THE BOOK OF EPHESIANSPredestined!

Review• Last Year – The Jesus Series• January – The Book of Acts: The Power of God – The

Holy Spirit• February – The Book of Romans: The Gospel of God –

Salvation by Faith• March – The Book of Ephesians: The Eternal Plan of God

– Predestined for Holiness

Last Time

What It Means to Be “In Christ”

1.It means to have grace

2.It means to be in God’s will

3.It means we have the Holy Spirit of God

Ephesians 1:3-143 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Note:5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through

Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

The Debate Over “Predestination”Three Main Views1. Calvinism or Reform Theology

• John Calvin, 1509-1564

2. Arminianism or Remonstrant Theology• Jacobas Arminias, 1560-1609• John Wesley, 1703-1791

3. Universalism• Clement of Alexandria, 150-215 A.D.• Origen, 185-254 A.D.

Calvinism’s Five Tenets – “TULIP”1. T = Total Hereditary Depravity. At birth all men are depraved wholly and

totally. They are in this sinful condition because they have inherited it from

their parents.

2. U = Unconditional Election. God, before the foundation of the world,

arbitrarily chose to save some people and destroy others and nothing can

be done to change God's sovereign decree.

3. L = Limited Atonement. Christ died only for the ones God had

unconditionally chosen to save.

4. I = Irresistible Grace. An unregenerate person cannot voluntarily believe in

God but once God determines to save him, that same individual cannot

overcome or resist the power of God no matter what he may desire.

5. P = Perseverance of the Saints. Since man can do nothing but evil on his

own, God's unconditional election is required to save him. Consequently,

one needs to do nothing to remain saved. If one's salvation depended on

himself in any way, the miraculous work of God in saving him would be

overthrown.

Five Articles of Remonstrance

1. God elects or reproves on the basis of foreseen faith or unbelief.

2. Christ died for all men and for every man, although only believers are saved.

3. Man is so depraved that divine grace is necessary unto faith or any good deed.

4. This grace may be resisted.

5. Whether all who are truly regenerate will certainly persevere in the faith is a point which needs further investigation.

Universalism• Christian Universalism is the belief that everyone

eventually will be saved.*

*Should be distinguished from many modern non-Christian universalist schools of thought.

Some Thoughts• To truly understand God’s predestination of his creation,

we’d have to fully understand God in all his wisdom and power. And, we cannot.

• The Bible does not precisely define predestination.• The arrogance, pride, self-righteousness and

condescension on each side is scary and counterproductive.

• God does not need any of our approval to do what he wants to do.

• As with most things the truth likely lies somewhere in between the two extremes.• Ecc. 7:18 – The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.

• God has clearly predestined some things.• God has clearly given man certain freedom of will and

thought.• Salvation is a gift of God not a right.• No one can choose to come to God unless God permits it.

• I do not consider myself to be in anyone’s “camp”, any “denomination”, or a defender of anyone’s point of view other than that of Jesus—I am not a Calvinist, an Arminianist, nor am I a universalist. I am a disciple of Christ—“Let God be true, and every man a liar” (Rom. 3:4).

• Jesus said: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).

• Jesus said:  ”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).

• Peter said: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).

• Paul said: “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3-4).

• God is sovereign and God can do anything he wants to, “   “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion” (Rom. 9:15; Ex. 33:19).

• So, if someone can believe then it is God’s will that they do so.

• Jesus said go preach to every creature and to every creature we then should go.

• Calvinism must not be a pretext for fatalism— “what will be will be.”

Predestination – (Gr., “proorizo”)Acts 4:28 – In the believer’s prayer: “They did what your

power and will had decided beforehand should happen.”

Rom. 8:29-30 – “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

1 Cor. 2:7 – “No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.”

Eph. 1:5 – “He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…”

Eph. 1:11 – “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will…”

Some Key Words and Texts• Key words: Election, Elect, Chosen, Predestined• Matt 22:14 – “For many are invited, but few are

chosen.”• Acts 2:23 – “This man was handed over to you by God’s

set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”

• Rom. 9:11-12 – “Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

• 1 Pet. 1:1-2 – “To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood…”

• The bottom line is that what God wills will happen. • God can predestine anything he wants.• God is completely sovereign.• In the end both views major should end up at the same

place.• The arrogance and pride needs to be “stuffed” in favor of

the kind of humility and grace that is accepted as “of God” by any view!

Predestination: The Good News

1. It means we are people of destiny

2. It means we are people of purpose

3. It means we are people of praise

1. People of Destiny• It’s the antidote to failure and fear of failure• 5 – he predestined us to be adopted as his sons

through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…

• Rom. 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

• Thoreau:

“Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”

Rom. 8:19 – “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.”

Sense of Destiny gives us (1) confidence and gives us (2) identity

2. People of Purpose• It’s the antidote to purposelessness• 11 – In him we were also chosen, having been

predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will…

• Gives us (3) determination, and gives us (4) focus.

3. People of Praise• It’s the antidote to negativity and darkness• 11-12 – In him we were also chosen, having been

predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

• Gives us (5) a message and gives us (6) hope.

Conclusion• So, let the rancorous debate cease and let us trust God’s

divine will and his sovereignty to accomplish what he has purposed.

• Listen to what God said: Isaiah 55:9-13

9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,    so are my ways higher than your ways    and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow    come down from heaven, and do not return to it    without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:    It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 12 You will go out in joy    and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills    will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field    will clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown,    for an everlasting sign,    which will not be destroyed.”