Phases of Predestination

.... God loves each of us with an everlasting love. As a loving Father, He wants every person to come to repentance and to the knowledge of the truth as the truth is in Jesus. He passionately desires that we all be saved for He is not willing that any of us perish without Him. And that brings Him to an important, practical decision in each of our lives (Jeremiah 31:3; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; Ephesians 4:21).

.... Being a God of purpose, God predestines all things according to the counsel of His will; and since He is not willing that any of us perish, He predestines certain events in the life of each one of us in an attempt to save us, if only we'll respond by trusting in Him:

.... "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, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory."

(Ephesians 1:11-12)

.... Predestination is a subject wrought with controversy, chiefly because it is has been viewed presumptuously. So let's return to the most basic level and ask some fundamental questions about it. What, exactly, is being predestined? Outward circumstances, or inward decisions? Does predestination offer a hope, or does it ordain a result? And if God is controlling something in our lives, how does our own response play a role? In other words, what is predestination really meant to accomplish?

.... Over the next few postings we’ll examine three separate and distinct types of predestination that are outlined in the Scriptures. They apply to different people in different stages of a relationship with God, and they are intended to accomplish different things. Furthermore they seem to be divisible on a time line, having the overall appearance of phases, so we will address them in that manner (Phases 1, 2 and 3). Think of them as an introduction leading to a warming acquaintance, with the hope that a committed friendship will emerge. This, in turn, will deepen into love as we respond with interest at each step.

.... By its very nature, we will have to address this subject in broadest terms. The specifics are so personalized that we can do no better (though there may be some examples in the 'comments' section, and you are welcome to add more of your own). But showing a basic 'pattern' that God seems to follow would help our evangelistic efforts tremendously. By understanding someone’s degree of progress within this pattern we might help them relate to God’s overtures of the past, understand where they are now and what it means, and even anticipate what their next step might be. And hearing the thoughts of their heart revealed in this manner would testify to them very strongly, demonstrating that God is talking to them again even now through one of us (as in 1 Corinthians 14:24-25).

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Daily Bible Reading: Mark 2