Predestination - No One Left Behind

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with the shout of the chief messenger, and the dead in Christ shall rise first, then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians  4:16-18)

So, how does one get “in Christ”?

“…He chose us in him before the creation of the world...In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace...having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will…" (Ephesians 1:4-11)

OK, predestined, we are all in. 

So what does hearing about it and believing do for me? 

It makes me aware of my inclusion in Christ, the good news of my salvation. And the Holy Spirit (the power of God) within me guarantees my inclusion and salvation.

“…you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…” (Ephesians 1:13-14)

So all are included "in Christ" as the choice of God "before the creation of the world".  When He gifts us the faith to believe the good news (gospel) we receive the seal of assurance.  It is God's gift of faith that allows us to realize this truth. A few gain knowledge of God's "grace" and "kindness" to mankind in this age. It comes by hearing this good news from others...

"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved. 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? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!...So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10:12-17)

Few there are who share the real good news in this age, or were ever aware of it. Therefore most will not become believers until the age to come, when, after their resurrection, they hear it from Christ Jesus himself.

“...because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God...” (Ephesians 2:4-8)

It is the predetermined will of God that all die, but no one will be left behind.

"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive, each in its own order, Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at his coming..." (1 Corinthians 15:22-23)

Predestined

“...but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7)

God had a wise predestined plan BEFORE the ages began and it is good news...

“...the good news according to the power of God, who did save us, and did call with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and GRACE, that was GIVEN to us in Christ Jesus, BEFORE the times of the ages.” (1 Timothy 1:8-9 YLT)

The purpose of this good news plan was to save sinners, not by works or wise decisions they make, but by His "GRACE that was GIVEN to us"...

“...EXPECTATION of eternal life, which God, Who does not lie, promises BEFORE time began.” (Titus 1:2)

Therefore we can EXPECT (be assured) that God will complete the plan as He promised "BEFORE time began". The religious views of men will not change the predetermined plan of God.

"I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me.” (Isaiah 45:5-6)

“For those whom he foreknew (mankind) he also predestined 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 He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:29-31)

I think Christians have erred in limiting “those He foreknew” to only those who “get saved” as the different church groups define what is necessary to be saved. God Himself has called all mankind into existence and has promised, in spite of evil and our sin, to save, justify, reconcile and glorify all mankind when His work in finished….God is FOR US, not against us!

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope (assurance) that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now." (Romans 8:20-22)

For 2000 years theologians and philosophers have reasoned from its bondage to corruption, rather than from trusting the promises of God. There personal views have robbed most of mankind of the "blessed hope (assurance)" of the return of Christ to finish what God started. God subjected the whole creation to evil, suffering and futility, but it was necessary, and temporary, and all creation is to be "set free" into the "freedom of the Sons of God". Those Christians who do not believe this see no hope for those they consider unbelievers...because they do not believe that the GLORY promised by God is for ALL and will far exceed the "sufferings of this present time".

Many spend their entire lives trying nobly to end as much suffering as possible…thy are to be commended and we should do our part…but there is no less suffering and evil today than when they started those valiant efforts. Others do nothing but threaten sinners that they will not only suffer in this life but will suffer a million times more in hell if they do not repent, get saved and join their church...sending missionaries all over the world with such a message. It does not seem to me that God gets any glory from this, just disdain from those who cannot fathom a loving Father doing such to his suffering, even evil, children.

Nevertheless to the humble and mature person who will believe God, Paul speaks...

"Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory…” (1 Corinthians 2:6-8)

The wise, highly educated religious and political men, crucified Jesus, but they were ignorant. For had they believed God they would not have crucified Jesus. But if they had not…we all would be lost…how ironic. And they did so, in spite of their wisdom, because it was God’s will for Jesus to be crucified…

"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know--this Man, delivered over BY THE PREDETERMINE PLAN AND FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death…And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, HE HAS THUS FULFILLED.” (Acts 2:22-24; 3:18-19)

Why Did God Create Evil?

