Chosen
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Ephesians 1:4-5 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and
will –
They were predestined - ordained in advance - to be adopted as children of God by faith in Christ.
What does this mean? What does ‘chosen’ mean? What does ‘predestination’ mean?
For one thing, it means that God knew you before you were born.
Psalms 139:15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven
together in the depths of the earth,
Psalms 139:16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I
appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
Two schools of thought:
1. Predestination – teaches that God has chosen certain people in advance to be saved - (Calvinism).
John Calvin emphasized the sovereignty of God and the depravity of man.
He concluded that man could do nothing to win God’s favor.
He said that salvation is totally accomplished through the free working of God’s grace. (I agree so far.)
But then he says the God has chosen some people for salvation and others for destruction. (This is where I
disagree.
I cannot believe that a loving God would deliberately create certain people just to destroy them. Life is
sacred to the creator of life.)
Now, here are the scriptures used to formulate this theology:
2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved
unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.;
So God has ordained a judgment day.
Romans 9.13-20 “13 Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." 14 What then shall we say? Is
God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have
compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on
God’s mercy.17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display
my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." 18 Therefore God has mercy on
whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. 19 One of you will say to me:
"Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" 20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?
"Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’"”
Is the scripture saying that God made Pharoah rebel?
James tells us clearly – James 1:13 When tempted, no-one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot
be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
Romans 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
“Whom he foreknew…” Who did God foreknow? Everybody!
So, he predestinated everybody “to be conformed to the image of his Son”
Does predestination mean that God has a blueprint for your life that is unavoidable? No!
2. Free will – This theology teaches that God knows in advance who will respond to His call. They are called
“the chosen”, because God knows they have the predisposition to accept his plan. This is called
foreknowledge. Men have a choice - free will. (Arminianism)
Jacobus Arminius taught the following tenets:
· Humans are naturally unable to make any effort towards salvation – they are totally depraved (fallen,
evil)
· Salvation is possible by grace alone
· Human effort cannot cause or contribute to salvation (You can’t save yourself or add to it)
· God's election is conditional on faith in Jesus
· Jesus' atonement was potentially for all people, Christ died for everybody.
· God allows his grace to be resisted. He allows men to choose to believe or not believe.
· Salvation can be lost, as continued salvation is conditional upon continued faith
Here are scriptures behind this thinking:
- Jesus prayer ''not my will' - he had a choice. (Luke 22:42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from
me; yet not my will, but yours be done.")
- Paul in Php 1.21-25. – to live or die – he had a choice (“21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not
know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it
is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will
continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,”
- 1 Timothy 2:4-5 “who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is
one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus “
- Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the
death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why
will you die, O house of Israel?’
Does free will give you more power than God? No! Free will makes it a matter of trust between you and
God. If you have no choice whether to love him or choose him or not, that is not love, it is forced
compliance. It has no true heart.
There are strong arguments both ways.
Either way we have a duty to preach the gospel and give people an opportunity to receive salvation.
Romans 10.14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him
whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
So, who are the ‘chosen’? Are they people who God has predestined? Has God chosen some people for
salvation before they were even born, as some verses seem to indicate. Or does the word ‘chosen’ simply
refer to those who have chosen him – those who have responded to his call?
Consider this – Jesus spoke to the masses. He offered his message and his miracles to all who came to him.
But he spent his time with those who responded and sought a deeper revelation. What does this mean? That
they were the ones predestined to follow him? Or that they were the ones who chose, of their own free will,
to follow him?
I believe in free will – that men have a choice. I believe that every person has the potential to become a
follower – a believer – a disciple of Jesus.
Reasons:
1. God says that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of the
truth.
2. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He desires that they repent and be saved.
3. God said he would have on mercy on whom he wants and will harden whom he wants. We have seen
throughout scripture that God often gives men what they insist on.
a. Israel demanded meat in the wilderness and God gave it to them even though it made them sick.
b. Israel demanded a king and God gave them a king but predicted that it would not be good for them.
c. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish
because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion
so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have
delighted in wickedness.
d. Psalms 81:11-12 "But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave
them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.
e. John 12:40 "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their
eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them."
4. The simple fact is that God knows which buttons to push to get a response from you. He gives us
situations that can be stepping stones or stumbling blocks. We chose which they will be.
God continually calls people to repentance. God’s plan and acts among men are redemptive – for the purpose
of restoring paradise.
God’s original destiny for man was that men would live in His presence in constant fellowship with him. Man
lived in the Paradise of Eden until sin spoiled it. God’s redemptive plan is to restore man to that condition –
by salvation through Jesus.
Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the
caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
Romans 8:19-24 “19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.20 For the
creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in
hope21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious
freedom of the children of God.22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of
childbirth right up to the present time.23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.24 For in
this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?” (NIV)
In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and
will –
They were predestined - ordained in advance - to be adopted as children of God by faith in Christ.
