4. The Point of Predestination (Eph. 1:4b-6)
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The Point of Predestination
LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS
The Point of Predestination
November 26, 2017
Dr. David S. Steele
Intro
A. “This I know, that no one has been able, without falling into error, to argue against this predestination, which we defend according to the holy
Scriptures.”[1]
1. As a church family, we stand on the shoulders of men like Augustine who wrestled with the weighty doctrine of predestination.
2. Our own statement that concerns the doctrine of salvation reads in part:
“Salvation is based upon the sovereign, free election of God before the foundation of the world apart from foreseen faith. God elects according to the purpose of His will thus manifesting the glorious display of His goodness and grace. Election utterly excludes boasting and promotes humility, love, purity, prayer, praise, assurance, evangelism, and global missions to unreached peoples.[2] Regeneration is the sole work of the Holy Spirit that brings God’s elect to repentance and faith.”[3]
B. The title of the message is The Point of Predestination
1. In this message, I want to explore with you the inner workings of predestination.
2. Questions:
a. What is predestination?
b. Why predestination?
c. What is the purpose of predestination?
d. What is the ultimate end of predestination?
C. A word about expository preaching
1. One final question: Why have we been emphasizing predestination so much?
2. Answer: Because it’s what we find in the passage before us. One of the great benefits of expository preaching is that we are forced to wrestle with
the words in a given text. We are forced to wrestle with theology. And when we wrestle with theology, we grow. We go deeper into grace and we are conformed into the image of Christ.
D. Text -
E. Before we begin to dig into the inner-workings of predestination, we need to align our theological bearings.
1. We begin by noting that predestination is a biblical term. Indeed, it is a biblical reality. We can deny it, we can ridicule it, we can ignore it, and we
can critique it - but at the end of the day, we must concede that predestination is a biblical term.
“for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined (προορίζω) to take place.” (, ESV)
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined (προορίζω)to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined (προορίζω)he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (, ESV)
“he predestined (προορίζω) us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” (, ESV)
“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined (προορίζω) according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,” (, ESV)
2. Defining predestination
a. προ - “before”
b. òρίζω - “to define; to mark out the boundaries or limits of a place or thing; to determine; appoint decree; ordain.”
c. προορίζω - “to predetermine; decide beforehand; appoint beforehand.”
3. A theological explanation of predestination
a. “Predestination we call the eternal decree of God, by which He has determined in Himself, what He would have to become of every individual of mankind.”[4]
b. “The doctrine of God’s eternal predestination is so necessary to the church of God that without the same can faith neither be truly taught, neither surely established; man can never be brought to true humility and knowledge of himself, neither yet can he be ravished in admiration of God’s eternal goodness, and so moved to praise him.”[5]
F. As we begin our journey into the inner-workings of this doctrine, I want to draw your attention to four headings that will enable you to see and savor the doctrine of predestination. The first heading is a bit of review from last week but is an important aspect of understanding God’s redemptive plan.
F. As we begin our journey into the inner-workings of this doctrine, I want to draw your attention to four headings that will enable you to see and savor
the doctrine of predestination. The first heading is a bit of review from last week but is an important aspect of understanding God’s redemptive plan.
I. DIVINE PLAN ().
A. WHEN WERE WE PREDESTINED?
1. Predestination took place in eternity past.
2. Each one of God’s elect were predestined before the foundation (καταβολή) of the world.
B. FOUR ASPECTS OF GOD’S PLAN[6]
1. God’s plan is eternal.
“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.” (, ESV)
“remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’” (, ESV)
“who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,” (, ESV)
“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” (, ESV)
2. God’s plans are set in concrete. His plans are unchangeable.
“The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,” (, ESV)
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (, ESV)
3. God’s plan includes random events (what some could consider to be fortuitous or chance happenings).
“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” (, ESV)
4. God’s plan includes the sinful acts of people.
“for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.” (, ESV)
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (, ESV)
Summary: So God has a divine plan. “History in all its details, even the most minute, is but the unfolding of the eternal purposes of God.”[7]
II. DIVINE PURSUIT ().
A. WHY DID GOD PREDESTINE US?
God did not choose us randomly or capriciously —
1. We were predestined for this reason - because he loved us.
2. Love (ἀγάπη) - “Affection or goodwill.”
3. It is as if Paul anticipates an objection to this doctrine - for in verse 4b, he tells his readers what motivated God to elect a people for his own
possession.[8]
B. WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS IT?
1. An eternal love.
a. We’ve already seen in some detail how God’s love for his people is an eternal love as he sets his affection on them in eternity past.
2. A focused love.
a. If the doctrine of predestination tells us anything, it tells us of God’s focused love for his people.
““For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples,” ()
3. A sovereign love ().
4. A conquering love.
a. When God demonstrates his love for you, he not only grants divine favor, he conquers your unbelief ().
5. A proactive love.
a. Theologians refer to this as the divine initiative.