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:2-7)

The last two days I have been thinking about God’s plan for mankind, and I concluded in studying the word saint in the Scripture that all people are saints in God’s eye. Paul says above that it is God’s intention and choice to bless us, not curse us. In fact God decided and PREDESTINED this before He created any of us…and He knew that ALL would sin and fall short of the glory of God in this present evil age which must have been why he created evil…

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

And the Bible seems to indicate that the reason He created evil and allows mankind to sin is so that he can reveal his MERCY and GRACE and demonstrate His LOVE by redeeming sinners through the blood of Christ Jesus…

“God demonstrates His love towards us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us…God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have MERCY on all...In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His GRACE which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him” (Romans 5:8; Romans 11:32; Ephesians 1:8-9)

One day God will finish what He has begun in an age yet to come and says that we should view the evil we are experiencing in this age as follows…

”...with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been PREDESTINED according to HIS PURPOSE who works ALL THINGS after the counsel of HIS WILL." (Ephesians 1:10-11)

“When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were APPOINTED for eternal life believed.” (Acts 13:48)

Heard what?

"For so the Lord has commanded us, I have placed you as a light for the Gentiles, THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH” (Acts 13:47)

Not OFFER salvation, but "BRING" salvation. What we see today, 2000 years later, among Christianity is not even close to this “light”. What we see today is various Religious groups asking for you to join them in order to receive this salvation - by a free will choice of your own. And if you refuse you are said to be condemning yourself to eternal separation from God and unending punishment in the lake of fire.

Yet here is what God says about Salvation…

“For the grace of God has appeared, BRINGING salvation to all men…He made known to us the mystery of HIS WILL, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of ALL THINGS in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been PREDESTINED according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of HIS WILL,… but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, MADE US ALIVE together with Christ - by GRACE you have been saved…” (Titus 2:1; Ephesians 1:9-11; 2:4-5)

It is not that there was not a choice made in the matter of Salvation, but it was God who "chose" - not you or me! Here is exactly how the Bible states this…

“You did not choose me, but I CHOSE YOU…” (John 15:16)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as HE CHOSE US BEFORE THE FOUDATION OF THE WORLD...In love HE PREDESTINED US to adoption as sons THROUGH Jesus Christ to Himself, ACCORDING TO THE KIND INTENTION OF HIS WILL” (John 15:16; Ephesians 1:3-5)

Back to the first verse quoted above. Who are those “appointed”? Traditional Christian theology says those who CHOOSE to accept Christ and honor God. Traditional Muslim theology says those who CHOOSE to accept Mohammad and honor Allah. The bible, however, says that ALL MANKIND has been chosen BY THE DEITY HIMSELF and appointed and predestined to eternal Salvation…not eternal condemnation.

“It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance…we have fixed our hope on the living GOD, who is the Savior of ALL MANKIND, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.…” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

"He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world...In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ...according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us...according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will..." (Ephesians 1:4-9)

Unfortunately Christianity has made salvation an act of man's free will rather than the will of God. All we can do is come to the knowledge and believe what God has done for us. Some come to the knowledge of His salvation in this life, ALL in the next. Either way it is a time to rejoice and to praise Him for "the glory of His GRACE".

Note above that it is God who makes "known to us the mystery of His will"… and has "predestined" us to be sons. So what is the will of God?

“…God our Savior; Who WILL have ALL MEN to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom FOR ALL, to be testified in due time.” (1 Timothy 2:1-7 KJV)

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will…In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:11-14)

Mankind has been "predestined" to hear and believe the good news of their salvation and upon believing they become sealed with the promise of "Holy Spirit".

I have heard much teaching about the Holy Spirit over the years. Like “walking in the Spirit”, or “receiving the Spirit”, or being “filled with the Spirit”. Some teach that the Holy Spirit is a person and part of a “trinity”. Some even teach about a “second blessing” when one is “baptized in the Holy Spirit”. Any many say things like “the Spirit led me” to do such and such.

The various and conflicting teachings on the “Holy Spirit” is confusing and probably wrong to some degree.

Here is a simple way I keep what God says about “Spirit” straight in my mind, Holy or not. I am a man of the flesh…a "soul" which is mortal and controlled by those natural emotions that all mankind experience (the flesh). I will stay “mortal” until I die and am raised a “Spiritual body". It is a promise from God. That body will be Holy and Spiritual - a new creation - only when I am made immortal. But that is in the future…it is our inheritance an hope as children of God.

“So also is the resurrection of the dead…it is sown a natural body, it is raised a SPIRITUAL body. If there is a natural body, there is also a SPIRITUAL body. So also it is written, the first man, Adam, became a living SOUL. The last Adam became a life-giving SPIRIT. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven…Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery…we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the DEAD will be raised imperishable… But when this…mortal will have put on IMMORTALITY, then will come about the saying that is written, DEATH is swallowed up in VICTORY.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-57)