“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” Ephesians 1:5 The question has come up, recently about the Biblical teaching of predestination. Since predestination speaks of a predetermined destination, the doctrine would deal with where a person goes when he dies or, more accurately, what we will be like when we get there. So it is really more of a predetermined condition which we will receive when we get to heaven. Ephesians introduces this subject by telling us the basis by which God has predestinated us. We have been predestinated according to the good pleasure of His will. Therefore, to understand predestination, we must understand two things: God’s good pleasure and His will. We find that in Hebrews 10:38-39, 11:6 that it is faith that pleases and brings pleasure to God. So if you want to join the group that is predestinated to go to heaven, you must have faith in the payment God made when He came to earth and died and came back from the dead. When we have faith in Him we are saved by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) and God places us in that group going to heaven in Him. “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,” Eph. 1:6. However, there are some that, rather than accepting the fact that God has revealed very clearly on what basis He has chosen those who will go to heaven, they claim it is a mystery, as if God arbitrarily chooses who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. However, that is not what God says in verse 9: “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure.” What is this will that God has spoken about in verses 5 & 9? His will about heaven is stated in John 6:40: “This is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life.” So what is the first step in predestination? Verse 12 tells us. “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” Pastor Jerry If you want more thoughts, go to journeybible and click on devotions.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 13:46:01 +0000
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