STUDY OF EPHESIANS

LESSON FIVE

CHOSEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD

UNDERSTANDING PREDESTINATION

Ephesians 1:4-6 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved

  1. Introduction -- What is predestination?
    1. Calvinism

    Some statements about the doctrine .

    Augustine (5th century)

    From this state, after he had sinned, man was banished, and through his sin he subjected his descendants to the punishment of sin and damnation, for he had radically corrupted them, in himself, by his sinning. As a consequence of this, all those descended from him and his wife (who had prompted him to sin and who was condemned along with him at the same time) — all those born through carnal lust, on whom the same penalty is visited as for disobedience — all these entered into the inheritance of original sin. Through this involvement they were led, through divers errors and sufferings (along with the rebel angels, their corruptors and possessors and companions), to that ROM. 5:12 final stage of punishment without end. "Thus by one man, sin entered into the world and death through sin; and thus death came upon all men, since all men have sinned." 44 By "the world" in this passage the apostle is, of course, referring to the whole human race.

    This, then, was the situation: the whole mass of the human race stood condemned, lying ruined and wallowing in evil, being plunged from evil into evil and, having joined causes with the angels who had sinned, it was paying the fully deserved penalty for impious desertion.

    Easton's Dictionary

    This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guide, we must accept this doctrine with all its mysteriousness, and settle all our questionings in the humble, devout acknowledgment, "Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight."

    The ground of this election to salvation is the good pleasure of God It is not conditioned on faith or repentance, but is of sovereign grace All that pertain to salvation, the means as well as the end, are of God. Faith and repentance and all other graces are the exercises of a regenerated soul; and regeneration is God's work, a "new creature."

    Easton also says:

    Hodge has well remarked that, "rightly understood, this doctrine (2.) It enforces upon us the essential truth that salvation is entirely of grace. That no one can either complain if passed over, or boast himself if saved.

    Grolier's Encyclopedia

    Predestination is a Christian doctrine according to which a person's ultimate destiny, whether it be salvation or damnation, is determined by God alone prior to, and apart from, any worth or merit on the person's part. In some cases, it is claimed that God only determines those to be saved; in others, that he determines those to be saved and those to be condemned. The latter teaching is called double predestination.

    Predestination has roots in the Old Testament concept of an elect people. Hints of the doctrine appear in the New Testament, especially in Rom. 8:28-30, 9:6-24. It does not appear in full form, however, until the 5th century in the writings of Saint AUGUSTINE. Opposing PELAGIANISM, which held that humans can merit salvation by good works performed by application of their own will, Augustine insisted that humans require the help of God's GRACE to do good and that this grace is a free gift, given by God without regard to human merit. Thus God alone determines who will receive the grace that alone assures salvation. In this sense God predestines some to salvation. Augustine's teaching was generally upheld by the church, but the further idea that some are predestined to condemnation was explicitly rejected at the Council of Orange (529). The classical medieval formulation, based on Augustine, was given by Thomas AQUINAS in Summa Theologica.

    The doctrine of predestination again became important in the late medieval period and passed into the theology of the Protestant reformers, especially John CALVIN. Calvin also insisted, against other forms of Christian theology, that grace is a gift and that a person cannot earn salvation. In the course of subsequent controversies, Calvin's doctrine of double predestination was strongly affirmed by the Synod of Dort (1619) in Holland and in the Westminster Confession (1647) in England. Until recently, it has remained a characteristic teaching of churches in the Calvinist tradition. In other branches of Christianity, however, it has received only limited support.

    ELWELL EVANGELISTICAL DICTIONARY

    Election is defined as "the unchangeable purpose of God whereby, before the foundation of the world, out of the whole human race, which had fallen by its own fault out of its original integrity into sin and ruin, He has, according to the most free good pleasure of His will, out of mere grace, chosen in Christ to salvation a certain number of specific men, neither better nor more worthy than other, but with them involved in a common misery"

    Statements of Doctrine.

