Predestination

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).   Does God choose some people for salvation and not others?

This has been the erroneous false teaching of some religions throughout history; however, the Bible teaches NO such thing.  The Bible is clear in many verses, “WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME.”  We read in Romans 10:13, “For WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of her Lord shall be saved.”  God is a “whosoever God.”  He says that anyone may come to the throne of grace for salvation, all He asks is that we come through faith in Jesus Christ alone.   There is NOTHING in the Bible about God choosing anyone for salvation.  Mankind has been given a freewill by God to make our own decisions.  This is what life comes down to—a series of decisions.  Every decision we make has an effect on something in our life, we must learn to make the proper decisions if we want to be happy in life.  The Bible has been given to us by God to help us make these many decisions.  We must obtain a working knowledge of God’s Word.  By “working knowledge” I mean that we must make the Bible applicable to our everyday lives.  There are many Believers who know quite a lot about the Bible but don’t see the application of it in their daily life.  Knowledge does no good if it’s not livable.  We must make the truth practical as it was meant to be.  God is not pleased by a bunch of “deeper-lifer” Christians who never tell a soul about Jesus Christ, never build anything for God, never take a stand for what is right, etc.  We must find the practicality of the Bible.

Let’s look at Romans 8:29 again, “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.”   Predestination means that God has chosen us “to be conformed into Jesus’ likeness.”  The Bible does NOT say anything about being chosen for salvation.  God knows in advance who will be saved and who won’t but He does NOT choose who will be saved or who won’t.  We decide to accept or reject Christ of our own freedom.  Nevertheless, there are still those who teach that you cannot be saved unless God first chooses you—this is utter foolishness.  This false teaching is known as Hyper-Calvinism.  The truth is that God looked ahead in time in His foreknowledge and saw those who would someday be saved and He predestinated them to be conformed into Christ’s likeness—this is what predestination means.  God has predestinated that someday I will be exactly like Jesus.  What a wonderful day that will be for every Believer. 

God has many plans for each and every Believer!  “In whom also we have obtained AN INHERITANCE, being PREDESTINATED ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11).  This is very interesting!  God has a purpose for every Christian.  He works all things according to His own will.  This is why Romans 8:28 teaches that all things will eventually work out for good for all Believers, “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.”  Notice that all things are NOT good!  The Bible says that all things will WORK OUT for good.  You WILL experience pain, suffering and loss in this earthly life.  Fortunate are those who have had the opportunity to enjoy a rich and happy life with little problems down here; however, most are not as fortunate.  There are billions of people living in poverty right now.  Millions of children are dying in other nations because of starvation and lack of simple vitamins.  Most people don’t know what suffering is.  Yet, we all have our heartaches and problems in life.  Even in a wealthy nation like the USA which has been prosperously blessed by Almighty God, pain and suffering are all too common.   No one in this life is immune to loss, sadness, sickness and hurt.  The Bible does not promise paradise on earth; on the contrary, God told Adam and Eve that they would suffer pain and toil.  The Bible promises that ALL THINGS will work our for good but does not tell us when.  We know at least that things will be well when we get to Heaven to be with the Lord.  Most people don’t associate the word “predestination” with Romans 8:28.  What does predestination have to do with the things in my life turning out for good down the road?  It has everything to do with it.  You and I have been predestinated to receive an inheritance from the Lord.  Let’s read Ephesians 1:11 once more, “In whom also we have obtained AN INHERITANCE, being PREDESTINATED ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11).  God has so many wonderful things for us when we get to Heaven, we cannot even begin to imagine all that will happen. God has given us the Holy Spirit as a “down-payment” or as a “token of His promise” that He has purchased us and we have an inheritance in Heaven, “...ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the EARNEST of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13,14).  The word “earnest” means “pledge.”

The Believer knows that they are saved because they have the Holy Spirit, God’s pledge to every Believer that He will perform all that He has PROMISED to do for us as His Children.  Do you have the Holy Spirit living within you?  I do!  God has given me the Holy Spirit to let the devil know that I have been PURCHASED By God.  I have been purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ.  I am a Child of the King, a member of God’s Family.  So the next time you think of Romans 8:28 when things are going bad, remember that ultimately we all fall into God’s divine plan which He will accomplish.  No matter how bad things may seem here on earth, be rest assured that our Heavenly Father is still on His throne and is in absolute control, we have NOTHING to fear.  Bad things will always happen in life, but someday (within God’s predestinated plan) we will all be very happy and content in the Lord.  It’s just a matter of time! 

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).  The word “called” means “to invite.”  God invites all men to salvation, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to ALL MEN” (Titus 2:11).  If God chose people for salvation, then Titus 2:11 would not be true.  The grace of God has appeared to all people everywhere (an invitation to be saved).  What we do with that invitation is another story.  The word “called” can be misleading if you take it our of context.  We must interpret this verse within the agreement of the remaining Word of God.  There are plenty of Scriptures teaching that salvation is available to anyone who wants it.  This doctrine of predestination simply means, “what God has started, He will finish!”   “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you WILL PERFORM IT until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).  God will continue with us through ‘til the end of this life and beyond.  God will  never leave us or forsake us, “...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).   What a wonderful God!!!  

Those who are saved, God predestinates to become like Jesus and to receive a divine inheritance.   “Having PREDESTINATED us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Ephesians 1:5).  God wanted those who would someday be saved to be as His own Children so God adopted them.  If you are saved, you are an ADOPTED Son of God.  Now Jesus is the “only begotten” Son of God but God has many, many “adopted” Sons and daughters.  Those who accept Christ as Savior, God has already predestined them to be accepted as Sons.  God says, “You accept Me and I’ll take you in as my own Son, Jesus.”  A good Father leaves an inheritance to his children and to his grandchildren, “A good man LEAVETH AN INHERITANCE to his children's children...” (Proverbs 13:22).  Truly, God is the greatest of all Fathers, He has provided us with an inheritance.  I believe day-by-day God is preparing things for us in Heaven.  Is this not what Jesus said in John 14:2, “...I go to PREPARE A PLACE for you.”  This is all part of the predestination of God.  God foreknew who would be saved and decided to do all these wonderful things for them, Oh how God loves His Children.

How foolish for any person to play games with God by holding out in pride and disbelief.  Why is it that oftentimes tragedy is the only thing that wakes us up and brings us to our spiritual knees?  Many folks who have experienced horrible accidents, loss of family, loss of health and so much more have eventually come crawling to the feet of Jesus.  Thank God for these people who eventually do repent!  Oftentimes these folks who have suffered such tragedies will confess that it was the tragedy and loss which led to their salvation—a blessing in disguise.  No one wants to experience heartache and loss, but we all do.  I’m NOT saying that tragedies are sent from God (the truth is that we live in a fallen world prone to misery, sickness and wickedness), I’m simply saying that it is a shame that it takes bad experiences to force us to remember our God and Creator.  Wouldn’t it be nice if people who are blessed with family, health and freedom would turn to God in faith and obedience before the tragedy occurs?  Surely this would be a wonderful thing!  Unfortunately, prosperity brings with it a lot of selfish pride.  The USA is a fantastically blessed nation whose people are increasingly turning away from God to serve themselves, this is human nature.  Rather, God wants us to be spiritual.  As Christians, we are to follow after God.