Predestination

Memory Verse: 2Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;behold, all things are become new.”

Prayer:     A prayer of thankfulness for God’s eternal purpose in our lives.

Verses: Rom. 8:28-30; Eph. 1:5,11; 1Pet. 2:9; Jn. 15:16,19.

Predestination is the decree of God by which He has from eternity, unchangeably appointed or determined whatever comes to pass.  It is used particularly to denote the preordination of men to everlasting happiness or misery and is a part of the unchangeable plan of the Divine government; in other words, the unchangeable pur­pose of an unchangeable God (Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:5,11).  By this we can know with assurance…that what God has said will come to pass…will come to pass.

Foreknowledge (lesson 17) is the choice of persons, whereas predestination determines the destination of those persons to the blessings for which they are designed.  To predesti­nate signifies to appoint beforehand to some particular end.  In scripture it is taken sometimes generally for any decree of God, as in Acts 2:23 and 4:28, where the Apostles say that the Jews were assembled to do whatsoever the hand and the counsel of God had determined (predestinated) before to be done.  They did it of their own free will, yet it was God who had determined that this act would be done at this particular time.  And Paul says in 1Cor. 2:7, “We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory.”

Sometimes this word is taken specially for the decree of the salvation of man, as Eph. 1:5-12.  In this passage the cause of predestination is traced solely to God.  Now, using the “Considerations for Bible study” taught us many years ago by our (then) Pastor, I. D. Riddick:

1.      Who is speaking?  The Apostle Paul.

2.      To Whom?  The saints (saved people) at Ephesus.

3.      About what?  Obviously, our choosing, predestination, and adoption.

Notice in this passage:

·        “He hath chosen” (v4).

·        “in Him” (v4)

·        “before Him in love” (v4)

After saying that God has predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, to show that God has no cause outside of Himself moving Him to this favor, it is added:

·        “to Himself” (v5), In order to enforce this, it is further added;

·        “according to the good pleasure of His will” (v5) and;

·        “to the praise of the glory of His grace” (v.6) and;

·        “wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved” (v6)and;

·        “In whom we have redemption through His blood” (v7)

(Uh Oh, there’s that awful blood again.)

·        “according to the riches of His grace” (v7) and;

·        “Wherein He hath abounded” (v8) and;

·        “Having made known unto us the mystery of His will” (v9) and;

·        “according to His good pleasure” (v9) and;

·        “which He hath purposed” (v9);

·        “in Himself.” (v9) then;

·        “He might gather together in one all things in Christ” (v10) and;

·        “in Him” (v10) and;

·        “being predestinated according to the purpose of Him” (v11) and;

·        “who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” v(11) and finally;

·        “That we should be to the praise of His glory” (v12).

From all this it should be easily understood that salvation must necessarily be by grace, that is: free, unmerited favor.  Love to God, or conformity to the image of Christ, cannot in any respect have its origin in fallen man (1Jn. 4:10,19).  It would be foolish to think that God has elected such only as He foresaw would be worthy of grace.  Our election to salvation is in no way because of our individual merit, but refers to the eternal counsel of God and His predestination or choice of individual persons.

God predestinated us to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29).  This refers not to all men, but only those on whom God has placed His love from eternity, and on whom He purposes to bestow life through Jesus Christ.  It is absolute and definite and complete.  The number who are thus predestinated can neither be increased nor diminished.  It is not that God had foreseen us as being in Christ by faith, and on that account elected us, but that Jesus Christ, being the Mediator between God and man, God has predestinated us to salvation only in Him.

The foundation of predestination is Jesus Christ, by whom we receive the adoption of children (Rom. 8:l-l7).  It is our union with Christ through which we receive all the good from God that becomes ours in salvation.  Predestination’s object is man, not invested with any quality which moves God to predestinate him; but as corrupted and guilty in Adam - dead in trespasses and sins until quickened by God.  The blessing to which God had predestinated those whom He foreknew is salvation (1Thess. 5:9).  The final end of predestination is the glory of God (Eph. 1:6). In consideration of our election we ought to walk in holiness (Col. 3:l2; 1Pet. 2:9).

In the election of some, and the passing by of others, the wisdom of God is mani­fest.  By this means He displays both His justice and mercy.  If all had been withdrawn from their state of corruption, the justice of God would not have manifested itself in their punishment.  If none had been chosen, His mercy would not have been seen.  In the salvation of these, God has displayed His grace; and in the punishment of sin in the others, He has disclosed His justice and hatred of iniquity.  This doctrine of election is full of consolation, and is the true source of Christian assurance.  The sheep whom God has given to His Son by His predestination, no one can pluck out of His hands (Jn. 10:27-29).

The Arminians get terribly disturbed and angry about God’s predestination of sin­ners.  They say that it is because of God’s foreknowledge.  They maintain that God knows who will accept and who will reject.  Those who will accept on their own free will are “elected” and “predestinated.”  They talk of man’s “free will” which is able to choose outside of God’s grace.  To them “depravity” extends only to man’s mental, emotional, and spiritual make-up.  Peter Ruckman teaches that the “will” is a function of the mind and not a subject of de­pravity.  He gives no scripture on this, but ridicules anyone who believes otherwise.  How free is man’s will?  It is in bondage to sin and his desire (will) is to have his own way. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”  Man’s nature is to love and practice sin (Job. 15:16; Rom. l:28-32; Eph. 2:1-3). 

Man is in bondage to his depraved, sinful nature and that includes his mind.  How then, does a sinner ever have a will to come to Christ?  Simple enough - God’s Spirit quickens (regenerates) the sinner, imparting a new, divine, spiritual nature with which the person can receive Christ (Jn. 1:12,13; Eph. 2:1). 

Charles Spurgeon said:

“Once there was Free-will in Paradise, and a terrible mess Free-will made of it there; for it spoiled all Paradise and turned Adam out of the garden. Free-will was once in Heaven; but it turned the glorious archangel out, and a third part of the stars of Heaven fell into the abyss.  I want nothing to do with Free-will.”

Only those who deny the sovereign will of God and the total depravity of man, dis­believe God’s predestination of individuals to salvation.  It is because we believe in God’s foreknowledge and predestination and we can also believe Rom. 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  Please note in this verse, “to them who are the called.”  Not just called, but “the called.”  There is a difference, after all, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.  God Himself is the power behind His good purposes to bring to pass His will.

 Many preachers - who will privately state that they believe in God’s predestination and sovereignty - deem it improper to declare these difficult truths before a mixed multitude, or even to believers, because of fear that it would cause disturbance and rejection, leading to losing their popularity and crowd (salary).  They are not concerned for the truth and the favor of God.  We have the express example of our Lord (John 6:37,44,65).  What happened here in chapter six?  Jesus had fed the 5000 and was speak­ing to a mixed crowd about the deeper truths from God (doctrines of grace).  But because of their depravity they misunderstood and rejected the message, and many turned their back on Jesus and salvation, vs 66.  As Jesus was faithful to proclaim the true message of God’s predestination and sovereignty, so we also must be faithful.