What IS Biblical Predestination? Part 2

Standing amazed in the presence of God’s resurrected Son, He extends His hand of love promising eternal salvation by His grace alone, “whosoever believes in me will find eternal life in Heaven.”
28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.29For 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; 30and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Romans 8:28-30.

The third time the word "predestined" is used is in Romans 8:29.
"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”

Note once does this verse say, "predestined to be saved."

Why is the Believer Predestined?

“….He also predestined (the Believer) to become conformed to the image of His Son. Being conformed to the image of His Son is the object of predestination ... NOT salvation.

When shall we be "conformed to the image of his Son"?

"Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." 1 John 3:2-3.

When shall we be like Him? When shall we be conformed to the image of His Son? This will occur when Christ returns for His Church. God alone assures salvation and accomplishes His "eternal purpose" in every Born again Believer. We are born again by His grace through faith in His Son…..not by the crazy notion of salvation by predestination.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10.

God extends to every Believer
1. His love
2. His grace
3. His gift of faith
4. His workmanship…not our own

However, there is one important factor that must be underlined…..note that God PREPARED good works beforehand so that we would walk in them…..NOT salvation.

The Fourth time we see "predestine" is in Romans 8:30.

" these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified...”

Verse 30 must be observed in the context of verse 29. God predestines the Believer to be conformed to the image of His Son and this is a daily maturing of faith in the life of the Christian. However, we will not be as HE IS until the day that He comes to meet HIS BRIDE…HIS CHURCH.

Notice three important actions of God in this verse:

Those He calls, He justifies and those He justifies He also glorifies. These acts of God demonstrate His grace toward the Believer His Grace in the life of the Believer indicates the completeness of the nature of God’s gift of redemption at the Cross.

Compare with verse 32.

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS."

GOD has predestined that the Believer will be eternally saved. HE GAVE HIS OWN SON ... HE CALLS THE BELIEVER ... HE JUSTIFIES THE BELIEVER ... HE MAKES CERTAIN THE BELIEVER WILL BE GLORIFIED.

Having observed the four occurrences of the word "predestination" in the Bible, GOD has predestined the Believer to accomplish His purpose of becoming as His Son is.

Open your Bible and seek the instruction of His Truth from Him…..NOT John Calvin.

JESUS ALONE IS LORD AND HIS TRUTH IS FOUND IN HIS WORD

BW