What does this mean? What does ‘chosen’ mean? What does ‘predestination’ mean?
For one thing, it means that God knew you before you were born.
Psalms 139:15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven
together in the depths of the earth,
Psalms 139:16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I
appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
Two schools of thought:
1. Predestination – teaches that God has chosen certain people in advance to be saved - (Calvinism).
John Calvin emphasized the sovereignty of God and the depravity of man.
He concluded that man could do nothing to win God’s favor.
He said that salvation is totally accomplished through the free working of God’s grace. (I agree so far.)
But then he says the God has chosen some people for salvation and others for destruction. (This is where I
disagree.
I cannot believe that a loving God would deliberately create certain people just to destroy them. Life is
sacred to the creator of life.)
Now, here are the scriptures used to formulate this theology:
2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved
unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.;
So God has ordained a judgment day.
Romans 9.13-20 “13 Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." 14 What then shall we say? Is
God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have
compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on
God’s mercy.17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display
my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." 18 Therefore God has mercy on
whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. 19 One of you will say to me:
"Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" 20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God?
"Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’"”
Is the scripture saying that God made Pharoah rebel?
James tells us clearly – James 1:13 When tempted, no-one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot
be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
Romans 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to
the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
“Whom he foreknew…” Who did God foreknow? Everybody!
So, he predestinated everybody “to be conformed to the image of his Son”
Does predestination mean that God has a blueprint for your life that is unavoidable? No!
2. Free will – This theology teaches that God knows in advance who will respond to His call. They are called
“the chosen”, because God knows they have the predisposition to accept his plan. This is called
foreknowledge. Men have a choice - free will. (Arminianism)
Jacobus Arminius taught the following tenets:
· Humans are naturally unable to make any effort towards salvation – they are totally depraved (fallen,
evil)
· Salvation is possible by grace alone
· Human effort cannot cause or contribute to salvation (You can’t save yourself or add to it)
· God's election is conditional on faith in Jesus
· Jesus' atonement was potentially for all people, Christ died for everybody.
· God allows his grace to be resisted. He allows men to choose to believe or not believe.
· Salvation can be lost, as continued salvation is conditional upon continued faith
Here are scriptures behind this thinking:
- Jesus prayer ''not my will' - he had a choice. (Luke 22:42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from
me; yet not my will, but yours be done.")
- Paul in Php 1.21-25. – to live or die – he had a choice (“21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not
know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it
is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will
continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,”
- 1 Timothy 2:4-5 “who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is
one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus “
- Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the
death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why
will you die, O house of Israel?’
Does free will give you more power than God? No! Free will makes it a matter of trust between you and
God. If you have no choice whether to love him or choose him or not, that is not love, it is forced
compliance. It has no true heart.
There are strong arguments both ways.
Either way we have a duty to preach the gospel and give people an opportunity to receive salvation.
Romans 10.14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him
whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?
So, who are the ‘chosen’? Are they people who God has predestined? Has God chosen some people for
salvation before they were even born, as some verses seem to indicate. Or does the word ‘chosen’ simply
refer to those who have chosen him – those who have responded to his call?
Consider this – Jesus spoke to the masses. He offered his message and his miracles to all who came to him.
But he spent his time with those who responded and sought a deeper revelation. What does this mean? That
they were the ones predestined to follow him? Or that they were the ones who chose, of their own free will,
to follow him?
I believe in free will – that men have a choice. I believe that every person has the potential to become a
follower – a believer – a disciple of Jesus.
Reasons:
1. God says that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to the knowledge of the
truth.
2. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. He desires that they repent and be saved.
3. God said he would have on mercy on whom he wants and will harden whom he wants. We have seen
throughout scripture that God often gives men what they insist on.
a. Israel demanded meat in the wilderness and God gave it to them even though it made them sick.
b. Israel demanded a king and God gave them a king but predicted that it would not be good for them.
c. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish
because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion
so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have
delighted in wickedness.
d. Psalms 81:11-12 "But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave
them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.
e. John 12:40 "He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their
eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them."
4. The simple fact is that God knows which buttons to push to get a response from you. He gives us
situations that can be stepping stones or stumbling blocks. We chose which they will be.
God continually calls people to repentance. God’s plan and acts among men are redemptive – for the purpose
of restoring paradise.
God’s original destiny for man was that men would live in His presence in constant fellowship with him. Man
lived in the Paradise of Eden until sin spoiled it. God’s redemptive plan is to restore man to that condition –
by salvation through Jesus.
Joel 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the
caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
Romans 8:19-24 “19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.20 For the
creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in
hope21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious
freedom of the children of God.22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of
childbirth right up to the present time.23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.24 For in
this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?” (NIV)