the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Dictionaries
Predestination
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
or God is the sovereign ruler of the universe, one who is perfect in wisdom and power and who determines all things according to his will (Isaiah 46:10; Daniel 4:35; Acts 4:28; Ephesians 1:11). Predestination means that he ‘pre-destines’ what will happen – he sees, knows, plans, prepares, appoints and decides what will happen (Psalms 33:10-11; Proverbs 16:33; Isaiah 14:26-27; Isaiah 22:11; Isaiah 37:26-27; Acts 17:26-27; Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:5-6; 1 Peter 1:20).
Divine will and human response
God’s predestination does not mean that people are the helpless victims of unalterable fate. They have the freedom to make their own decisions, and they are fully responsible for their actions (Luke 22:22; Acts 2:23; Acts 4:27-28; Romans 14:10; Romans 14:12; see also PROVIDENCE).
Predestination is concerned with the controlling will of God in all things, whether matters concerning the universe as a whole (Psalms 135:6-7; Hebrews 1:10-12), the nations of the world (Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Daniel 4:32) or individual people (Jeremiah 1:5; Acts 9:15). The entire life and work of Jesus Christ was according to the pre-determined purpose of God (Matthew 8:17; Matthew 12:17; Luke 24:44-47; Acts 4:25-27; 1 Peter 1:20). The particular aspect of predestination that is concerned with God’s salvation of sinners through Christ is commonly referred to as election (Romans 8:29-30; Romans 8:33; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:2; see ELECTION).
People receive eternal life, not because of their efforts to earn it, but because God in his grace gives it to them freely. God makes the offer to all, but most refuse it; and God holds them responsible for their choice (John 3:16-19; John 8:24). Those who accept it, however, realize that only God’s grace has drawn them to the Saviour and given them the eternal life that God has prepared for them (John 6:37; John 6:40; John 6:44; John 10:27-29; John 17:2; Acts 13:48; 1 Thessalonians 5:9).
A purpose to life
God saves believers because of his eternal purpose, not because of their good works or their efforts at holiness (2 Timothy 1:9; cf. Ephesians 2:8-9). But once they are saved, they must produce good works and make every effort to be holy. Assurance of predestination, far from making them self-satisfied, gives them purpose in life (Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). God’s will is not only to make them his sons (Ephesians 1:5), but to change them to become like his only Son (Romans 8:29). And one day they will share the Son’s glory (Romans 8:30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
Although believers see the purposes of God at work in their present lives, beyond that they see his purposes for the future. According to his perfect will, he has built his chosen ones into one body, the church (Ephesians 1:11-13; Ephesians 2:13-16; Colossians 3:15). This united body is a visible part of a far greater work that God is doing according to his eternal plan. That plan is designed to bring an end to all the conflict in the universe and restore all things to perfect unity through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:9-11).
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Fleming, Don. Entry for 'Predestination'. Bridgeway Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/bbd/p/predestination.html. 2004.
