Predestination

INTRO

I. PREDESTINATION AND FOREKNOWLEDGE.

The main difference between divine foreknowledge and predestination is that foreknowledge emphasizes the sovereign love of God which He places upon some, and predestination indicates His sovereign will to choose them for salvation.

II. WHAT DOES "PREDESTINATION" MEAN?

Literally, the word "predestinate" means to "pre-determine."

A. Basically the Bible uses the word in two ways:

1) Broad view - as a synonym for the all encompassing decrees of God.

2) Narrow view - as a synonym for God’s eternal purposes of salvation and reprobation.

B. The actual word "predestined" (proorizo ) occurs 6 times in the NT:

Acts 4:27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
Acts 4:28 to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur.
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Rom. 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;
Rom. 8:30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
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1Cor. 2:7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
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Eph. 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love
Eph. 1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
Eph. 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
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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.
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Truths gleaned about predestination from the above texts:

1) Predestination occurs before time (Eph. 1:4-5; 1 Cor. 2:7).
2) Predestination is an expression of God’s love (Eph. 1:4-5).
3) Predestination determines all things (Eph. 1:11) and specifically those chosen for salvation (Eph. 1:5; Rom. 8:29-30).
4) Predestination includes the evil acts of men in crucifying our Savior (Acts 4:27-28).
5) Predestination is based on God’s sovereign purpose and will, not ours (Acts 4:28; Eph. 1:5, 11).
6) Predestination determines that the "foreknown" will be conformed to the image of Christ in both sanctification and glorification (Rom. 8:29).
7) Predestination has as its ultimate goal the praise of the glory of God’s grace (Eph. 1:5-6), and the exaltation of Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29).

CONCLUSION