I really don't like to see this topic come up because it only seems to create division, but perhaps we can keep it civil this time. I once went to a bible study with a friend of mine who believes in predestination. We talked about free will quite a bit, but were able to still respect each other's walk with Christ. When I was at the study, we were sitting at a table with 3 other "predestinators" and they started asking me questions about my beliefs. It turned into quite the discussion, but I actually was able to convince one to my point of view, and another one said that he could see my point, but "Romans 9" was the end all argument for him. The third person was the pastor of the study, and he and his wife ended up accusing me of idolatry(because I made up my own god) and wouldn't talk with me anymore(not very good teachers). Later, I decided to really study Romans 9 and try to see why it was held up as the end all argument for predestination. In Romans 9, I discovered that Paul is quoting from the book of Jeremiah, which sheds some light on the principles Paul was teaching.
Jeremiah 18
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith Jehovah. Behold, as the clay in the potter's hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.
7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;
8 if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10 if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
**This is consistent with the rest of the book of Romans and the rest of Paul's letters. In the book of Jonah, Nineveh was a sinful city of gentiles in the old testament, and God sent them a prophet and told them they were to be destroyed. They repented, and God spared them. The reason this is significant is because these people were not Jews, so even though Israel sinned and repented many times, this example holds double significance because the people were not "God's chosen people".
Romans 10
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:
9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:
10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame.
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:
13 for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Romans 11
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree;
18 glory not over the branches: but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20 Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee.
22 Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if thou wast cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
1 Corinthians 9:26
I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Hebrews 10:26
For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
Romans 5:12-21
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
**There are many many more verses I could quote here, but I'm just trying to limit it to Romans 9 and Paul's writings for now since it was held up as the last argument a man had before he would believe in free will. God will do His will, but He also has said many times that His will is for us to have the option to repent (unless we sin against the Holy Spirit). To me, that means we have free will, not apart from God, but by His mercy. We could never repent unless God was first merciful. I believe we have free will, that Christ died for all men everywhere, and that we must take heed lest we fall into unbelief after we have tasted the grace of God. I do not believe the bible teaches predestination, limited atonement, or unconditional salvation.
Just as a quick example of the rest of the evidence, we can go to the beginning of sin, and see what God says about men.
Gensis 3:22
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know both good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
God notes very early in the bible that man knows both good and evil, just like God does. Men continued in sin until they knew only darkness, which is why God sent Jesus to bring knowledge of the light, but that does not mean man lost his free will. God winks at our ignorance until we are aware of the knowledge of the truth, and then we are called to repent from our evil ways. Jesus came to reverse the damage done at the tree of good and evil, bringing us the same type of choice that Adam and Eve had in the garden, to know both good and evil, but this time to choose the good, to trust God again by the knowledge of His sacrifice on our behalf.
Thank you for sharing your experience, research and conclusion. I did not post this to cause division at all. I am studying myself and just want to hear what people have studied and concluded for themselves. The bottom line is yes this is one of the controversial topics that the body does not agree on. Sadly it should not divide us but instead be a lesson and opportunity to love each other as family in spite of the differences. We really should focus more on what we do agree on.... Loving each other and the lost and spreading the good news and his love :bouncy: I pray that no one here will be offensive to another. :prayingf:
Do you think that just because Elohim calls a nation to repentance, that this means that He is not abundantly aware of the fact that it is not?
Case in point: YHWH Elohim sent Moses to write the Towrah, in advance of the people's not obeying it, and that through Jeremiah He would prophesy of the exile of Judah into Babylon.
So what's your point?
What Elohim has decreed to come to pass, men choose in time:
"Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain". Acts 2:23
What do you think "Him being delivered" means, if not that Elohim knew of the unconditional certainty of the accomplishment of everything foretold, and fulfilled His will in delivering Ha' Mashiyach as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world to be slain?
You believe in a false religion, I can tell by the comments you use, and the way you try and manipulate the scripture.
Let me give you some scriptures, which proves otherwise:
1. "Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" [Matthew 25:34].
2. "All that the Father gives unto me shall come unto me; and him that cometh unto me I shall never cast out" [John 6:37].
