First, let’s define what predestined/predestinate means: destined, fated, or determined beforehand. When something is predestined, it means it has already been determined beforehand what it should be.
For example, the butterfly, before it becomes a butterfly, is a caterpillar. So, the caterpillar is predestined to become a butterfly, right? It goes through a process called metamorphosis in which its body goes through a complete transformation. I discuss the spiritual aspect of this in greater detail in my book.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life”. We can conclude from this Scripture alone that God has predestined us to become His children and receive the benefits of His salvation. However, this salvation comes through our belief/faith in Jesus and the finished work of the Cross. Additional Scriptures to read on predestination are Ephesians 1:4-5 and Romans 8:28-30.
I’d like to summarize by using another analogy of a ship that is on its way to Heaven. The ship, which is the church, is chosen by God to be His very own precious vessel. Jesus is the Captain of this wonderful ship and those who desire to be a part can come aboard through the acceptance of Christ Jesus. As long as an individual remains on the ship and continues his or her relationship with the Captain (Jesus), he safely and securely remains amongst the chosen or elected people of God.
But because this election is contingent upon one’s union, comradeship, fellowship, obedience, and partnership with God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Captain of the ship, if he chooses to abandon ship, then he ceases to be amid, among, in the course of, in the company, or in the midst of the chosen. Predestination relates to us about the ship’s purpose and final destination and what the Father has prepared and planned for those who choose to remain on it. Everyone is invited by the goodness and love of God to come abroad the elect ship. This is done through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Narda Goodson
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UNLESS THE FATHER DRAWS HIM
ReplyDeleteJohn 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
What is the meaning of John 6:44?
1. Does it mean only a few, who have been selected by the Father, will be saved? No, it does not.
2. Does it mean that men only respond to the gospel because of irresistible grace? No, it does not.
WHO ARE THOSE THAT THE FATHER DRAWS?
John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught of God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.
The Father draws all who hear and learn. The Father does not force anyone to hear or learn. Men have free-will. God does not impute faith into a few so they will believe and be saved. Faith does not come by injection.
HOW DO MEN HEAR AND LEARN?
Romans 10:13-14 for "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
Men need to hear the gospel before they can learn and believe. The Father draws men by the gospel.
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Faith comes from hearing the gospel. Faith does not come because the Father selected a chosen few, before the world began, to be saved. All who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior are the chosen and that includes whoever accepts God's terms for pardon. Faith does not come because of irresistible grace.
God the Father draws men to Jesus with the gospel.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,
IT IS THE GOSPEL THAT DRAWS MEN TO JESUS!
IRRESISTIBLE GRACE IS NOT THE METHOD THAT THE FATHER USES TO DRAW MEN TO JESUS.
Romans 10:21 But as for Israel He says, "All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people."
Israel as a nation reject the gospel. How would that be possible if irresistible grace were in play? Israel turned away from God.
Matthew 23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
Jerusalem was unwilling to be drawn to Jesus by believing the gospel. They had a choice.
John 5:39-40 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.
The Jews had the opportunity to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, but they were unwilling. There was no irresistible grace in play. The Father draws all who are willing to believe the gospel.
John 6:40 This is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."
IF YOU ARE READING THIS BLOG YOU ARE ONE OF THE "EVERYONE" WHO HAS A CHANCE TO BE BELIEVE THE GOSPEL AND BE SAVED.
MEN REJECT GOD.
GOD DOES NOT REJECT MEN DUE TO NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
THE FATHER DRAWS MEN TO JESUS THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL. MEN ARE NOT DRAWN TO JESUS BECAUSE THEY WERE PRESELECTED FOR SALVATION!
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY CHRISTIAN BLOG. Google search>>>>steve finnell a christian view
Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if you just read the title of the blog ONLY and assumed that it's content was like what people teach incorrectly about "predestination". We are on the same page, Steve!!!!
Nowhere on this blog do I teach that "PRESELECTED FOR SALVATION", as if we were robots without a choice. It is a CHOICE that one makes to receive salvation. I've highlighted a few points I made in my blog below:
"Everyone is invited by the goodness and love of God to come abroad the elect ship. This is done through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ."
"John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life”."
The call is for "EVERYONE" and the "WHOSOEVER WILL" ...
But do all men accept this call? No! Do all men receive this gift of salvation? No, for many have perished in their rejection of the Gospel.
This word "predestined" has so many people messed up. It only means predetermined, ordained that we should BECOME the sons of GOD (the REASON why Christ came, right?) Just like the caterpillar I used in my analogy, so we, if we reject so great a salvation, we will never become what the Father has intended, predestined, ordained us to become, which is heirs and joint-heirs with Christ. We are not robots, it's a choice. So, I don't see where we differ.
pre·des·tine [pri-des-tin]
verb (used with object), pre·des·tined, pre·des·tin·ing.
to destine in advance; foreordain; predetermine:
GOD has destined (to set apart for a particular use, purpose, etc.; design;) us beforehand what we should be IF we accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ His Son.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
~Narda Goodson
Ephesians 1:3-14 sums it up ...
ReplyDelete3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 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:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 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:
11 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:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 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,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
~Narda Goodson