What Is Predestination?
God said to Jeremiah,
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Jeremiah 1:5
God knew us before we were born, He had a plan for us then and He has a plan for us now. A destiny for us. We are free to choose to accept the plan HE predestined for us or not.
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will.” Ephesians 1:11.
There are many warped ideas about predestination, let us see what GOD says.
1. How many are included within the scope of the saving love of God?
“The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all.” Psalm 145: 8, 9.
2. What is His desire toward all men?
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4. (See also verses 5, 6.)
3. For how many did Jesus, die?
“That He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” Hebrews 2:9. “We know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” John 4:42. (See also 1 John 4:14.)
4. To how many, therefore, was the gospel to be announced?
“Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15.
5. How is this universal offer of salvation appropriated by the individual?
“He that believes shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.” Mark 16:16.
It is the privilege of all who comply with the conditions to know for themselves that pardon is
freely extended for every sin. Put away the suspicion that God’s promises are not meant for you. They are for every repentant transgressor. Strength and grace have been ‘provided through Christ to be brought by ministering angels to every believing soul. None are so sinful that they cannot find strength, purity, and righteousness in Jesus, who died for them. He is waiting to strip them of their garments stained and polluted with sin, and to put upon them the white robes of righteousness; He bids them live, and not die.
6. What justifiable condemnation is therefore pronounced upon those who refuse the gospel message?
“He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already,
because he bath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18.
7. While the offer of salvation is freely accepted or rejected by man, what does God’s infinite wisdom enable Him beforehand to know and do?
“According as He bath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him-in love.” Ephesians 1:4.
8. What term, therefore, may appropriately be applied to the saints?
“Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.” 1 Thessalonians 1:4.
9. In what sense, however, is this “election” to be understood?
“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” 1 Peter 1:2.
10. How is this same truth expressed in the Book of Acts?
“And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48.
11. How does God collectively, regard His elect?
“You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” 1 Peter 2:9.
12. What plans has God laid for those who are responsive to His call and who, in consequence, are His “elect”?
a. They are predestined to son ship.
“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29.
b. They are predestinated to righteousness.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.
c. They are predestinated to glory.
“Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.” Romans 8:30.
d. They are predestinated to inherit the kingdom.
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will.” Ephesians 1:11.
13. Just as God has laid plans for the eternal blessing of those who respond to His call, what fate has He determined upon the wicked?
“The Lord has made all things for Himself: yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.” Proverbs 16:4.
“Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.” Proverbs 11:31. (See also Psalm 37:9.)
14. What personal responsibility, however, will the wicked have for their fate?
“Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: they would none of My counsel: they despised all My reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.” Proverbs 1: 28-31.
15. Can God’s elect be wrested from His hand?
“And this is the Father’s will which has sent Me, that of all which He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” John 6: 39.
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10: 28.
16. What admonition, however, clearly teaches that it is possible by our own failure to lose the divine blessings offered to us?
“Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12. (See also Romans 11:18-2l.)
17. What care did the Apostle Paul exercise that he might not fall from grace?
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have
preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9: 27.
18. How earnestly did he labor that the elect might not lose their reward?
“Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” 2 Timothy 2:10.
19. How does Peter counsel those who have been “called” and chosen?
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10.
20. What three characteristics will be manifest in those who are with Christ in the day of His triumph?
“They that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17: 14.
So, let us each one choose that destiny that HE has prepared for each of us.
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." Jeremiah 1:5
God knew us before we were born, He had a plan for us then and He has a plan for us now. A destiny for us. We are free to choose to accept the plan HE predestined for us or not.
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will.” Ephesians 1:11.
There are many warped ideas about predestination, let us see what GOD says.
1. How many are included within the scope of the saving love of God?
“The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all.” Psalm 145: 8, 9.
2. What is His desire toward all men?
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4. (See also verses 5, 6.)
3. For how many did Jesus, die?
“That He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” Hebrews 2:9. “We know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” John 4:42. (See also 1 John 4:14.)
4. To how many, therefore, was the gospel to be announced?
“Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15.
5. How is this universal offer of salvation appropriated by the individual?
“He that believes shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.” Mark 16:16.
It is the privilege of all who comply with the conditions to know for themselves that pardon is
freely extended for every sin. Put away the suspicion that God’s promises are not meant for you. They are for every repentant transgressor. Strength and grace have been ‘provided through Christ to be brought by ministering angels to every believing soul. None are so sinful that they cannot find strength, purity, and righteousness in Jesus, who died for them. He is waiting to strip them of their garments stained and polluted with sin, and to put upon them the white robes of righteousness; He bids them live, and not die.
6. What justifiable condemnation is therefore pronounced upon those who refuse the gospel message?
“He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already,
because he bath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18.
7. While the offer of salvation is freely accepted or rejected by man, what does God’s infinite wisdom enable Him beforehand to know and do?
“According as He bath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him-in love.” Ephesians 1:4.
8. What term, therefore, may appropriately be applied to the saints?
“Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.” 1 Thessalonians 1:4.
9. In what sense, however, is this “election” to be understood?
“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” 1 Peter 1:2.
10. How is this same truth expressed in the Book of Acts?
“And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48.
11. How does God collectively, regard His elect?
“You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” 1 Peter 2:9.
12. What plans has God laid for those who are responsive to His call and who, in consequence, are His “elect”?
a. They are predestined to son ship.
“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29.
b. They are predestinated to righteousness.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.
c. They are predestinated to glory.
“Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.” Romans 8:30.
d. They are predestinated to inherit the kingdom.
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will.” Ephesians 1:11.
13. Just as God has laid plans for the eternal blessing of those who respond to His call, what fate has He determined upon the wicked?
“The Lord has made all things for Himself: yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.” Proverbs 16:4.
“Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.” Proverbs 11:31. (See also Psalm 37:9.)
14. What personal responsibility, however, will the wicked have for their fate?
“Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me: for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: they would none of My counsel: they despised all My reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.” Proverbs 1: 28-31.
15. Can God’s elect be wrested from His hand?
“And this is the Father’s will which has sent Me, that of all which He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” John 6: 39.
“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10: 28.
16. What admonition, however, clearly teaches that it is possible by our own failure to lose the divine blessings offered to us?
“Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12. (See also Romans 11:18-2l.)
17. What care did the Apostle Paul exercise that he might not fall from grace?
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have
preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9: 27.
18. How earnestly did he labor that the elect might not lose their reward?
“Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” 2 Timothy 2:10.
19. How does Peter counsel those who have been “called” and chosen?
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure.” 2 Peter 1:10.
20. What three characteristics will be manifest in those who are with Christ in the day of His triumph?
“They that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17: 14.
So, let us each one choose that destiny that HE has prepared for each of us.
posted by Michael A. Redwine at Saturday, June 04, 2005
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