Predestination is part of God’s decree in which He eternally proposes a plan to decide by His infinite wisdom all that will take place. While some do not like this doctrine because it hits at their autonomy and pride to control things, the fact of the matter is that the Bible clearly teaches this. God works all things after the council of His will (Ephesians 1:11). That does not mean He is responsible for sin, but rather He allows sin through His permissive will. Since the New Testament uses the term for predestination in six different places, every Christian must come to peace with it and once they do it is a soothing, encouraging and energizing doctrine to be cherished. While a complete study on the topic of predestination would also require a study of God’s sovereignty, election, foreknowledge, human free will and many other intersecting doctrines, that is not the purpose of this short devotional teaching.
The word we know as “predestination” is used in Acts 4:28, twice in Romans 8:29-30, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 1:5 and Ephesians 1:11. The English word comes from the Greek word “proorizo,” which means “determining beforehand,” “ordain” or “to decide ahead of time.” The word “proorizo” is composed of two parts: “pro” meaning “before” and “orizo” meaning “decide.” To predestine something is to determine beforehand where it will end up. If I take a package to the post office and write on the front, “Nashville,” I have predestined my package to travel from Kingsport to Nashville. By writing the address, I have predetermined its final arrival point and I have thereby excluded all other possible destinations.
Acts 4:28 uses this word to refer to Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and 1 Corinthians 2:7 uses it to refer to the mystery of the gospel. In the other four cases it is used of individuals. In Romans 8:29 it states that we are predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. To be conformed to Jesus means to be like Jesus in glory. So we are determined beforehand to be called, justified and glorified in heaven forever (Romans 8:30). Ephesians 1:5 states, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ. So God determined beforehand that we would be adopted into His family. This happens when we are saved. We are immediately adopted with all the privileges of an adult child into God’s eternal family to inherit heaven. God’s decision for this adoption happened before we did anything good or bad, even before we were born. This was God’s wondrous grace decreeing our unity with Christ in eternity past. Ephesians 1:11 states that God, predestined [us] according to His purpose. His ultimate purpose was to know us, choose us, call us, justify us, sanctify us and glorify us. Again the consistent theme is that God is doing this apart from anything we do.
Thus, God’s predetermined plan was that He would bring every person who has been granted repentance and saving faith in Christ, into heaven to ultimately be like Christ and with Christ. Individual predestination is about the destiny of believers, not about the destiny of unbelievers. This makes us get lost in wonder, love and praise of our glorious God. Predestination is a controversial topic, but it should not be, rather it should be a doctrine that heightens our love and trust in a sovereign God.
Scripture Reference
to do whatever Your hand and purpose predestined to occur.
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
5 He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
11 In Him we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of His will,
to do whatever Your hand and purpose predestined to occur.
but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
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