      The Canons of Dort refer to election as the selection of "a certain number of specific men" and also states that "not all men are elect but that certain ones have not been elected" but passed by in God's decree. The so-called Five Points of Calvinism were formulated by Dutch Reformed theologians at the Synod of Dort (1618-19) in response to the teachings of ARMINIANISM. The five points teach that:

      (1) humankind is spiritually incapacitated by SIN;

      (2) God chooses (elects) unconditionally those who will be saved;

      (3) the saving work of Christ is limited to those elected ones;

      (4) God's grace cannot be turned aside;

      (5) those whom God elects in Christ are saved forever

      (The following from the Westminister Confession are taken from Owen Olbricht's lesson book titled, SCRIPTURAL ANSWERS TO RELIGIOUS ERROR 1)

      The Westminster Confession emphatically refers to the predestined as "particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite that it cannot be either increased or diminished." (Chapter III:IV) Other points from the Confession are as follows:

    1. The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in scripture or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from scripture unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelations of the spirit, or traditions of men. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the the Word... (Chapter I:IV)
    2. The Father is of none, neither begotten, nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the father and the Son. (Chapter II:III)
    3. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death. (Chapter III:III)
    4. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen, in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto: and all to the praise of His glorious grace. (Chapter III:V)
    5. The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of His own will, whereby He extendeth or withholdeth mercy, as He pleaseth, for the glory of His sovereign power over His creatures, to pass by; and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath, for their sin, to the praise of His glorious justice. (Chapter III:VII)
    6. By this sin (the sin of Adam and Eve) they fell from their original righteousness and communion with God, and so became dead in sin, and wholly defiled in all the faculties and parts of soul and body. (Chapter VI:II)
    7. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions. (Chapter VI:IV)
    8. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification... (Chapter XI:II)
    9. They, whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally, nor finally, fall away from the state of grace: but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved. (Chapter XVII:I)
Augustine, John Calvin, the Canons of Dort, the controversy with the Arminians, are all a part of the development of the doctrine.
    The Arminians held to an indefinite, conditional election, the election of those who believe.
      Holman's Bible Dictionary
        God knows in advance what a person's response will be, so He elects to salvation in advance those whom He knows will freely accept Christ. This Arminian view is called conditional predestination, since the predestination is conditioned on God's foreknowledge of the individual's acceptance or rejection of Christ.

      John Wesley (methodism) took much from Arminius.
        Arminius (Arminianism) believed that Man's free will and God's sovernty were compatable. He also believed one could fall and that Christ died for all.
          Other considerations
          1. Since the Bible does teach predestination, Bible students cannot ignore it; however what is taught about predestination must be in harmony with all of the Bible and not just derived from a few, difficult to understand, passages of scripture. Prevailing views based on Calvinism, Arminianism, or John Wesley's adaptation are easily seen to be not in harmony with many plain statements found in God's word.
          2. Has God predestinated that those who of their own choice become acceptable to God are saved, provided they do not return to and stay in their former unsaved state? Those acceptable in this case would be made up of those who obey and live by Faith which is established by God's teaching and instruction.
            1. Paul's discussions of Abraham's faith in Romans, chapter 4 and Galatians, chapter 3 point to having faith like Abraham to be among the righteous.
            2. Before Christ, identification of a group is difficult; however, such expressions as "They are not all Israel which are of Israel." (Romans 9:6) and "He is a Jew which is one inwardly." (Romans 2:29) certainly point to those acceptable as being in a special saved group.
            3. According to the gospel of Christ the saved group is made up of those who obey and live according to faith in Christ and his word.
            4. It is obvious from Romans 4, Galatians 3 and other passages that the saved are those who respond and live by faith in God's word. In the New Covenant God has predestined that those who believe in Christ, obey his teaching and continue in faithfulness will be saved. Each individual is free to choose whether or not he will be among those predestinated to be saved.
          3. Still another way of looking at the predestination concept is that God predestined those who could be saved and preached to them allowing each individual to make the choice for himself.
            1. God predestined Israel to be saved so the Gospel went to the Jews. Some accepted; some didn't.
            2. God predestined all to be saved so the Gospel went into all the world. Some accpeted; some didn't.
            3. The result, looking at things this way, is still that those who respond and live by faith are those who are saved and no one else.
          4. I believe that predestination refers to the group which is saved which is made up of those in Christ's church who live faithful and those who faithfully looked for the Messiah before Christ came.
            A look at the scriptures
            1. Definitions As far as I know there are no nuances, in the definition or word usage that would alter the basic meaning of these words. It should be remembered, however, that the definitions were probably formulated after the doctrinal development.

            2. Teaching is said to be found in Rom. 8-11 and Eph. 1:3-11
            3. Although I've never taught it and really don't know, the following passages might be and probably are used to teach predestination:
              1. Romans 8:1-11 -- This passage might be used to explain how the spirit of God keeps one from sin. Predestinationists believe that the spirit of God comes upon the select few enabling them to live above sin.

