The will of God is that all Christians be holy

Dear Son,

I’d like to share with you a homily found in my Church Bulletin. This homily is on the will of God that all Christians should be holy. Ephesians 1:4 says, ‘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’

The one Church teaches and demonstrates that there was first a plan for the world, and that it was then created. This plan was in the wisdom and will and power of God. And we Christians, as the Church of God, are part of this plan. God chose us, in accordance with His plan, ‘before the foundation of the world’, for holiness and righteousness in love, God called us beforehand and adopted us in Him – in whom? In the Lord Jesus Christ. For, all that we are to God we are in the Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ, man has no link, no relationship, no kinship with God, and our choosing and adoption, then, is in our Lord Jesus Christ. He chose us to be His Holy Church ‘according to the good pleasure of His will’, as Israel was aforetime chosen from among all the nations on earth. Let no one say: “This choice of God’s destroys man’s free will, so that neither will Christians be rewarded for being Christian nor pagans condemned for being pagan.” No; this is an utterly mistaken interpretation, for God chose Israel aforetime, and some Israelites perished and others were saved. He has also chosen His holy Church, calling all men and nations to Himself. But who among those called will be saved does not depend upon God’s choice but on man’s will and striving.

Pray with me: O eternal God, our Creator, who didst choose us for salvation before creating us; have mercy on us and save us. To thee be glory and praise forever. Amen

Love,

Dad