3. "And this is the will of the Father which hath sent me, that of all he has given me I shall lose nothing" [John 6:39].
4. "And when the gentiles heard this, they glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed" [Acts 13:48].
5. "For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ" [I Thess 5:9].
6. "But we are bound to give thinks always to God for you brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth" [2 Thess 2:13].
7. "But we are not of them who turn back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" [Heb 10:39].
8. "You can be confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you shall perform it unto the day of salvation" [Phil 1:6].
9. "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness" [I Thess 4:7].
10. "For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" [Heb 10:14].
11. "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures" [James 1:18].
Do you know what the word "qodesh" means? It is the Hebrew word which was translated into "holy". It means "set-apart" or "sanctified".
Those who are predestined, were "set-apart". They are going to inherit eternal life, not earn it. When they are born they receive "the Spirit of Adoption, whereby they cry, 'Abba, Father' " [Romans 8:15]
When men are born, they receive one of two spirits, the Spirit of the Devil or the Spirit of God. This is why Romans states: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the Sons of God." [8:14]
"And when the gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48
You do not believe, because one of two reasons. 1, you are not of the sheep, or 2, you have not been called out of the darkness, yet.
Look at this passage where Jesus is in the Temple, in Solomon's porch [John 10, and the Jews (those who were offspring of the Devil - John 8:44) come to him, and they ask Him, to tell them plainly if He is Ha' Mashiyach [The Messiah]. Look at what He tells them. He tells them that the reason they do not believe, is because they are not of His sheep. He does not tell them, that the reason they are not His sheep, is because they do not believe, which is exactly what Christianity teaches:
"And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." John 10:22-30
Did you get that, "But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep".
This is where many a serpent hiding in sheep's clothing, in the pulpits of Christianity twist the scripture around, and tell men, "If you want to become one of Jesus's sheep, you have to believe first!"
WRONG!!!!
If you are not one of the sheep, you can never believe~
Thanks for your input, Spiritlover. However, I do believe in Christ, and I think you're stepping into God's realm in your apparent condemnation of me and my beliefs. I confess right now that Jesus is the Son of God and Lord of my life. I've been baptized, my life has been changed, I can call you a brother, and you really have no place deciding how my walk with God is going and your accusations are not welcome. I'd recommend, if you're concerned at all with evangelism or showing mercy, that you change your approach to those your consider unbelievers or heretics, you know, the ones you're supposed to love and win to Christ. I do not see the love of Christ in your approach, I see an accuser of the brethren. At best, you can say that some of my beliefs are in error and that you'd like to help me back on the path, but you cannot say that I do not believe at all. You do not know me, otherwise you could judge me by my fruits and not simply on something you personally consider a doctrinal error.
1 Corinthians 13
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
Matthew 7
1For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
2 Timothy 2
24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
1 John 4
15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19We love him, because he first loved us. 20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Luke 10
25And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. 28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
Hi, neighbor! As far as your biblical support, I think it can be explained very easily with the concept of the foreknowledge of God. God did NOT predestine before He foreknew, He predestined after He foreknew. So at worst, we are actors who have not read the script. That still allows free will to exist, there is no reason to make God the cause of sin.
Romans 8
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For 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. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Joshua 24
15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Also, consider this parable.
Matthew 22
1And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14For many are called, but few are chosen.
God called all of those people to the feast. The first group(the Jews, God's chosen people) disrespected the invitation and were destroyed. The second group was gathered from everywhere, as many as the king's servants could find, and brought into the feast. But somehow, even among those gathered into the feast, there was still one who was not accepted. I'll reiterate that point. One was called, and let into the feast, but trusted on his own works instead of Christ's sacrifice and was cast out.
Luke 18
42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
Ephesians 2
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ezekiel 33
12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.17 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.19 But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
Again, a recommendation. Even if you disagree, a better approach for the future will be to engage those who disagree in a respectful, caring manner in order to persuade them to the truth. And yes, it's possible to persuade people.
