"Predestined"...MAN or CHRIST?

Predestination IS in the Bible. It is also a popular doctrine, set forth in Calvinism, being "L" (limited atonement) of the T-U-L-I-P theory. In short, this point sets forth that God pre-determined that a limited number would be saved, thus a certain number of humans were pre-determined to be saved by God. This article seeks to address this. Does the Bible teach that God purposed to save only a certain number of people? 

Acts 4:27-28 - For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.

Rom. 8:29-30 - For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

1 Cor. 2:7 - but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;

Eph. 1:5 - He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

Eph. 1:11 - also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

From Acts 2:23-24, we find two things relative to the church:

1] There was preparation and,

2] there was a plan.

This article will focus upon what the Bible declares about: 
~ WHEN did preparations for the church begin?  
~ WHAT WAS THE PLAN for bringing it into existence? 

The answer to both questions is stated in the text above. It is a part of Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost. It reads:

"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

Notice that Peter mentions Jesus as being delivered up according to a DEFINITE PLAN, and according to GOD'S FOREKNOWLEDGE. This "delivering" of Jesus, of course refers to His death which was for man's sins. The connection to the church is seen from the apostle Paul, when he explained that Christ's blood "purchased the church" (Acts 20:28).
If Christ's dying was according to a definite plan, and in accordance with God's foreknowledge, then so was the church. To be "in Christ", is one and the same as being a member of His body, the church, for redemption is in Christ  and the church is made up of the redeemed (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14). This then, explains the connection of Christ being "delivered up" to the establishment of the church (Matt. 16:18).

Peter would again mention this 'foreknowledge' in one of his epistles, 1 Peter 1:18-20. He explained as follows: “…you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you…”

The phrase ‘foreknown before the foundation of the world’ tells us WHEN the preparation for the church began:

IT WAS IN THE MIND OF GOD BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD!

The church was purposed by GOD, for God purposed to save man through His Son (Eph. 1:3-5). His Son came to "seek and save" that which was lost (Luke 19:10); and yet, to "build" His church (Matt. 16:18). This is the story of salvation and redemption, and it was purposed from eternity and gradually developed according to a definite plan (Acts 2:23). 

This gradual development of God's eternal purpose to create a spiritual seed through Christ, (the church), is seen in that God ALWAYS acted in accordance with His eternal purpose:

~ Psa. 57:2 - I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

~ Psa. 138:8 - The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me.

~ Prov. 16:4 - The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

~ Prov. 19:21 - Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.

~ Isa. 46:9-10 - I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose; '

~ Isa. 55:11 - so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

From these, we see that God’s ETERNAL purpose was set forth as GOING TO BE FULFILLED...i.e., it was yet in the future. Both good and wicked men would be utilized in the fulfilling of this plan. We see this from the apostle Paul's pen:

"What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory" (Rom. 9:22-23).

Notice in regard to this plan ~ the order within the plan. It was in accordance with God’s purpose:

-- Eph. 1:5 - "...he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will...

-- Eph. 3:9-10 - "...making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will..."

-- Eph. 3:11 - "This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord..."

 -- 2 Tim. 1:9 - "...who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began..."

Accordingly, we find Jesus saying in John 12:27, "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.”

To Pilate, Jesus replied in John 18:37, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."

The preparation for Christ’s coming into the world is seen in God’s dealing with Abraham:

Rom. 4:11- He (Abraham) received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,

[Rom. 9:30; 10:6; Phil. 3:9; Heb. 11:17 ~ righteousness which is by faith...]

Heb. 6:17- So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, (to Abraham)

The benefactors?

Rom. 8:28- "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

God CHOSE and CALLED us through Christ. That was what HE purposed to do. Preaching makes this known. For all who have responded to the "call" of the gospel, the apostle Peter reminded them of a grave responsibility in regard to God's calling and choosing: ""Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you" (2 Peter 1:10-11).

Those who are “called according to His purpose” are those who make up Christ’s body, the church.

2/21/2019

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