ChristiansUnite Forums

Does God predestinate some to heaven and the majority to hell? There are some who teach this, but it cannot be true because:

1. God now commandeth ALL MEN EVERYWHERE to repent (Acts 17:30)
2.God will have ALL MEN TO BE SAVED and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:3)
3. God is not willing THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE (2 Pet. 3:9)

So what are we "predestinated" to? We have to go back to creation for the answer, and then go forward to "the new creation" to see the glorious result:

"And God said, Let us MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, after our likeness;...So God CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOD CREATED HE HIM, male and female created He them". (Gen. 1:26,27)

God planned from the very beginning to single out one creature -- man -- who would resemble God completely, yet remain a creature. Adam was that creation, and had Adam chosen God over self, he would have continued in that image.

Sin corrupted that image, so God brought His Only Begotten Son -- the eternal Word -- into this world to become the "LAST ADAM". He always was and will always be "THE BRIGHTENESS OF [GOD'S] GLORY AND THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON" (Heb.1:3). God gave us His Son to usher in a "new creation" in the image of Christ:  "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness (Gen. 1:3-5), HATH SHINED IN OUR HEARTS, to give the light of the knowledge of the GLORY OF GOD IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST" (2 Cor. 4:5).

We are therefore "PREDESTINATED TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON" (Romans 8:29).  That's what "election" is all about. God elected all mankind -- out of His entire creation -- to resemble Him.  Sin interfered with this plan, but God already had a higher purpose before the foundation of the world-- not that we resemble Adam, but that we resemble Christ, "in whom dwelleth ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY" (Col. 2:9). Now God elects redeemed mankind to resemble Him in Christ:

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon of, that we should be called THE SONS OF GOD...Beloved, now are we THE SONS OF GOD, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know, that when He shall appear, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, for we shall see Him as He is.  And every man that hath this hope in him PURIFIETH HIMSELF, EVEN AS HE [CHRIST] IS PURE." (1 Jn. 3:1-3).

Here is how we should [and will] resemble God and Christ: "For such an High Priest became us, who is (1) HOLY, (2) HARMLESS, (3) UNDEFILED, (4) SEPARATE FROM SINNERS and (5) MADE HIGHER THAN THE HEAVENS... (6) who for the joy that was set before Him ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME..." (Heb.7:26;12:2).

This is what we have been predestinated to become. And the Holy Spirit, working in us, can remold us to resemble the Lord Jesus Christ: "For it is GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).  This has nothing to do with the "perseverance of the saints", but it has everything to do with THE POWER OF GOD WITHIN US:

"And what is THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TO US-WARD WHO BELIEVE, according to the working of HIS MIGHTY POWER...I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME ... God is our Refuge and STRENGTH (Eph. 1:19; Phil. 4:13; Ps. 46:1).

This is supernatural power to resemble the Almighty, AND IT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU AND ME DAILY.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.  (Heb 2:9-11)


Now all those who deny that God equips His people with all things to come to Him,  will be upset that all the children of God will possess the same Image as His Son, robot replicas they will accuse God of making.





Petro

You have some very excellent points here Sower!  And I agree.  The purpose for our predestination, or rather the focus, is that we be conformed to the image of His Son.  I think that is key.  You posted:


I agree.  However, I do think that it is important to relate, and come to agree with God on this matter.  He did chose some to salvation.  Scripture clearly states this.  So why do we have such a problem with this?  Is there a contradiction, or a mystery that we have yet to fully grasp?  I believe it to be the latter.  You see, God clearly states that He chose some to salvation.  But He never states, not once, that He chose any to damnation.  We presuppose that if He chose some to salvation, then logically, He must have chosen the remainder to damnation.  But that's not what He does say.  He says what you posted!  Hence, salvation, though a work wrought, bought, and sought by God, a gift given undeservedly to all men freely - is still dependent on each man's obedience to that call.  Interestingly enough, this does not negate the sovereignty of God at all!  Rather, it bolsters it.  God chose this path.  God sovereignly works within these confines.  Again, we don't come unless called.  Our obedience is only an open door for the work He begins.  Yet He expects that of us.  By God, by His plan, through faith that comes from the word.

Nice post Sower.  Hopefully I didn't confuse, or conflict with you.   :)

Are all men saved?

Yea, but women aren’t.
(OK, OK – calm down – just kidding.)  ;D

Only all men (and women) who accept Christ.  Isn’t that made clear again and again in scripture?  
John 3:16 seems pretty specific.  

The simple answer is  NO


Not all  :P PEOPLE :P are saved.  

Yes.
"No" is a complete sentence.  ;D

Eph 1:4-6

4 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.
KJV

This Scripture further confirms the truth that believers are predestinated to be conformed to the "image"  -- the likeness, the resemblance or the character -- of Christ, by being (1) holy (2) blameless and (3) exhibiting His love to all.

The "adoption of children" is NOT what we consider adoption, i.e. bringing in a child from outside the family into the family.  Rather "adoption" by God means that we are not merely "children of God" through the new birth, but we have been given the high privilege and exalted status of "heirs of God" and "joint-heirs with Christ".  In other words, everything that belongs to God and to Christ now belongs to us for all eternity.

That is what Paul tells us in Gal. 4:6,7: "... that we might receive the adoption of sons. And BECAUSE YE ARE SONS [not "adopted children" but sons within God's family], God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; AND IF A SON, THEN AN HEIR OF GOD THROUGH CHRIST".

This truth is beyond our imagination or comprehension -- God's universe belongs to His children! "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world... Know ye not that we shall judge angels? (1 Cor. 6:2,3)... "Therefore let no man glory in men. FOR ALL THINGS ARE YOUR'S. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. ALL ARE YOUR'S. And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." (1 Cor, 3:21-23).

Sower,

Amen..

Petro