September 27

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD / PART 4

PREDESTINATION

-Romans 8:28-30 states, … 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 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 …

-Ephesians 1:4,5 states, … According as He has 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 Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, …

According to Andrew Telford:

-"What does the word "Predestination" mean when you look at the etymology of the word itself ? "Predestination" is made up of two words. The first part is "pre", which means before, or beforehand. The last part of the word is "destination" which means the climax, end or farthest extent. The little word "pre" has to do with something beforehand. The word "destination" has to do with the farthest extent. We understand by this then, what "Predestination", according to the precise meaning of the word has to do with: something beforehand and something at the farthest end or termination. "Predestination" has nothing to do with anything in between. The time is designated by the word "pre" and the farthest extent is designated by the word "destination." "Predestination" is God doing something beforehand, and doing something about or concerning, or relative to the farthest extent. "Predestination" does not deal with anything in between these two points. We notice in Romans 8:29 the purpose of "Predestination". It is, that we might be conformed to the image of His Son. Now when will that take place? We read in Romans 8:23 that it will take place when the body is redeemed, and that is the time of my adoption. This is the definite purpose of God in "Predestination". He has "predestinated" us unto the Adoption. Keep in mind the definition of the word. "Predestination" is a divine act of God, whereby, God makes that goal which is Adoption, certain for the believer. The purpose of God in "Predestination" then is Adoption, and when we are Adopted we shall be Son-placed. When we are Son-placed we shall be like Him, we shall then be in the image of His Son." ( Subjects Of Sovereignty, Andrew Telford )

-Our next goal in this study will be to give an explanation of the word …

-ADOPTION!-