| |
Predestined
Us. The next verse in Ephesians says God predestined Christians.
| |
He
predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ
to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will . .
. (NASB) Eph. 1:5 |
Again we have an important word that we need to understand. It is
the word predestined. It comes from the Greek word PROORIZO and it
means "to make a decision beforehand." This means that God
determined ahead of time whom He would adopt as His children.
| |
.
. . to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely
bestowed on us in the Beloved. (NASB) Eph. 1:6 |
He did this not because we are wonderful or good. He did not do this
because He knew we were good people or had good intentions. He did
this freely and because He is good. This Greek word is also used in
Acts 4:28.
| |
They
did what your power and will had decided beforehand should
happen. (NIV) Acst 4:28 |
Our
Problem. But we usually have a problem with this passage and other
passages like it. We do not understand how this is "fair."
This reminds me of the following passage,
| |
For
My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My
ways,” declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher
than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My
thoughts than your thoughts. (NASB) Isaiah 55:8-9 |
We do not and cannot understand how God "drafts" us and
yet we decide too! God chooses us AND we choose.
He decided to make us His children and we decide to become His children.
| |
But
as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who
were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of
the will of man, but of God. (NASB) John 1:12-13 |
Conclusion:At
the beginning of this response, four previous questions and answers
were provided. I would encourage the reader to read them. They will
help in understanding this important passage of scripture. We must
remember the passage teaches that God chooses us. There are other
passages that teach that we also chose Him. We both choose. How does
this work? Only God knows that answer. Anyone who wants to be Christian
can be sure he or she is a Christian
by believing in Jesus. |
|