Acts 18:4
And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Perhaps I'm like Saul, the pharisee, a man we all would consider an unbeliever, who by the power of God transforms into Paul, the great evangelist. If there's hope for Saul, there has to be hope for me. Maybe you can help me. Maybe you're sent to this forum to convert a whole bunch of Sauls. Or, maybe you are like a Saul? Is it possible?
Dtroftheking, you're absolutely right. I don't understand the mentality of some people who insist on condemning anyone who doesn't believe exactly like them. Things would go much smoother if we can treat people like Christ would treat them. Jesus even was polite and patient with pharisees and lawyers who were trying to tempt and discredit him. It's possible to disagree and still let the love and mercy of Christ rule the discussion. God called us to love even our enemies, love includes patience and long-suffering, hope for change, poise under fire.
You really cited one of the key passages on the topic, Romans 9-11. Thanks for pointing out the quote from Jeremiah. The other key passage is Ephesians 1-2.
I don't want to put words in your mouth, but thought you might have been getting at the key, as I see it, to understanding these passages.
Election is a matter of God choosing a nation / people group for particular blessing. God chose Abraham's descendants and again chose Jacob's descendants in that manner. It was unconditional. Jacob was no more deserving of it than Esau.
Election is NOT a matter of God choosing individuals for salvation and leaving the rest "unchosen" and therefore damned.
Israel was the elect nation. It had great benefits -- the Scripture, the prophets, the lineage of Christ, the sacrificial system, etc. But that did not guarantee a home in heaven to all Israelites nor condemn (the curse filter just kicked in on the word I tried to use!) all Gentiles. I expect Ruth to be in heaven, and Absalom not to be.
God always intended to extend the blessing that was for Israel to all people groups via the New Covenant in Christ. (I forget the reference, but Paul expounds this somewhere in Romans.)
So election is unconditional. It is also entirely independent of eternal salvation which involves free will.
In some ways I regret starting this post but I really thought we could do it all in love as mature believers and all on a path and seeking and studying the word of God.
I am genuinely wanting a better understanding of the word and we should be able to respectfully share without condemning which last time I checked is not our job to judge the heart. I also read the other post on this topic and those that are truly coming with love praise God and bless you! It is not about us it is all about Jesus!
All I can say is this the bible is very much to the point when it says without love it is for NOTHING > Is not love the greatest of all???
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love & charity, I am nothing. 1Cor 13:2
1 Corinthians 13:8
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
1John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Cor 13:13 For there are these three things that endure: Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is Love.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
1 Thessalonians 1:3
We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
on and on..................... May our Abba bestow discernment, wisdom, and most of all love in our hearts as we fellowship and learn from each other :) :prayingf:
Although predestination and free will are presented as contrasting viewpoints in your opening question, there's really no contrast between the two at all. In other words, if we allow the Bible to properly define predestination for us, as opposed to allowing Calvinism to terribly misdefine the same, then we'll come to realize that predestination and free will are certainly more than compatible.
Whenever this topic arises, there are basically five different words which are going to repeatedly appear in scripture in relation to the same, and they are as follows:
1. Predestinated or predestinate.
2. Adoption.
3. Earnest.
4. Foreknowledge, foreknow, or foreknew.
5. Election or elect.
It's imperative that we apply the proper Biblical definitions to each of these terms, or else we're going to come away with wrong doctrine�something of which many churches are presently full. In this response, I'm going to address every instance in the Bible where the words "predestinated/predestinate" and "adoption" occur, and I'll touch upon the word "earnest" as well. I'll CAPITALIZE these words for emphasis each time that they appear within a text as I show what they actually mean in context, or as I show exactly what Christians have actually been predestinated unto.
