Predestination (3)
Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ
Our last two articles addressed Bible passages about “predestination.” This article will address one other pertinent passage, and then consider some consequences of false views:Tim Haile, for the Parkway church of Christ
Ephesians 1:4, 5, 11 – Perhaps this is the better known and most used of the predestination passages. Paul said, “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…In him we have obtained and inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the council of his will.” Failure to define terms and consider all related contexts has led many to conclude that Paul is here speaking of an individual election by God in which certain ones are had pre selected for salvation. This is not what Paul said. Paul said that a certain character, conduct and class had been predestinated. God predetermined that salvation would be in Christ, for those who were adopted by God, and who conducted themselves in a holy and blameless way. Any and all who fit these criteria are fit candidates for salvation. Like Romans 8:29, 30, this passage describes certain conditions as being what God has predestinated. As we noted in our last article, Romans 8:29 tells us that God predestined that people would be saved by conforming to the image of Christ.
Let us consider some of the consequences of the position of personal and individual pre selection:
The concept of individual pre-election violates free moral agency. God has given humans the right and ability to choose salvation. God invites men to obtain salvation, but the “water of life” is reserved only for those who “desire” and “take” it (Revelation 22:17). Jesus lamented that though he had offered eternal life to members of the Jewish nation, they “would not” take it (Matthew 23:37; John 5:40). Salvation is a matter of choice: “IF anyone wills to do his will… IF anyone abides in my word…” (John 7:17; 8:31). The little word “if” represents huge possibilities. It suggests the right and ability of humans to make their own moral and spiritual choices. (More to come…)
View past articles at http://parkwayarticles.blogspot.com. Please join us for worship and Bible study at our building located at 125 Hilltopper Ave, Bowling Green, KY 42101. We meet each Sunday at 10:00AM and 6:00PM for worship, and Sundays at 9:00AM and Wednesdays at 7:00PM for Bible study. Our radio program is aired each Sunday morning at 8:00AM on the WKCT 930AM band. Phone: (270) 842-2049 – Email: timhaile@mac.com.
