81. PREDESTINATION.

Predestination

1. We know that to them that love God all things work together for good, to them who are called of God according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. Moreover, whom He predestined and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified. Who shall accuse God's elect? It is God that justifieth (Romans 8:28-30, 33).

Concerning predestination. Shall the thing formed say to the Former, why hast thou made me thus? Many other things in addition (Romans 9:8, 11, 15, 18-23; 11:7-10, 32, 33).

That the elect are in Christ before the foundation of the world, according to the good pleasure of His will (Ephesians 1:3-13).

A universal election of those who believe in Christ is meant, as is clear from verses 10-11, 13.

According to the purposes of the ages which God hath accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ephesians 3:11).

Something concerning what was purposed by God before the ages (2 Timothy 1:9-10).

Foreknown before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20). God hath called us to eternal glory in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 5:10).

Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:10, 11).

If we confess our sins, the Lord remits them for us and cleanses us from unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

From the Prophets.

The elect are said to be those who, after the separation has been made between the good and the evil, are raised up; the rejected, those who have done evil; the elect, those who have done good. In this sense they are called the elect (Isaiah 65:9, 15, 22).