Ephesians 1:4, 5. "According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will."
Calvinst frequently quote this scripture to try and prove predestination, but what does it really mean according to the Gospel?
"According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world".
Calvinist teach that God chooses "Some certain persons" to be saved from the foundation of the world. Is that what this scripture is saying" No, far from it.
The only one that was chosen before the foundation of the world was Jesus Christ. "Who verily was fordained before the foundation of the world" 1 Peter 1:20. Peter was talking about Jesus. God knew that Adam and his descendants would sin. He also knew that they would need a savior. God looked into the future because he knew that Jesus would be... "The Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world" Revelation 13:8.
Jesus Christ is God's new Adam and our new humanity. God saw all of humanity in his Son Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17, this is why the scripture says, "That we should be holy and without blame before him in love" The only way that you can be holy and without blame is to be "In Christ". God saw us "In Christ" before the foundation of the world. NO ONE HAS BEEN PREDESTINATED, that is false doctrine.
We (the whole world) was predestinated to be "In Christ" before the foundation of the world. Jesus reconciled the whole world to God by his doing and his dying, 2 Corinthians 5:19, not "Some certain persons". God now sees ALL THINGS in his Son Jesus Christ, Colossians 1:20. This is why Paul said, "For you are dead and your life is hid with God in Christ" Colossians 3:3. As far as God is concerned sin, death and the devil have been destroyed, Colossians 2:15. God is at peace with the world because of Jesus Christ, Colossians 1:20.
This does not mean that everyone is saved. What it means is that salvation has been provided for all by the doing and the dying of Jesus so that now, "Whosoever that shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" Romans 10:13.
Calvinst frequently quote this scripture to try and prove predestination, but what does it really mean according to the Gospel?
"According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world".
Calvinist teach that God chooses "Some certain persons" to be saved from the foundation of the world. Is that what this scripture is saying" No, far from it.
The only one that was chosen before the foundation of the world was Jesus Christ. "Who verily was fordained before the foundation of the world" 1 Peter 1:20. Peter was talking about Jesus. God knew that Adam and his descendants would sin. He also knew that they would need a savior. God looked into the future because he knew that Jesus would be... "The Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world" Revelation 13:8.
Jesus Christ is God's new Adam and our new humanity. God saw all of humanity in his Son Jesus Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:17, this is why the scripture says, "That we should be holy and without blame before him in love" The only way that you can be holy and without blame is to be "In Christ". God saw us "In Christ" before the foundation of the world. NO ONE HAS BEEN PREDESTINATED, that is false doctrine.
We (the whole world) was predestinated to be "In Christ" before the foundation of the world. Jesus reconciled the whole world to God by his doing and his dying, 2 Corinthians 5:19, not "Some certain persons". God now sees ALL THINGS in his Son Jesus Christ, Colossians 1:20. This is why Paul said, "For you are dead and your life is hid with God in Christ" Colossians 3:3. As far as God is concerned sin, death and the devil have been destroyed, Colossians 2:15. God is at peace with the world because of Jesus Christ, Colossians 1:20.
This does not mean that everyone is saved. What it means is that salvation has been provided for all by the doing and the dying of Jesus so that now, "Whosoever that shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" Romans 10:13.