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About Jesus Steve Sweetman Predestination
– Romans 8:29-30 The
concept of God predestining anything, especially one's salvation, has
split the church for centuries. So
the following is my understanding, and how I view the issue.
Others hold to the opposite view. I
believe Romans 8:29 to 31 is a key Biblical passage, if not the key
passage, that needs to be understood when thinking about predestination.
In this passage there are a progression of five words that Paul
uses. One word intentionally
leads to the next word. These
words are, foreknew, predestined, called, justified, and glorified.
These words aren't just in random order.
Paul has placed them in a specific chronological order. The
text says that those God foreknew, He predestined, those He predestined
He called, those He called He justified, and those He justified He
glorified. God
foreknowing something is easy to figure out.
He simply knows things in advance.
He does not exist in our earthly space and time.
God foreknew every man and woman that ever has, or ever will,
walk on this planet. Those
God foreknew, He predestined. Predestined
is the word we all struggle over. The
Greek word "proorizo" is translated into English in the NIV as
"predestined". Part
of the pool of meanings for "proorizo" is the idea of
"predetermining" something.
I personally prefer the word "predetermine" over the
word "predestine". So
this is how I view "predestine" in this passage. God
foreknew all mankind, and He "predestined" or,
"predetermined", that all He foreknew, that's all of mankind,
should be saved. Simply put.
God's predetermined choice was to save everyone.
Those
God predetermined to salvation, He called.
Since God predetermined that everyone should be saved, one way or
another, He calls everyone to salvation.
Simply put, "all mankind is invited to come to Him and be
saved". Part
of the process of God calling people that the New Testament clearly
states, but not so stated in this passage, is that one must repent and
hand his life over to Jesus in order to be saved, or, as the next word
says, "to be justified". Repentance
and faith is part of the call of God. He
calls us to repent and believe. After
one hears the call from God, and if he repents and hands his life over
to Jesus, then he is justified, or, saved.
Therefore, not all who God foreknew and predetermined are saved.
Only those who respond to His call appropriately are saved, or,
justified. Finally,
those who are justified are glorified.
God speaks well of those who are justified.
He views them as He views the Lord Jesus Himself.
Therefore those who are justified receive all the glorious
benefits of being a son of God. In
conclusion, the word "predestine" in Biblical terms at least
from my view point, means that God predetermined that all people should
be saved, yet all aren't saved because all do not meet the conditions of
salvation which is repentance and faith.
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