Ephesians 1
1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
2006-07-13 04:03:48 · 5 answers · asked by PicassoInActions 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ephesians 1:5
In love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto Himself
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"in love" : (en + agapei) : mental love; soul love.
(While the words "in love" appear at the end of verse 4 in the KJV, other versions, and many commentators, believe the phrase belongs at the beginning of verse 5.)
This is an impersonal love which has no romantic connotation. Here "love" refers to the love of God the Father as that which motivates Him to execute His plan. This love led God to arrange Propitiation for our sins so that He could associate with us without His perfect character being compromised.
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"having predestinated us":(proorizo): "to predesign; to predetermine"
Acts 2:23; Rom. 8:28,30; 1 Tim. 1:9; Titus 1:2
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PREDESTINATION
The word "predestination" means "to appoint, to determine, or to design beforehand".
The Father, through perfect expression of His thinking, predesigned His perfect plan in Christ, Eph. 1:9; 1 Pet. 1:2,20; 2 Tim. 1:9. Through Predestination, believers are guaranteed sonship (Eph. 1:5) and heirship (Eph. 1:11).
The doctrine of Predestination deals only with Christians. The Christians makes a conscious decision to follow the plan of God. The unbeliever makes a conscious decision to reject the plan of God. John 3:18; 3:36. If any person accepts Christ as Saviour, he will be saved.
The purpose of Predestination is to relate the believer to the Plan of God through Positional Truth. Eph. 1:4,5. It is based on the foreknowledge of God, Rom. 8:29. It is an expression of God's love for those who are in union with Christ. Predestination was a sovereign decision on the part of God the Father, Eph. 1:5,11. Jesus Christ has our Lord. When we enter into union with Christ at the time of salvation, we share with HIm eternity.
2006-07-13 04:13:15 · answer #1 · answered by Evy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remember that Paul is writing to Christians in Ephesians. He is saying Christians are chosen in him before the foundation of the world. Not everyone is chosen...just those who are adopted as children by Jesus Christ according to the good pleasure of his will. This is rather humbling for Christians...why we are chosen by God! Amazing!
2006-07-13 11:10:26 · answer #2 · answered by Chantla 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, we were spirits before we came to this earth. When we were born we went through a Vail so that we would not remember the things we knew before. A pure knowledge would not give us a fair choice on this earth of how we would act. As we would know with a more perfect knowledge of what we were to receive we would do all things right, thus we wouldn't learn for our selves the things the lord wants us to learn.
2006-07-13 11:16:32 · answer #3 · answered by saintrose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christians, or those who accept Jesus as their savior, are predetermined to "turn out" a specific way. We all become like Christ in the end. Read the whole passage.
2006-07-13 11:09:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. No, we have free will, though God knows the outcome of our actions, he does nothing to change them, other than offering his grace.
2. As far as biblical references are concerned it all as to do with translation. For example "Thou shall not kill", is actually translated from the original as "Thou shall not MURDER". Big difference in meaning from one word.
2006-07-13 11:10:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