What about Predestination?

Ephesians 1:3-14

In this lesson we will focus on the word predestination. It is only used four times in a King James Bible but yet there is a lot of controversy concerning this word. As we will see by looking at the context and getting a proper understanding about what the Bible says we are predestined to, then we can understand this word and how it is used in God’s word.

Predestination – to predetermine or foreordain; to appoint or ordain beforehand by an unchangeable purpose. [American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster 1828]

What does the Bible say that we are predestined to? 

1)  Ephesians 1:5 (to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ himself)

2)  Ephesians 1:11 (to the obtaining an inheritance)

3)  Romans 8:29 (to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ)

4)  Romans 8:30 (references verse 29)

The key to understanding this is to understand the word adoption. Many teach that adoption is salvation which is what causes a problem with the understanding predestination. Since we are spiritual born into the family of God then the question becomes why do we need adoption?

According to Romans 8:23, adoption is the redemption of the body. This is why we are said to receive the Spirit of adoption in Romans 8:15, the same spirit that resurrected Jesus Christ will resurrection us also (Romans 8:11). So, getting our glorified body is being adopted. At salvation God has redeemed the inner man and one day he will complete the redemption by redeeming the flesh as well. In the meantime he has given us the Spirit of promise as earnest until that takes place (Ephesians 1:13-14). This makes sense when we think about it because physically we are born into the image of Adam, therefore when we get our glorified body we are physically adopted into the family of God. Spiritually we are born into the family of God, but physically we are adopted.

Back to Predestination:

Looking back to the verses above that say we are predestined to something. They are really all talking about the same thing. Getting our glorified body, being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, which is part of the inheritance of being “in him”. Note that everything in the context of Ephesians chapter one is directly connected with being in him. We are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ the moment we are saved (1 Corinthians 12:12-13 ; Galatians 3:27)

Once we understand adoption it becomes clear what we are predestined to, and it is not being saved. We are saved by receiving Jesus as our savior and once we have done that we are predestined to receive a glorified body in the future.