                Verses 8-10 says:

                  So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
                The Rest of the story is verses 12 & 13::
                  Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
                So we see that they still had a choice; it had not been taken away.
              2. Romans 8:28-30 -- Might be used to teach that God has foreknowledge of certain select individuals and at an appropriate time calls them.
                  And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
                Romans 1:16 says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." This tells us that it is the gospel which is God's power to save. The role of the Holy Spirit in conversion is not to quicken the believer so that he can believe, but in that age the Holy Spirit revealed the Gospel to be preached by the apostles so that those who heard could believe.
              3. Romans 9:13-24 -- Might be used to teach that God chooses certain individuals as he wills, that this is a matter of mercy and the rest shouldn't complain because after all he is the potter that made them.

                Verses 15-18 say:

                  15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion." 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth." 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
                The rest of this story is in verses 30-33:
                  What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
                Remember "Faith comes by hearing." They heard the gospel but did not obey. They were unrighteous because their actions did not come from faith even in their obedience to the Law they did not act in faith.
              4. Romans 11:5-7 -- Might be used to teach that certain select individuals are chosen according to the election of grace. Grace without works is the determining criteria and the rest will be hardened.

                Verses 5-7 say:

                  Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded
                The rest of the story, verses 13-14:
                  13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.
                So that we see then they might be brought in because they became jealous and did the things necessary to be saved.
              5. Romans 11:24-29 -- Might be used to teach that once chosen through grace, there is no possibility of failure because God's calling is irrevocable.

                Verses 28-29 say:

                  Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
                The rest of the story -- verses 30-32
                  For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, 31 even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all.
                So here we see that they disobeyed which was the cause of their not being accepted. How can their be mercy without disobedience?
              6. Ephesians 1:4-5 -- Might be used to teach that before the foundation of the world God chose those who were to be saved.

                Verse 4

                  just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
              7. Ephesians 1:5-7 -- Might be used to teach that this choosing was up to God's good will, that the choosing is by God's grace and the chosen are those who richly receive God's grace.

                Verse 5:

                  having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will
              8. Ephesians 1:7-10 -- Might be used to teach that those so chosen, by grace understand the mystery of God's will.

                Verse 11:

                  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will
                The rest of the story for these verses, 5-10, is seen in verses 11-14
                  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
                The inheritance is clearly a matter of trust and belief.
            4. Some scriptures, other than some of the above, used in the Westminister Confession to support their statements of belief about God's foreknowledge of each individual's salvation.
              1. John 6:37-39 -- Might be used to teach irresistible grace and God's prior selection of each individual.
              2. John 6:64-65 -- Might be used to teach that God has before determined those to be saved.
              3. John 10:29 -- Might be used to teach that those selected will never fall.
              4. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 -- Might be used to teach that those predestined to be saved are called by the gospel which they being, santified by the Spirit, believe.
              5. 2 Timothy 1:9-10 -- Might be used to teach that God, according to his will, chose those to be saved before time began. Those selected receive that revelation through the gospel of Christ.
              6. 1 Peter 1:1-2 -- Might be used to teach that the elect according to the foreknowledge of God are the ones who, being santified by the Spirit, obey and receive the blessing of the blood of Jesus.
              7. I Peter 2:8 -- Might be used to teach that those who don't obey are appointed to disobedience.
            5. Refuting the doctrine of Calvinistic predestination.
              1. Basically the doctrine is refuted by any scripture which teaches:
                1. man has a choice.
                2. man needs to do something to be saved.
                3. salvation is conditional on something man may or may not do or be.
                4. a man once saved can fall.
              2. In the close by context of most of the scriptures used to prove the Calvinistic predestination doctrine there is a scripture which refutes the doctrine.
              3. Looking at some other scriptures --
                1. Matthew 11:28 -- Those who labored and were heavy laden could come and be given rest.
                2. Mark 16:16 -- Belief and Baptism necessary.
                3. Acts 2:40 -- Salvation was in the hands of the listeners.
                4. Acts 10:34-35 -- applied to all, whoever fears him and works righteousnes is accepted by Him.
                5. I Timothy 2:3-4 -- God desires all men to be saved.
                6. 2 Peter 1:10 -- not falling is conditional.
            QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS

            LESSON 5

            UNDERSTANDING PREDESTINATION

            1. Explain each of the letters in the word TULIP in light of the doctrine of predestination.

            2. What scripture or scriptures in Romans chapters 8-11 refutes Calvin's doctrine of predestination.?

            3. What role did the Synod of Dort play in the development of Calvinism?

            4. Explain in your own words, to the best of your ability Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:4-6. If you have difficulty and I suspect all of us will, don't get discouraged -- We'll just give it our best shot.

            5. In 1 Peter chapters 1-2 which scriptures refute some part of Calvinism?

            6. Using at least one scripture each tell why each of the five points of Calvinism as is symbolized by "TULIP" (see #1) are not in accordance with the scriptures.