Predestination

Predestination – This is a subject that can be very confusing when one deals with a person that believes that God has died for some and not for others. They have a convoluted explanation that easily confuses me. Being simple minded, I use a simple explanation.

Let me begin with an undeniable truth. Christ died for all men. I Timothy 2:3-6 says “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved and 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.

We find the desire of the Father and the Son that all men would be saved and toward the accomplishment of that purpose, the Son gave himself a ransom for all, not just some. We also must consider the verse found in Hebrews; Hebrews 2:9 which says “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Seeing that Christ gave himself a ransom for all and tasted death for every man then this predestination that is referenced is not a person that has been predestinated but must be the plan.

May we consider the passages written to the Church in Ephessus, Ephesians 1:4,5 which says “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: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according the good pleasure of his will,…” Before the foundation of the world a plan was established to save man that would sin. It was predestinated that those that would be saved would be saved through Christ precious blood.

Paul reasoned with King Agrippa and told of his conversion and then Paul said to Agrippa, Acts 26:27,28 “King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Verse 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am except these bonds. Paul is expecting people to be saved by choice upon hearing the Words of God.

Ephesians 3:11 “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:” Christ was predestined to come to earth and present Himself as the perfect sacrifice for man. That was His purpose in wrapping Himself in flesh and hanging on the cross and shedding His blood. Now Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” God predestined that those that would be saved would not be by good works but through Jesus Christ and would be unto good works. II Thessalonians 2:13 further clarifies “…God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” The predestinated plan of salvation is through the Spirit and belief in the resurrected Christ.

In Christ is the term we need to see.

Epicurean Living

What is life about? A look at life, a true look at life can be very unsettling. Here is this existence we have but what is it for. Why do we exist? Is this life to be a simple emotional roller coaster we ride to the end? Our news programs reach for the emotion in us. They will move from a story about casualties from an earthquake in China, to a car bombing in Iraq, to the latest revelations about the declining housing market in the cities of America, then almost without a pause we move to the latest developing thunderstorms and then with a smile and a shuffle of papers we end “on a lighter note” with a story about a puppy rescued from a storm drain. Our emotions have suffered, we were mad, sad, sorry and glad within the the time of about 30 minutes. Is that what life is about? Emotion, Emotion, Emotion? Many live this way. They live unto themselves.

This is called Epicurean. Epicurus taught his followers that seeking pleasure was life’s greatest good. It teaches that pleasure and happiness are the primary and chief goals in life. It also taught that pleasure was essential in order to attain a state of tranquility and freedom from feat. Ultimately the pursuit of pleasure would eradicate mental suffering and physical pain.

Satan offered Jesus the Epicurean lifestyle when in the wilderness he approached Jesus and made several offers – Turn stone to bread, I will give you power and glory, prove your greatness. These were the same areas Eve was tempted in. Eve yielded, Jesus did not yield.

You know that there are many religious people that live the Epicurean lifestyle. It is reflected in their approach to worshiping God on His day. They set out with an agenda of what they want and how they want to worship. They have become self-willed and changed the worship of God to please themselves.

I like what Jesus said to the woman at the well – “John 4:22 – Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship for salvation is of the Jews.”  There are many in the same boat today floating in the waters of worship, know what they are worshiping because they have not determine through God’s Word how HE WANTS TO BE WORSHIPED. Their attitude is, if it is good enough for me and I enjoy it, it should be good enough for God. What a pathetic attitude towards the one that loved us so much He sent His son to die on the cross for us (John 3:16). God sets the standard for worship and that alone is what He accepts. It is time to decide whether we will worship God and revel in self and an Epicurean lifestyle.Technorati Tags: epicurean, lifestyle, salvation, God,