4 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,
before the foundation of the world [cosmos],
God chose or elected us “in Him” before the creation of the world, in eternity. Christ is the eternal underpinning of our status before God. That is, He guarantees our salvation from eternity.
Jn 17: 24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
2 Th 2: 13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,
1 Pe 1: 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
2 Ti 1: 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
No individual had a part in planning the concept of salvation. That was wholly God’s prerogative. God chose the kind of salvation He was to offer; we cannot create our own system of salvation.
PRINCIPLE:
God chose us in the sphere of Christ before creation.
APPLICATION:
Salvation comes to the believer when he trusts Jesus’ death for his salvation (1:13; 2 Th 2:13; 2 Tm 1:9). However, the onus of our salvation falls on God (Eph 2:8-9). See my studies on Romans 8:28-29 for a more detailed study of this doctrine:
http://www.versebyversecommentary.com/romans/romans-828/
