Young People's Group

Predestined Us to Adoption as Sons

by Mitchell Tan
July 04, 2019

THE WONDERFUL CONCEPT OF PREDESTINATION

God had a plan for “the elect” before the beginning of time. He predestined them to salvation.

1. A CONCEPT REJECTED BY SOME

There are some people who reject the concept of predestination. They believe that man is saved solely by the free will of man. It is because of man’s choice that a person is saved. This is not true.

2. A CONCEPT TO BE DEEPLY APPRECIATED

Salvation cannot be based on man’s will. The human will is corrupted by sin. And man is more inclined to sinning than to choose by his own will to be saved in Christ. The apostle Paul expounded on this teaching so that we can stand in awe at how wonderful it is.

“Having predestined us”
Ephesians 1:5

The word “predestined” in Greek is the word “proorizó”. It has the idea of pre-determined or marked out beforehand. It was God who predetermined and chose “the elect” to be saved before the foundations of the world. It is purely by the mercy and grace of God that we are predestined to salvation. Those He destined, He chose to be saved. This is an unfathomable and most humbling concept! Who are we that the Lord should predestine us! This is something we should be grateful for.

ASPECTS OF BEING PREDESTINED

1. SONSHIP

“Predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself”
Ephesians 1:5

The Lord God predestined us to be adopted by Him as His sons. The privilege of being sons of God had been specially planned for. This spiritual adoption comes about through the mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The right to be sons is not given by the will of man but by the will of God (John 1:12-13). It is through His grace that we can believe in Him and be brought to Himself. This is another unfathomable thought. Why would the Lord save us and bring us to Himself? There is no reason for Him to do this. Yet He had predestined His people to be sons. This is truly His amazing grace. We are meant to know Him and love Him as our Father.

2. SAINTS

“To the saints who are in Ephesus”
Ephesians 1:1

The word “saints” in Greek means “the holy ones”. The Ephesians were considered as “saints” by Paul because they had been imputed with righteousness from the Lord. They were righteous positionally in God’s sight. It is the Lord who declared us to be righteous. He predestined us to be saved and to be saints.

GREAT BASIS – THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL

“According to the good pleasure of His will”
Ephesians 1:5

The basis by which the Lord predestined “the elect” is the good pleasure of His will. What is the good pleasure of the will of God? Once again, it is hard to fully comprehend this idea. We should deeply appreciate that we are included as part of the elect in the good pleasure of His will. There should be a deep sense of gratitude in our heart. Young people, let’s stand in awe of how the Lord delights in us being predestined and chosen to be His sons and daughters in Christ.

The concept of predestination is not easy to understand. If you have any further questions, please do feel free to raise them through e-mail.

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