The words "predestinated" and "predestinate" actually only occur four times in the Bible in Ephesians 1:5, 11, Romans 8:29 and 30. Similarly, the word "adoption" only appears five times in the Bible in Romans 8:15, 23, 9:4, Galatians 4:5, and Ephesians 1:5. Seeing how there is only one place in scripture where the two words appear in the same verse (Eph. 1:5), I'll start there in order to hopefully show you exactly what predestination is and isn't. We read:
"Having PREDESTINATED us unto the ADOPTION of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will," (Ephesians 1:5)
For starters, the "us" who have been "predestinated" are "the saints" or "the faithful in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 1:1). In other words, in context, the passage says absolutely nothing about anything that unbelievers were allegedly "predestinated" unto. Furthermore, the passage tells us exactly what "the saints" or "the faithful in Christ Jesus" have been "predestinated" unto, and that is "the adoption of children". The underlying Greek word, "huiothesia", which is here translated as "adoption" does not carry the same meaning as our modern day English word "adoption" carries. In other words, this underlying Greek word literally means "to place as an adult son". Basically, it refers to a Roman coming of age ceremony which would be the equivalent of a Jewish Bar Mitzvah. Paul perfectly explained this coming of age ceremony in Galatians chapter 4. There, we read:
"Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the ADOPTION of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4:1-7)
In Roman culture, if I had a young son who would eventually be my heir, then he would have been "under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father", or until the time of his "adoption" or placing as an adult son arrived. In other words, when my son would have reached a certain age, there would have been a coming of age ceremony or an "adoption" which would have signified that my son was passing from the classification of a child who "differeth nothing from a servant" unto the classification of an adult son. During this ceremony, my son would have been donned with what was called a toga virilis (please Google it), and the donning of this toga virilis would have conferred important rights and privileges to my son who would have then been deemed as an adult in society. Paul used this Roman custom to describe the purpose of "the law" in the life of a believer. In other words, "the law" was our "tutor and governor until the time appointed of the father", or until the time came that we were redeemed from "differing nothing from servants" or slaves by the blood of Christ and received "the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father". Paul referred to this same "Spirit" as "the Spirit of adoption" in his epistle to the Romans. There, we read:
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of ADOPTION, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the EARNEST expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the ADOPTION, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." (Romans 8:14-25)
"The spirit of bondage again to fear" pertains directly to "the law" which Paul likened to the bondmaid/bondwoman, Hagar, in Galatians 4:21-31, and which "gendereth to bondage" (Gal. 4:24). In other words, "the law" kept people in both "bondage" and "fear" in that it rightly identified what sin was, but offered no deliverance from the same apart from saving faith in Christ. As such, those who were under "the law" were not only in "bondage" to sin, but they also had a "fearful" expectation of coming judgment. In stark contrast to these, we who have placed saving faith in Christ have received a totally different "Spirit"�"the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father". Here's what's interesting, though, and this truth cannot be missed:
Neither our "adoption" nor our "redemption" are yet complete.
No, as Paul himself said, Christians have merely received "the firstfruits of the Spirit", or what he elsewhere called "the earnest of the Spirit" (II Cor. 1:22, 5:5, Eph. 1:13-14), and we're still "waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body". Yes, Paul said that this "adoption" or "redemption of our body" is what Christians "hope for" and "with patience wait for it". Furthermore, Paul's use of the word "earnest" in this portion of scripture refers to a real estate term or to "earnest money" (again, please Google it). In other words, in real estate, when somebody plans on purchasing a building, they will give a deposit or a downpayment of "earnest money" which signifies that they "earnestly" intend to complete the transaction at a future time. Where Christians are concerned, neither our "adoption" nor our "redemption" will be complete until the time comes that we have received glorified bodies. Until that day arrives, God has given us "the earnest of the Spirit" to signify that He plans to complete His purchase at that time. To this end, Paul wrote:
"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, 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)
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30)
Again, as Christians, we've presently only received "that holy Spirit OF PROMISE, which is THE EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION" or until the yet coming "day of redemption". This yet coming "day of redemption" is the same exact "adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body" that Paul wrote of in Romans 8:23. In other words, as a Roman son wasn't fully deemed to be "an heir" until the time came that he donned his toga virilis, we, as Christians, won't receive our inheritance until the time comes that we don our glorified bodies at the second coming of Christ. If you understand what the word "adoption" actually meant in the time of Paul, and the significance of the donning of the toga virilis, then you'll also understand why Paul used terminology in line with putting on new clothing in relation to our glorified bodies. For example, we read:
