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"ON PREDESTINATION"

Much like all other doctrinal truths, the doctrine of Predestination is both simple and profound. And again, like all scriptural truths, one must be a saved child of God before one can comprehend it. Why so? 1 Cor 2:14 "FOR THE NATURAL MAN, RECEIVETH NOT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, FOR THEY ARE FOOLISHNESS UNTO HIM. NEITHER CAN HE KNOW THEM,BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRIT- UALLY DISCERNED". In order to fully comprehend the doctrine of Predestination, let us now examine the following related scriptures:

Rom 8:28 "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). FOR WHOM HE DID FOREKNOW. HE ALSO DID PREDEST- INATE. 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".

In the foregoing verse, we find the first three PRE-CONDITIONS of one's PREDESTIN-ATION, as follows:

First:-----It is--"TO THEM THAT (LOVE GOD)".

Second:--It is--"TO THEM WHO ARE CALLED, (ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE").

Third-----It is--"TO THEM HE DID (FOREKNOW)".

The remainder of that verse goes on to set forth the (uninterrupted) experience of one's salvation; i.e., From one's initial "CALLING", to one's final "GLORIFICATION".

Perhaps the main condition listed in the foregoing verse is that of one's being called -- "ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE"! Carefully note that it does not say that one is called "ACCORDING TO ONE'S PERSON", as some would erroneously so suggest.

called of God--"ACCORDING TO ONE'S PERSON", would mean that "GOD IS A RESPECTER OF PERSONS"--which of course, He is not, e.g. 2 Chron 19:7; Rom 2:11;Col 3:25; 2 Sam 14:14; Deut 10:17; Matt 22:16; Mark 12:14.

To be called of God, "ACCORDING TO ONE'S PERSON" would also mean that one had been (arbitrarily, and involuntarily so chosen), i.e. totally apart from the foregoing Pre- Predestination--Preconditions, and that would make the verse in question and other related verses, "doctrinally un-true".

But that God never arbitrarily, nor involuntarily saves any person, was so ordained by God, before this world was created, or any person ever appeared; i.e., as plainly so spelled out by the "WHOSOEVER" of John 3:16. "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD,THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON,THAT (WHOSEVER) BELEIVETH ON HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH,BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE". WHOSOEVER, means--"ANYBODY".

Now, let us examine the following, "related" Predestination verses:

Eph 1:4-14 "ACCORDING AS (HE HATH CHOSEN US,IN HIM),BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM,IN LOVE HAVING PREDESTINATED US UNTO THE ADOPTION OF CHILDREN (BY CHRIST JESUS),TO HIMSELF,ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL. TO THE PRAISE OF THE GLORY OF HIS GRACE,WHEREIN HE HATH MADE US (ACCEPTED,IN THE BELOVED). (IN WHOM,WE HAVE REDEMPTION,THROUGH HIS BLOOD,THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS),ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE. WHEREIN HE HATH ABOUNDED TOWARD US,IN ALL WISDOM AND PRUDENCE. HAVING MADE KNOWN UNTO US,THE MYSTERY OF HIS WILL,ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PLEASURE,WHICH HE HATH (PURPOSED,IN HIMSELF). THAT IN THE DIS- PENSATION 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. THAT WE SHOULD BE TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY, (WHO FIRST TRUSTED IN CHRIST)!
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 THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE. WHICH IS THE EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE (UNTIL) THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION,UNTO THE PRASE OF HIS GLORY".

Now, let us put all of the foregoing related verses on Predestination in order:

"WHOM HE DID FOREKNOW"

Acts 15:18 "KNOWN UNTO GOD,ARE ALL HIS WORKS,FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD".

God always "FOREKNEW" who would be saved, and who would be lost, long before He created Adam and Eve! But that did not mean that God ever "arbitrarily ordained it". "Fore-knowledge", and "Fore-ordinaton", are not one and the same thing! Knowing the end of all things, God could even "name" those whom He "FOREKNEW" would accept Him. And those whom He "FOREKNEW" would reject Him. It could even be FORE- TOLD--of us. Eph 1:4 "ACCORDING AS HE HATH (CHOSEN US), IN HIM,(BE- FORE) THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD". "KNOWING US" was not "HAVING SELECTED US", as some wrongly suggest.

"THEM WHO ARE CALLED--(ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE)"

As stated earlier, "BEING CALLED,(ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE)" is not the same as "BEING CALLED (ACCORDING TO ONE'S PERSON)". The verses in question, i.e. Rom 8:28-30; Eph 1:4-14, plainly set forth THE PRECONDITIONS that invariably accompany One's Guaranteed Predestination, as follows:

(1). "TO THEM THAT (LOVE GOD).

(2). "TO THEM WHO ARE CALLED (ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE)" e.g. Eph 1:9-11. "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 IN 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".

Now, carefully note the following REQUIRED PRE-CONDITIONS of "being included" in GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE:

(3). Eph 1:12 "THAT WE SHOULD BE TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY--WHO FIRST,TRUSTED IN CHRIST". And (when) and (how) is that saving trust of faith (FIRST) acquired?

(4). Eph 1:13 "IN WHOM,YE ALSO TRUSTED,(AFTER) THAT YE HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH,THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION". IN WHOM ALSO, ALSO,(AFTER) THAT YE BELIEVED. YE WERE SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE. WHICH IS THE EARNEST OF OUR INHERITANCE (UNTIL) THE REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION,UNTO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY"

So it should be obvious. That one's eternal destiny could not possibly have been "affixed", when we were "CHOSEN IN HIM (BEFORE) THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD". No, each one of us, "WHOM GOD FOREKNEW", were not (then) saved, nor would be saved, UNTIL we had "HEARD THE WORD OF OUR SALVATION". And (then) we "TRUSTED IN CHRIST JESUS", as a result of hearing it. And (then), and then only, were "SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE, UNTIL THE REDEMPTION OF (our corrupt bodies), AS CHRIST'S PURCHASED POSSESSION (at Calvary). See 1 Cor 15:51-57. Yes. Then, and only then is one saved. Not only "ACCORDING TO GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE"--but also, "ACCORDING TO ONE'S ACCEPTED PERSON".

Wellington

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