Malo,
Last time we looked at mostly the word “predestinated,” as used in Ephesians 1:1-5. We will now look at this word where it is used elsewhere in the Scriptures.
I am not sure how many of you have a Calvinistic understanding of the word “predestinated,” which teaches that we have been predestined by God before the foundation of the world unto salvation.
Arminianism also teach a similar understanding, but whereas Calvinism teaches that God arbitrarily chose people to be saved, Arminianism teaches that God foreknew people from before the foundation of the world to be saved, that is, God saw through the corridors of time who would accept the gospel and therefore chose those people to be saved.
Both views are based on Ephesians 1:4-5. However, when you exegete the text the words chosen and predestinated do not have anything to do with salvation but has to do with believers being chosen for service and predestinated for spiritual inheritance in the heavenly places.
So, let’s have a look at where predestinated is used elsewhere in the Scriptures. The word “predestinated,” is used four times in the Scriptures, twice in Ephesians 1: vv. 5 and 11 and twice in Romans 8: vv.29 and 30.
Ephesians 1:11-13. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.
Verse eleven is self-explanatory stating that as believers we have obtained an inheritance being predestined by God to receive this inheritance after the counsel of His own will so that we should be to the praise of his glory.
Verse thirteen state that as believers we have been sealed with the holy Spirit of promise. The fact that as believers we are indwelled by the holy Spirit of God, and He is the guarantee or the earnest that we will receive the inheritance that God has predestined for us to receive. This will be important to understand Romans chapter 8.
The other two places where the word predestinate occurs is in Romans chapter 8 vv. 29 and 30.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of the Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called, and whom he called them he also justified, and whom he justified them he also glorified.
In the context of Romans 8, Paul is of course writing to believers and in verse twenty-nine the believer is predestinated to be conformed to the image of the Son. In order to be conformed to the image of the Son, one must be a believer.
Then in verse thirty, notice that predestinate, called, justified, and glorified are all in the past tense. Once you have become a believer, you are then in a personal relationship with God, you are known by God, remembering that in Matthew 7:23 Jesus professing to the unbelievers to depart from Him for He never knew them.
Once you are a believer you are predestined to receive an inheritance, called for service according to the will of the Father, justified at the moment of salvation, but why is glorified in the past tense? Have we been glorified?
It is because Paul here is writing with the view of God looking back from the future where we have already been glorified. Therefore, from the future looking back, believers have been foreknown of God, predestined to receive an inheritance, justified through the righteousness of the Son, and glorified, meaning in this tense, we have now received our inheritance which is yet future, when we have been resurrected or translated during the rapture.
God bless and shalom.
Fresh Truth Ministries
The Holy Bible
The Foundation of Augustinian-Calvinism by Kenneth Wilson
SOTERIOLOGY 101 – A Professor and former 5-Point Calvinist Discussing the Doctrines of Salvation, Election, Predestination, and God’s Amazing Grace.
https://www.beyondthefundamentals.com