Help us to better understand the topic of predestination.
Text: Ephesians 1:3-6.
Introduction.
1. There is a lot of misunderstanding in the world regarding the topic of predestination.
3. There is so much false teaching regarding this that we would all do well to know exactly what it means when the Bible says that God predetermines who will be
saved.
Body.
I. The Wrong View
A. That God chooses who will be saved and we have no say in the matter.
1. Proponents of this view argue that God does everything for you.
2. God chooses and whether or not we desire to be saved, we are.
3. Some say that, if you are one of the chosen, you will have some kind of religious "experience" to let you know.
4. If God chooses you, you can never fall away.
5. They argue that those who fall away were never the chosen anyway.
B. Consequences of this view.
1. God would be a respecter of persons.
2. Christ's death would not have been for all.
3. We would have no need to evangelize the world.
4. One could hate God, even be a Devil worshiper, and still go to heaven
II. What does the Bible teach?
A. In regard to the aforementioned consequences.
1. God is no respecter of persons: (Romans
2:11) "For there is no respect of persons with
God." (Galatians 3:27-28)
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on
Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
2. Christ died for all: (Hebrews
10:10) "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
(John
3:16) "For God so loved the world, that
he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life." (Romans
5:6) "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."
3. Jesus told us to teach the whole world. (Matthew
28:19-20) "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
4. Those who live a life of sin will not inherit heaven. (Galatians
5:19-21) "Now the works of the flesh are
manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness,
revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have
also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not
inherit the kingdom of God." (Revelation 21:8)
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
B. In regard to predestination.
1. The Bible teaches that the church is God's eternal purpose (Ephesians
3:9-11) "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:"
2. Now, couple that verse with Ephesians
1:5. "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his
will"
3. It seems clear that God has predestinated the church to be saved.
4. However anyone is free to become a part of that church.
b. Acts
2:40. "And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation."
Conclusion.
1. God wants us all to be saved.
2. He has done everything He can to help us.
3. Yet, the choice is ours to make.
4. Choose to obey God today.
-- Ralph Price, December 2001 --
|
