Every discipline is built upon foundational principles. These provide a platform for further study and understanding. These are the 101 courses at college. We usually refer to them as the basics. We like these because they are the easiest courses.

Theology is no different. There are some basic, foundational principles that God wants us to build upon concerning our salvation. Therefore, when we read the Bible, we are to take those passages that are the easiest to understand, and build upon them. Ephesians 1:4 is one of those simple passages. It is written on about a 6^th grade level. Unless someone has been tainted with false doctrine, it is easy to understand. It says what it means, and means what it says.

When we read Ephesians 1:4 we discover a very basic and simple truth: our salvation did not begin with us. That is where many err. According to 101, it began on a higher, firmer platform. It began before there was a beginning. Our foundational platform must begin where God began it all, in the mind and heart of a loving Father before we were created. That is a firm foundation!

Let’s build upon that foundation. There was God. But there was no earth; there were no people; there was no universe; there was no church; there was no Bible; there were no preachers; there were no evangelists; there were no missionaries. Yet, even then, theology 101 declares that God chose His people in Christ, “before the foundation of the world.” Historical Christianity has always referred to that as free and sovereign grace.

This little 101 also tells us why God chose His people. It was not because of what they did, nor what He would see them do. According to God, there were “none good, no not one”, and, “Every man, at his best state, is altogether vanity”. So we understand that He chose them in spite of what He would see them do. This humbles us, and makes us wonder why He would choose any!

This takes us to a higher discipline concerning why God chose “us in him”. Again, a simple, basic truth: He chose them because he loved them: “in love.” What better reason would we desire? God’s love is greater than a mother’s love. It is everlasting. When we mess up, He still loves us.

All of this being true, we may draw some logical conclusions: 1. Jesus has always known who would live with Him in heaven; 2. He knows how many will live with Him; and

3. Not one can possibly be lost from that number! My, what security is found in 101!

Finally, you will notice that His choice included a promise of redemption: He chose them to make them “holy and without blame”. That means that He chose them to make them holy. Did God fail at this? Certainly not! Christ accomplished this upon the cross at Calvary. That was a premeditated, and predetermined act of a sovereign God to redeem those that He chose, and loved. This is a simple course, indeed.

Everything else that we believe concerning Christ, and our salvation, must be built upon this 101. If we do not understand 101, we will become very confused when we sign up for the 200, 300, and 400 courses.