Let's Talk "Predestination"

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Romans 8:28-30

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 
 

Romans 8:28 is one of the greatest verses in the entire scripture: God is taking EVERYTHING and turning it to the good of His beloved children, even their sufferings.

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

In verses 29-30, Paul goes on to tell us that God has been actually working out this plan from before The Beginning.

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

“Predestination” is the theological idea in some parts of the Christian tradition that God has already chosen who will believe—and therefore be saved—and who will not believe—and therefore be condemned. But that is not what Romans 8:29-30 is about! In v. 29, God has “predetermined” that those who love God (see v. 28) will be shaped to be more like Jesus. In other words what is predestined is not who will believe but what God’s plan is for those who believe.

Romans 8:28 tells us that God is working everything together for good. Verses 29-30 tell us that God will not abandon the Jesus-people until they take their place in glory. He doesn’t just forgive and leave it at that, but rather God works all the way through until the plan is complete. Paul puts it like this is his letter to the Philippians:

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ [Philippians 1:6].

Paul tells us that God “foreknows” who will believe, but that is not the same thing are “forcing” belief. In the same way, God foreknows that human beings will sin, but that foreknowledge does not force sin. What vv. 28-30 tell us is that God is working everything together for good, and that part of His divine plan is to keep working in the lives of those who are in Christ until God’s ultimate purpose is realized—a restored and glorified humanity taking its place in the restored new creation. And God has always planned to involved humanity in this way—it was “predestined.”

God’s intention, Paul emphasizes, is to bring to glory every person who has been justified [made right, declared innocent—AF] by faith in Jesus Christ. Our assurance of ultimate victory rests on this promise of God to us. But Paul, ever the realist, knows that that ultimate victory may lie many years ahead—years that might be filled with pain, anxiety, distress, and injustice. Thus he also encourages us by reminding us that God sends his Spirit into the heart of everyone he justifies. The Spirit brings power and comfort to the believer in the midst of suffering and he brings assurance in the midst of doubt. Christians who are unduly anxious about their relationship to the Lord are failing to let the Spirit exercise that ministry. It is by committing ourselves anew to the life of devotion—prayer, Scripture reading, Christian fellowship—that we enable the Spirit to have this ministry of assurance in our hearts. —Douglas Moo

These verses are meant to be a comfort to people who are struggling and suffering.

“I’m having a hard time.”

“Well, God is working all things together for good, for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”

“Can you say more?”

“Well, from before time He knew you and had a plan for you, a plan to save you and put you in right relationship with Him and to ultimately restore you to rule in His name.”

In this way, we can see that verse 28 runs right into vv. 29-30, which are meant to comfort the afflicted believer in exactly the same way as v. 28 and, as we shall see, vv. 31-39.

“Yes, stuff is hard but it’s actually still part of God’s plan.”

 

Predestination and The Holy Spirit

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Today’s Reading: Ephesians 1:11-14 [Day 02 of 20]

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

 
 

Here’s what Paul means:

  • We Jews were predestined by God to be the chosen people, the means by which God would bring blessing to the entire world;

  • And now you non-Jews are included in the chosen people when you heard the gospel and trusted in it.

  • The proof that you are part of God’s people is that he has given you his Holy Spirit;

  • The Holy Spirit makes real now the future perfect reality that is coming—the Holy Spirit is the one who makes real the now-and-not-yet characteristic of God’s kingdom among us;

  • If this is what life can be life now for God’s people—filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc.—how great will the future be?

 

Why Did Some People Accept Jesus, and Others Reject Him?

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I anticipate many of us are troubled by John 12:37-42.

37 Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

40 “He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
    nor understand with their hearts,
    nor turn—and I would heal them.”

41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

Why didn’t more of the Jews believe in Jesus?

When Isaiah the prophet was called by God (around 700 B.C.), God tells him to expect constant rejection from his people. So, when John reflects on the ministry of Jesus, he remembers that Isaiah was also rejected. In fact, the rejection was so complete that it was as if God had hardened the hearts of the Israelites to make it impossible for them to respond. Now, why would God set Isaiah up to fail? That’s the wrong way to think about it; it’s not that God set Isaiah up to fail, but that God knew that Isaiah’s ministry would be very difficult, and that though Israel would not listen, Isaiah is to preach to them anyway.

In the same way, Jesus came performing many signs and many people still refused to accept him. It’s as if God has hardened their hearts—why else would they refuse to believe?

But, John also tells us that the rejection was not total; actually, there were many people who believed, and some believed secretly.

So, John wants us to understand that the mighty works of Jesus were not enough to convince everyone of his identity. Some people were so stubborn that nothing would make them believe: it was as if God made their hearts hard and eyes blind.

I think this means 2 things for us:

  1. We should not be surprised when people in our day reject Jesus.

  2. But, we should also expect people to accept him in our day.

How can you tell which group is which?

You can’t—you have to sow the seed as widely as possible with the expectation that though it might not take root everywhere, it will take root somewhere.

 

Today’s Scripture

John 12:20-50