Neville Goddard on Ephesians 1:4

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard interprets Ephesians 1:4 as a statement of predestined glory for all humanity. The verse signifies a pre-cosmic choice where all individuals were selected as components of a single divine body, the 'One Man.' This being intentionally fell and fragmented into the human race. The journey through this world is a purposeful path of experience leading to the inevitable resurrection and reunification of all into the one being, God.

Key Concepts

• Pre-Cosmic Unity: Before the world existed, all of humanity was part of a single divine being, referred to as the 'One Man' or the Lord Jesus Christ.
• The Purposeful Fall: This one being deliberately fell and fragmented into the multitude of individuals who populate the world. This was not a mistake but a planned event.
• A Predestined Choice: The selection of 'us in Him' was made before the world's foundation, making our ultimate redemption an act of grace, not something to be earned through effort.
• Guaranteed Redemption: Because of this initial choice, no one will fail. Every individual will experience the resurrection and awaken as God, regardless of their actions in this life.
• The Gift of God: The purpose of this entire cosmic drama is for God to give Himself to each individual, a gift that is realized when God's Son is born from within them.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard's teaching on Ephesians 1:4 centers on the idea that humanity's destiny was sealed in an act of divine choice before creation. The phrase 'He chose us in Him' does not refer to the selection of certain individuals over others, but to the inclusion of all humanity within a single, unified divine body. This 'One Man,' who is also called the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father, contained all of us.

This unified being then underwent a deliberate 'Fall,' fragmenting into the countless individuals that comprise humanity. This was not a tragic mistake or a sin, but a purposeful descent into a 'world of horror' designed for experience. We are the fragmented pieces of that one body, sent to pass through the 'furnaces of experience' in this world of death and passion. Because we were all part of Him when He was crucified, His crucifixion was our crucifixion.

The profound implication of this pre-ordained choice is that salvation is an act of grace. Our fitness for the Kingdom of Heaven is a consequence of God's choice, not a condition we must earn through our actions or righteousness. This divine plan is infallible; no one will fail to complete the journey. Every person, regardless of their life's story, was God's Son 'before that the world was' and is destined for redemption.

The ultimate purpose of this journey from unity, through fragmentation and experience, and back to unity is for God to give the gift of Himself to each of us. This gift is fully realized when the divine story unfolds within the individual, culminating in an awakening within one's own skull. At that moment, the person knows himself to be God. In the end, all the fragmented pieces are gathered back into the one body, the one Lord, which is revealed to be the human imagination.

Important Quotes

He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.

— Who Am I

Fitness is the consequence, not the condition, of His glory.

— Predestined Glory

His Crucifixion was our crucifixion!

— Who Am I

Related Concepts

• The Promise: The entire process described—the pre-cosmic choice, the purposeful fall, the journey through experience, and the final awakening as God—is The Promise. This verse explains the 'why' behind this predestined glory.
• I AM: The awakening as God is the ultimate realization of one's true identity as the 'I AM,' the Father. The gift God gives is Himself, which is the consciousness of being God.
• Imagination: The final, reunified state of humanity is identified as the one body of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is 'your own wonderful human imagination.' The entire divine drama unfolds within and as imagination.
• States: The 'world of horror' and the 'furnaces of experience' can be understood as the infinite states of consciousness that the fragmented parts of God must pass through on their journey back to the Father.

Common Misunderstandings

• Individual Selection: The verse is not about God choosing certain individuals for salvation while rejecting others. It refers to the selection of the entire collective of humanity as one unified body in Him.
• Earning Salvation: This teaching refutes the idea that one must earn or become 'fit' for the Kingdom of Heaven. Fitness is an inevitable consequence of God's grace and His initial choice, not a prerequisite for it.
• The Fall as a Sin: The Fall of the One Man was not a mistake or a transgression. It was a deliberate, purposeful act necessary for the expansion of God's glory and the giving of Himself to His creations.

Practical Applications

The primary application is a change in perspective that removes fear about salvation. A student should understand that their ultimate destiny is secure, as the choice was made before the world began. This frees one from the anxiety of trying to 'qualify' for the Kingdom of God.

This understanding also fosters a sense of profound unity with all people. Since everyone was chosen in the one body and is a fragment of that divine being, there is ultimately no 'other.' This can bring comfort during periods of suffering, reframing them as necessary 'furnaces of experience' on a predestined journey back to God the Father.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'chosen in Him' mean some people are saved and others are not?

No. According to the source material, it means all of humanity was chosen as a single collective body. No one will fail; everyone was part of the 'One Man' and will share in the ultimate resurrection.

Was the 'Fall' a punishment for sin?

No, the Fall was a deliberate and purposeful act. The 'One Man' fell intentionally so that the fragmented parts—humanity—could pass through the experiences of this world and ultimately receive the gift of God Himself.

Do I need to do anything to be 'fit' for the Kingdom of God?

No, the choice was already made before the world began. Your fitness for the Kingdom is a consequence of God's glory and His choice, not a condition you must meet through your own efforts.