A Most Wonderful Predestination

A MOST WONDERFUL PREDESTINATION

Rom 8:29

        Predestination is a doctrine that most folk do not want to discuss. Many of them feel that way because they don't believe it. This doctrine should not be feared, however. It is a blessed doctrine. Predestination is God decreeing His purpose before it comes to pass. Predestination here is not on the basis of God knowing ahead what men will do :29. It is an eternal union in acquaintance with God :29; Jer. 1:5. Moreover it is the decree upon which all things work together for good :28.

        What is the goal of God's predestination? Predestination is toward our being conformed to Christ's Image. Can you think of that? The image of God in man was lost in the Fall, Gen. 3. Man became a totally depraved creature in that fall. Predestination is the eternal purpose of God to bring us back to His image :28, 29.  All that we lost in Paradise will be restored in our being conformed to the Image of Christ. This current pursuit will be perfected, when we see Christ, 1 John 3:2.

        Let us look at the links in the pursuit of that purpose. There is first the foreknowledge and predestination in God's eternal decree :29. Then comes God's work of calling and justifying in time :30; 2 Tim. 1:9; Rom. 5:1. These passages show that all those whom God foreknew have been, or will be called with an effectual call in our time. Recipients of that call are justified in time, being divinely declared totally righteous by imputation of Christ's righteousness to them. In verses 30-37 we see the certainty of God's Purpose. Through all adversities predestination will secure our final everlasting life.