A Biblicist: okay, maybe that's a made up word, but the idea is simple: I believe what the bible says. Many times men bring their own teachings, ideas and suppositions to the scripture and then look for ways to bring them together...usually this doesn't go well. In fact, many cults and false doctrines have come about this way and continue to. No, I believe the best thing for man to do is let God's Word speak to us--let the Almighty teach us and not the other way around. Briefly (about 3 months) I became a Calvinist when as a young Christian, I was unable to have my sunday school teachers explain the meaning of "Predestination" and other scriptures used by Calvinists such as Romans chapter 9. So, instead of struggling with reading the bible, I went to the bookstore and bought books by calvinists to find out these things...of course all of these books were written to support calvinism, it sounded reasonable to me at the time and so I followed those teachings. Thankfully, a good brother in the Lord withstood me and so I dug deeper and eventually came back to Scripture alone...there God straightened me out...from that time forward I have endeavoured to believe the scripture first and scrutinize everything else by it.
Predestination is a Bible word so let's not avoid it, but explain it! This word occurs in the bible four times--no more, no less--in past or present form. It's there but we shouldn't be scared of anything in God's bible folks. Don't run from the Bible, consider what the scriptures are actually saying--this is the primary mistake I see made regarding this word. The debate could end now, if we'd only look at the scriptures plainly!! "Predestinate, predestinated" occurs here: Romans 8:29, 30 and Ephesians 1:5, 11
The definition of the word is undeniable: We don't need to make up definitions--it's plainly understood. To predestinate something is to determine the particular thing beforehand, to destine it. Nuff said...and we still don't need to fear it, because the question is NOT, "Has God predestinated?" (for plainly the scriptures declare He has) but "WHAT HAS GOD PREDESTINATED?"
Predestination verses never mention "Justification" or the cleansing of a person's sin through the blood of Jesus Christ! Many mistake the verses to refer to salvation or a sinner being cleansed of their sins...but this is a mistake! None of these four verses refer to making sinners clean from sin and thus "Justified" before God. What we have occurring in every instance is God PREDETERMINING something for those who are now justified. In other words, predestination is for the BELIEVER ONLY!
What are you talking about PReacher?!--Take a look at the verses. In Romans 8:29,30 God is has predestinated believers to be "conformed to the image of His Son." But this is not Justification folks...this is Sanctification and occurs throughout the life of a believer until we are ultimately perfected in Christ at death, and more importantly the Resurrection! God determined that every believer would have this done to them. NOt only did he cleanse me from my sins to make me guiltless, but he also determined to make me like Jesus Christ his son--conform me to his image...but that's not Salvation.
In Ephesians 1:5 we find the same things happening. God has preordained some things for Believers in Christ. Here in this verse we find that Believers are predestined to the "Adoption of Children." Now, that is not Justification! We have here a picture of the sinner who has been cleansed by the blood of the lamb, Justified, and now God wants that believer to be adopted into the FAMILY! Who's family--God's family! But once again, this is not referring to salvation, only to something predestined for the believer.
The last reference, Ephesians 1:11 is no different and even easier to see...here we find that the believer will receive an INHERITANCE, "being predestinated." What is predestinated here? The Inheritance we have in Jesus Christ. That is not salvation. For the bible declares that we are joint heirs with Christ and Christ needed no salvation. In fact, the bible declares that we as believers in Jesus Christ will inherit all things! But once again, that is not Justification--not salvation. This is another gift of God to the Believer only!
In conclusion let me say that I did not get these things from anywhere but the bible. This is what the bible says--plainly--and I won't disagree with it.
God bless :)
