for
their resurrection and entrance into their eternal inheritance of bliss. Some
have been resurrected in the first resurrection, Mt 27:52-53.
1Peter 1 KJT
3 Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath
begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead,
4 To an inheritance
incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for
you,
5 Who are kept by
the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time.
