20160820 Saturday, August 20 2016
Ephesians 01: What Does Predestination Mean?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things ... after that 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"

Ephesus was a major city of Asia Minor, as Turkey was then known (see also The Return Of The Home Town Apostles). Although then under the occupation of the Roman Empire (see A History Of Jerusalem: Pompey And The Caesars), the city remained greatly influenced by the earlier Greek Empire (see A History Of Jerusalem: Greeks, Ptolemies, Seleucids).

Ephesus was also famous at that time for the temple of the idol Diana, as the Romans called it (it was known to the Greeks as Artemis), as well as the great theater (the ruins of which are shown in the photograph below) that rivalled many modern theaters of today in design and capacity.

The apostle Paul visited Ephesus during his missionary journeys (see Paul, The Apostle To The World and The Intercontinental Church Of God). Despite the opposition (including a riot that started in response to his calling the idol Diana a worthless delusion; see The Miracles At Ephesus and The Idol Pedlars), believers were made in the city. It was to those "saints which are at Ephesus" that Paul addressed his epistle to the Ephesians.

The LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God and The LORD God Our Saviour) provides the means for Salvation ("5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" Romans 5:8-9 KJV), but each person decides whether or not they will be saved.

The repentant will live forever (see Christ Died For Repentant Sinners), while self-righteous rebels will be incinerated into oblivion forever (see Let Both Grow Together Until The Harvest).

Many have debated the meaning of "predestination." Some believe that everything has been determined by God and that no one can do anything to change their fate. But that is not what the Word of God says. Consider two stated examples of "predestination."

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be in the Kingdom of God - because they chose to be righteous by means of repentance. The fact that the LORD knows that they were going to make the right choice for themselves did not make their choice for them.

"8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 8:11 KJV)

Judas Iscariot will not be in the Kingdom of God - because he chose to betray the Messiah and to not truly repent of it (see Did Judas Iscariot Repent?). The fact that the LORD knew that he was going to make the wrong choice for himself did not make his choice for him.

"26:23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born." (Matthew 26:23-24 KJV)

The LORD knows the future as well as the past. With that foreknowledge, the LORD can choose, far ahead of time, those He knows will make the right choice from those He knows will make the evil choice. Everyone has complete control of their own fate. It's the reason that all of the true teachers of the Word of God emphasized repentance and living according to the Word of God - your eternal life depends on it (see Faith Is The Law and What Does Grace Really Mean?).

So too Paul in his statement "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 ... In Whom ye also trusted, after that 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" (see also What Gospel Did Jesus Preach?).

"1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

1:11 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: 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that 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, 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:1-14 KJV)

Paul's encouragement wasn't just about their having done what is right - he proclaimed the Messiah's warning to never stop: "24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:10-13 KJV).

"1:15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1:15-23 KJV)

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