Featured Ephesians 1 Verses 1-5

Sorry, but no. The OP presents an invalid argument for the truth that Ephesians 1:4 does not refer to our individual election to salvation.
1) God chose us - God chose those alive and reading this letter in the present - thus individuals that had been placed in Christ in their present lifetime

2) in Him - God chose the Second Person of the Trinity to be His Redeemer and consequently chose corporately those His Redeemer would redeem,

3) The individual choice of Christ and the corporate choice of redemption occurred before creation.

4) Judas was not elected to salvation but was elected to fulfill the "betrayer" prophecy.

5) God's plan of redemption included making holy and blameless all those redeemed with the blood of the Lamb.

6) God's plan of redemption included the promise of bodily redemption, and God's pledge for this promise is our indwelt Spirit.

7) Yes the promise of bodily redemption is only made after our faith is credited as righteousness

 

Not for Calvinism or Arminianism because both believe individuals are chosen for salvation before creation, but that view is precluded by scripture.

I do believe, however, that individuals are chosen for salvation through faith in the truth, during their lifetime, after they were once not a people (chosen by God to be His possession.) 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 2:9-10.

 

Here are the references that fit with predestination and being chosen. There are more
arguments based upon various passages, but hopefully this suffices as a start for you.
Predestined:
Romans 8:29
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his
Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Romans 8:30
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also
justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Ephesians 1: 3-6
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In
love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the
purpose of his will, 6
to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us
in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:11-12
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the
purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,12 so that we
who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
Chosen
Old Testament
Genesis 18:19
19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after
him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that
the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”
Deuteronomy 7:6 & 14:2
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to
be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of
the earth.
1 Samuel 10:24
And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There
is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”
(Referring to God’s choice of David.)
Psalm 33:12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his
heritage!
Psalm 105:6
O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!
Psalm 105:26
He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
Psalm 105:43
So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.
Psalm 106:23
Therefore he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in
the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.
Isaiah 41:8-9
But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my
friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off.”
Isaiah 42:1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put
my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
Isaiah 43:10
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that
you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was
formed, nor shall there be any after me.

 

continued...
Isaiah 44:2
Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you:
Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
Isaiah 65:9
I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah possessors of my mountains;
my chosen shall possess it, and my servants shall dwell there.
Haggai 2:23
On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the
son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I
have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”
Zechariah 3:2
And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who
has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”
New Testament
Matthew 22:13-14
Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the
outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many
are called, but few are chosen.”
John 13:18
I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be
fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’
Acts 9:15
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name
before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.
Acts 10:39-41
And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in
Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him
on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been
chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Romans 1:1
This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and
sent out to preach his Good News.
Romans 11:5
So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
1 Corinthians 1:1-2
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and
from our brother Sosthenes. 2
I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have
been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ
Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, their Lord and ours.
2 Corinthians 1:1
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and
from our brother Timothy.
Ephesians 1:1
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am
writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:1
This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God’s
holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons.
(Holy means “set-apart”)
Colossians 1:1-2
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and
from our brother Timothy. 2 We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse,
who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.
Colossians 3:12-13
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has
a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you
also must forgive.
1 Thessalonians 1:1
This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

....continued...
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel
came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with
full conviction.
1 Timothy 1:1
This letter is from Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, appointed by the command of God
our Savior and Christ Jesus, who gives us hope.
2 Timothy 1:1
This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I
have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ
Jesus.
Titus 1:1-2
This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent
to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that
shows them how to live godly lives. 2 This truth gives them confidence that they have
eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.
James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be
rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
1 Peter 1:1-2
This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God’s chosen people
who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and
Bithynia. 2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made
you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of
Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:1-2
This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you
who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the
justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. 2 May God give you more and
more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
1 Peter 2:4-5
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and
precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to
be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own
possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of
darkness into his marvelous light.
Jude 1:1
This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to
all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the
care of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 17:14
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of
lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
Romans 9:15-26
For God said to Moses,
“I will show mercy to anyone I choose,
and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”
16So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.
17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very
purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the
earth.” 18So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden
the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.
19 Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t
they simply done what he makes them do?”
20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the
thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like
this?” 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same
lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 22
In the
same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very
patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. 23 He does
this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows
mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. 24And we are among those whom he
selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles.
25 Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea,
“Those who were not my people,
I will now call my people.
And I will love those
whom I did not love before.”
26And,
“Then, at the place where they were told,
‘You are not my people,’
there they will be called
‘children of the living God.’”
Jesus words:
John 6:36-40
35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry
again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36But you haven’t believed in me
even though you have seen me. 37 However, those the Father has given me will come to
me, and I will never reject them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of
God who sent me, not to do my own will.39And this is the will of God, that I should not
lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last
day. 40 For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have
eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”

 

Ephesians 1:4, ". . . he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, . . ."

 

God is omnipresent, therefore in time too. Pslams 90:2, ". . . from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."
Ephesians 1:4, ". . . he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, . . ." Before the creation of mankind.

 

Ephesians 1:4, ". . . he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, . . ."
1 Peter 1:2, ". . . Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, . . ."

 

That word "elect" is in Peter 1:1-2 context. "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect . . . ."

 

I agree.
To me it's also understood here that Paul is telling them things that the Lord wants them to know...

For example, why they believed on Christ and were sealed by the Spirit ( Ephesians 1:13-14 ), which is why they are being told the additional information about their being chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, predestinated to their adoption as children and so forth.