| Predestination? Did God really create some to be lost, and only a few to be saved by His Son's spilled blood? Some have used the following passage from Ephesians to support their doctrine of predestination. This doctrine teaches that God created some to be saved while others are elected to be lost. This teaching says that if you are chosen by God to be saved, then that is your fate for all eternity, no matter if you love God and want to be with Him or not. The other side of this teaching leaves you understanding that if you are chosen by God to be lost, then that is your fate for eternity and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross is not open to you. This view says that for some, those chosen by God to be lost, the death of Christ on the cross was for nothing. Ephesians 1:4-6 �According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.� It is true that the passage speaks of certain ones being chosen before the foundation of the world and being "predestinated", or ordained, and adopted as children. Just as important is what the passage does NOT say. These verses say nothing about anyone being chosen to be lost. Further to this point is that those chosen are designated as "us", meaning Christians, those who by faith have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember that the Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus, the Christian church. This letter was not written to the general public. It is important to understand that the plan of salvation was laid before the foundation of the world. This plan said that only those who accepted the provisions of the plan would be restored to son-ship with the Father. It is God's desire that everyone would accept the plan and be saved: 1 Timothy 2:4 �Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.� (KJV) 1 Timothy 2:4 �who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. � (ASV) 2 Peter 3:9 �The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.� (KJV) 2 Peter 3:9 �The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.� (ASV) Nowhere do the Scriptures say that God desires anyone to be destroyed, separated from Him for eternity, or kept away from the plan of Salvation. Nowhere! To teach this contradicts many places in Scripture, including the two passages above, and says that God has lied. It should also be reaffirmed that there are no contradictions in Scripture. God chose Israel, as a nation, before the creation of this world. Paul is expressing a similar thought concerning the church, which is spiritual Israel, and it is a general election, not individual election the Apostle is addressing. Romans 12:5 �So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.� Galatians 3:28 �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.� Paul said God would have �all men to be saved� and Peter reaffirms Paul in writing that God is �not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.� Again we see the love of our Creator toward us, all of us! Christ is the boundary in which the choosing can be made because all spiritual life centers in Him. Someone coming to Christ is chosen to be saved, in the same way that someone who joins a choir is chosen to sing. To put it simply, it is not an arbitrary selection, or as they say �a roll of the dice�. Our loving God, who is long suffering and not willing that any should perish, has offered to save all those who choose to place their faith in Jesus Christ as their Redeemer. The Jewish people as a nation were called by similar terms in the Old Testament, but not all were individually perfect and holy. They were explained as separate from other nations and set apart to the service of God. In the New Testament Christian's are always called upon to be separated from other men and in being so are considered consecrated to the service of God. The purpose of the plan of Salvation is to restore the divine image of God in man. Ephesians 1:4-6 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him, in love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." Note the subtle change in punctuation that was inserted by the translators of the KJV (and removed by me). By changing where a simple comma goes suddenly the passage takes on a different meaning, showing that it was "in love" that this predestinated plan of salvation was put into place to offer those who are willing to worship the true God and accept the Son Jesus Christ. By removing the man inserted punctuation we see that now there doesn't seem to be a contradiction within the scriptures but a harmony comes out that makes them draw tighter together. (to learn about how Scripture contains man's punctuation read this) That being said, the words "in love" were used in the Old Latin and Syriac Peshita versions as I used it, connected to verse 5 rather than verse 4. To be fair the Vulgate Latin and some later translations connect it with verse 4 as does the KJV. The Greek writings are without value as far as determining the thought division here since they had either no punctuation and word separation or at best only the most basic kinds. The phrase does make good sense connected with either verse since all the divine operations spring from the basic attribute of God's character, love. It was God's "good pleasure", or good will, to devise and put into operation the plan of salvation so that as many as fixed their faith in Jesus Christ should be adopted as children into the family of God. 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." Rev. 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." What Christ taught, the Apostles never contradicted. Always seek out the harmony in Scripture when you find what appears to be a contradiction. If you seek the truth, through prayer to the author, you will find it. ***I know I have not covered every verse out there used by the followers of Calvin, so please feel free to email me with the verse you are in doubt about and I will gladly address it directly.*** Email me directly here. Return to Navigation Page |
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