“We love because he first loved us.” (, ESV)
b. Jesus reveals how God’s love is proactive.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” (, ESV)
6. A triumphant love.
“For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.” (, ESV)
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach.” (, ESV)
C. APPLICATION
1. Have you ever felt unwanted and unloveable? Have you ever felt marginalized and mediocre? Have you ever wrestled with how to find your place in
this world?
2. The Bible tells us that God pursued his people. It is a holy pursuit that involves a love that is eternal, focused, and sovereign. It is a pursuit
that conquers every vestige of unbelief. It is a proactive love that takes the first step toward each one of God’s elect. And it is a triumphant love that is filled with godly joy which is all to your benefit.
3. The Bible speaks about this divine pursuit not only in eternity past but it is also revealed outside the gates of Jerusalem (; ) as
Jesus dies on a cross for the sins of every person who would ever believe - “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (, ESV)
III. DIVINE PURPOSE ().
A. THE PURPOSE OF PREDESTINATION
We have already seen one important reason for our election, namely, to be
holy and blameless in his sight (v. 4). But verse 5 reveals an additional reason that God predestined his people.
1. He predestined us for adoption as sons.
Before God adopted us, we were enemies of God, under his almighty wrath, separated from him, without hope and without God. The heart of God is for the orphan and of course each of us were orphans before we were given grace and adopted into God’s family.
a. Adoption (υἱοθεσία) - “placed in a position and rights as one’s own child, sonship[9].”
b. “Adoption is an act of God whereby he makes us members of his family.”[10]
2. The privilege of adoption
a. Adopted sons and daughters may approach God as Father.
“Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (, ESV)[11]
b. Adopted sons and daughters are co-heirs with Christ.
“So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” (, ESV)
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (, ESV)
c. Adopted sons and daughters have the share in Christ’s suffering as well as his glory.
“and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (, ESV)
d. Adopted sons and daughters are the recipients of God’s particular saving love.
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (, ESV)
Note: On God’s love for the world
“So while there is a genuine sense in which God’s love is universal in its extent, there is another sense in which it is limited in degree …God’s love for those who believe - His love for the elect - is infinitely greater in degree than His love for humanity in general.”[12]
3. Notice four important clarifications about our adoption.
a. Apart from predestination, we would never be adopted.
b. Our adoption is only possible because of God the Father.
c. Our adoption is through Jesus Christ.
d. Our adoption is according to the purpose of God.
e. Our adoption is both a present reality and a future reality (Already, not Yet!)
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”” (, ESV)
“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (, ESV)
IV. DIVINE PRAISE ().
A. THE AIM OF OUR EXISTENCE
1. “In the infinite wisdom of the Lord of all the earth, each event falls with the exact precision into its proper place in the unfolding of His eternal plan; nothing, however small, however strange, occurs without His ordering, or without its peculiar fitness for its place in the working out of His purposes; and the end of all shall be the manifestation of His glory, and the accumulation of His praise.”[13]
Conclusion
A. Summary
1. We have seen the divine plan.
2. We have familiarized ourselves with the divine pursuit.
3. We have witnessed the divine purpose.
4. And we have considered the divine praise.
B. All these realities help us understand the point of predestination which is ultimately according to the purpose of his will and the praise of his
glorious grace. The point of predestination is that God is to be praised.
C. The Westminster Confession of Faith beautifully sums up this triumphant truth:
1. “God, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all
creatures, actions, and things, from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and holy providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of his own will, to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.”[14]
D. Application
1. So when you struggle with your purpose in life, remember that God has predestined you!
2. When you feel marginalized, remember that God predestined you!
3. When you struggle with assurance of salvation, remember that God predestined you!
4. When you battle with temptation and wonder if you will ever walk in victory, remember - “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.” Remember that God predestined you!
E. May we stand in awe before our great God who ordains everything that comes to pass. May our lives be a reflection of his plan that he has predestined in ages past so that he would receive the praise and honor that is due him.
Benediction
The Dawning of Indestructible Joy – John Piper
https://www.desiringgod.org/books/the-dawning-of-indestructible-joy
[1] Augustine, On the Gift of Perseverence. Cited in Peter J. Thuesen, Predestination: The American Career of a Contentious Doctrine (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009), Loc. 124.
[2] , , ; ,; ; ; , ; ; ; ,; ; ; ; ; Js. 1:18, , ; ;
[3] Our Statement of Faith for Members, Drafted in 2015.
[4] John Calvin, Cited in Lorraine Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination (Philadelphia: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1969), 14.
[5] John Knox, Cited in Steven J. Lawson, John Knox: Father of the Scottish Reformation (Expositor: Sept/Oct, No. 19, 2017), 10.
[6] Thanks to Lorraine Boettner for highlighting these aspects of God’s plan. See Ibid, 26-29.
[7] Ibid, 25.
[8] God’s love is never capricious or “flighty.”
[9] Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc. Sonship refers to both sons and daughters of God.
[10] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), 736.
[11] Please remember: Not every person is a child of God. See ; ; .
[12] John MacArthur, The Love of God (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1996), 129.
[13] B.B. Warfield, Cited in Lorraine Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, 23.
[14] G.I. Williamson, The Westminster Confession of Faith (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 1964), 60.