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (I Corinthians 15:51-55)
Notice the changing of the garment, or when "this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality". Again, this takes place at the second coming of Christ when we will receive "the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body" (Rom. 8:23). This changing of the garment becomes even more evident in Paul's second epistle to the Corinthians. There, we read:
"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, EARNESTLY desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the EARNEST of the Spirit." (II Corinthians 5:1-5)
Here, we not only read of how Christians desire "to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven�that mortality might be swallowed up of life", but we also read of how God has "given unto us the earnest of the Spirit" in relation to the same. Again, Paul's use of the word "earnest" pertains directly to "earnest money" which was given in real estate purchases, and it's no wonder that it appears here in relation to our "earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our HOUSE which is from heaven". Anyhow, in the same manner in which a Roman adoption wasn't completed until a new toga virilis was donned, our own adoptions will not be completed until the time comes that we receive glorified bodies at the second coming of Christ. THIS is what Christians have truly been "predestinated unto", and, again, it will be fulfilled at the second coming of Christ. To this end, Paul wrote:
"Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 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 1:9-11)
Again, Christians have been "predestinated�unto the adoption of children" (Eph. 1:5), and such will be complete in "the fulness of times" or when God "gathers together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth". In other words, as Paul wrote elsewhere, at Christ's second coming, the dead in Christ (those "which are in heaven") will rise first, and then the Christians who are yet alive (they "which are on earth") will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air at His second coming.
Well, now that you hopefully understand what Christians have truly been "predestinated unto", let's look at the last two places in scripture where the word "predestinate" occurs:
"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. 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 8:29-30)
I don't really want to touch upon foreknowledge or what it means for God to foreknow in this post (or else this post will turn into a book), but I will point out that foreknowledge PRECEDES predestination in scripture. In other words, seeing how God truly knows what is going to happen in advance, He has predestinated Christians "to be conformed to the image of his Son", and, again, this is speaking in relation to Christians receiving the same type of glorified bodies that Jesus has at His second coming.
I have to add the following in order to totally destroy the Calvinistic misdefining of the word "predestination" in scripture. From this same epistle of Paul to the Romans, we read:
"For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?" (Romans 11:16-24)
Although Christians truly have been "predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ" (Eph. 1:5), such is only guaranteed "IF we continue in his goodness: otherwise we also shall be cut off". In other words, our FREE WILL is directly related to us receiving that which we've been "predestinated unto", and if we WILLFULLY depart from Christ, then� Furthermore, if the unbelieving Jews who are presently "broken off" come to the place where they "abide not still in unbelief", then they shall reap the full rewards of "predestination" themselves. In fact, Paul addressed this earlier in this same epistle to the Romans where we read:
"I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the ADOPTION, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;" (Romans 9:1-4)
Paul wished himself "accursed from Christ" for his "kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption". In other words, if these unbelieving Jews whom Paul had "great heaviness and continual sorrow" in his heart for became believers in Christ, then "the adoption" would pertain to them as well as it does to believing Gentiles.
My point?
That the Calvinistic misdefinition of "predestination" is utter heresy. In other words, whereas they claim that God allegedly "predestinated" certain people to eternal life and others to eternal damnation apart from their own FREE WILL CHOICES, the Bible teaches something completely different. Not only does predestination actually pertain to Christians receiving glorified bodies, but even those who presently are "predestinated unto" the same can lose their inheritance if they turn away from the Lord. I know that people don't like to hear this, but it's Biblical truth just the same. Again, properly understanding Paul's use of the word "earnest" in scripture helps to make this truth plain. In other words, "earnest money" can be returned to the purchaser, and the purchase can be cancelled out or voided. In fact, I have personally received back "earnest money" twice within just the last 5 years or so out here in Pennsylvania. Anyhow, Biblical predestination has everything to do with FREE WILL, and that is why I began this post by stating that predestination and free will are more than compatible.
Well, that's everywhere in scripture where the words "predestinate/predestinated" and "adoption" occur. I know that I gave you a brainful of information to consider in this post. If you have any questions or objections, then I'd certainly like to hear them.
