CHRIST IS GOD’S CHOICE

Wednesday 16 April

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Romans 8:29-30 (NKJV)

Predestination versus free will. This has been the age-old theological argument that has raged on for many years. The goal is that by the end of this devotion you will have a scriptural and balanced view on all the major aspects of this often misunderstood subject.

The idea that God has willed everything that will happen is the generic definition of predestination. This statement can be misleading if interpreted outside of Christ. We will see why shortly.

The first thing we need to know is predestination is the concept of soteria or salvation. God predestined every human being to be in Christ. This next statement shows the process. Predestination is a result of foreknowledge that produces election. What does that mean? Let’s break down the first part.

What does the Bible mean by foreknowledge? God has already gone into time, seen from the beginning of time to the end of time and knows in advance every possible outcome that can take place on the earth. That’s why nothing ever takes God by surprise or He wouldn’t be God.

Although He has this foreknowledge, it does not influence predestination. Neither does it supersede man’s ability to make choices. In other words, the free will of man is not part of sovereignty of God. The sovereignty of God is limited purposefully to the bounds of salvation.

So what does foreknowledge produce? Election. This has to do with how many are chosen to be ‘conformed to the image of His Son’.

The answer is absolutely everyone. The Whosoevers. Election speaks of salvation in Christ because we were all chosen in Him.

Ephesians 1:4a says ‘

just as He chose us IN HIM before the foundation of the world’.

Without the IN HIM, the entire concept of predestination, foreknowledge and election does not work. The next question to ask would be; who was God’s choice? You or Christ?

Did you know that predestination is not an individualistic thing? The reality is He didn’t predestinate you or I. He only predestined Christ. Let me say that again. God only predestined Christ. When a person accepts Christ he is now IN HIM which makes the person also predestinated by association. In Christ we become part of God’s choice. His chosen ones.

Now we are predestinated in Him, called in Him, chosen in Him, justified in Him and glorified because He is in us. We are automatically conformed to the image of Christ at the point of salvation. Instantly.

Predestination only applies to the man in Christ. You can’t be predestinated if you are outside Christ. There is therefore no predestination outside Christ.

Think about it. Christ comes to us in a message and then we make a choice without our will being tampered with, to either accept or reject Him. The result determines whether we are predestinated in Him or not.

He chose us in Him. There is nobody chosen outside Christ. Remember God’s choice was Christ from before the world began.

Why did He want us all to be predestinated, called, chosen etc. in Him? Because God wanted a family.

‘Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,’ Ephesians 1:5

‘For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ upon whom the whole FAMILY in heaven and earth is named.

Christ was always God’s choice. In choosing Him we too become God’s chosen ones. Salvation in Christ is really what predestination is all about.

APPLICATION

Study Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:4-5, 2 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13 to gain greater insight into the doctrine of foreknowledge, predstination and election.