Understanding Predestination: Assurance of God's Sovereign Grace
Summary
In our journey through the series "Translate," we have explored the profound words of Scripture, seeking to understand their meaning and relevance in our daily walk with Christ. Today, we conclude this series with a word that has often been misunderstood and even feared: predestination. However, as followers of Christ, we have nothing to fear from any word in the Bible, including this one.
Predestination is a concept that has caused much confusion and division, but it is crucial to our faith and understanding of God's sovereignty. In Romans 8:28-30, the Apostle Paul presents a breathtaking view of salvation, from God's foreknowledge to our ultimate glorification, all within the span of three verses. This passage reveals the incredible providence of God and the eternal glorification that awaits believers.
God's promise in Romans 8:28 assures us that for those who love Him, all things work together for good. This is not a conditional or occasional promise; it is an absolute certainty grounded in the goodness of God. While we may not always understand how our trials can result in good, we can trust in God's providence. His plans are not derailed by our disappointments; rather, they are the very means by which He accomplishes His will in our lives.
The doctrine of predestination should lead us to worship and marvel at God's grace. It assures us that God's will for our lives is unchangeable and will come to pass. The effectual call of God, as opposed to the general call, is when the Holy Spirit regenerates a person, enabling them to respond to the gospel. This calling is not based on who we are but on who God is and His purpose for us.
Predestination is about the believer's transformation into the likeness of Christ. It is not a license to live as we please; rather, it is a call to follow Jesus more closely. The American church must be wary of false conversions and seek true understanding of Scripture. Predestination concerns the believer and the saint, not the sinner. It is not about pre-determining some for heaven and others for hell, but about God's purpose for His children.
As we reflect on predestination, we are drawn closer to Jesus, filled with gratitude for His love and the assurance that we will one day be like Him. Our spiritual growth is measured by our likeness to Christ, and God is actively working in our lives to shape us into His image. This process can be challenging, but it is our destiny as God's children.
Key Takeaways:
- Predestination is a divine assurance, not a cause for fear. It confirms that God's plan for our lives is secure and that we are destined to be conformed to the image of His Son. This truth should fill us with awe and lead us to a deeper worship of God's unchanging grace. [49:33]
- God's providence is the foundation of His promises. Every event in our lives is part of His sovereign plan. Even when we face trials, we can trust that God is working all things together for our good, as seen in the life of Joseph and ultimately in the work of Christ on the cross. [43:33]
- The effectual call of God is a powerful act of the Holy Spirit, regenerating and enabling us to respond to the gospel. This call is not based on our merits but on God's purpose and grace, which He granted us in Christ before time began. [57:40]
- The concept of foreknowledge in Scripture goes beyond mere awareness; it encompasses God's intimate love for us. Before creation, God set His love upon us, choosing us to be His children, which is the true commencement of our salvation. [48:54]
- Our spiritual growth and maturity are ultimately about becoming more like Jesus. The true test of our growth is not in religious activities but in whether we are reflecting Christ's character more today than we were in the past. God uses every aspect of our lives to mold us into His Son's likeness. [01:03:13]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Romans 8:28-30
- Genesis 50:20
- John 15:16
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 8:28, what assurance do believers have about the events in their lives?
2. In Romans 8:29-30, what are the five steps in the "golden chain of salvation" that Paul describes?
3. How did Joseph interpret the hardships he faced, as described in Genesis 50:20?
4. What does Jesus say about who chose whom in John 15:16?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the promise in Romans 8:28 provide comfort during difficult times? [38:39]
2. What does it mean to be "predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son" as stated in Romans 8:29? [46:37]
3. How does understanding God's foreknowledge and predestination affect a believer's view of their salvation? [48:54]
4. What is the significance of Jesus stating, "You did not choose me, but I chose you" in John 15:16? [48:54]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent trial you faced. How can the promise in Romans 8:28 help you see that situation differently? [38:39]
2. In what ways can you actively seek to be conformed to the image of Christ in your daily life? [46:37]
3. How does knowing that God has a sovereign plan for your life change the way you approach your future decisions and challenges? [42:16]
4. Have you ever struggled with the concept of predestination? How does today's discussion help clarify or change your understanding? [35:37]
5. Think about a time when you felt chosen or called by God. How did that experience impact your faith and actions? [48:54]
6. How can you ensure that your spiritual growth is measured by your likeness to Christ rather than religious activities? [01:03:13]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to trust more in God's providence. What steps can you take this week to surrender that area to Him? [42:16]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Assurance in Predestination
Predestination often stirs up feelings of confusion or fear, but it is meant to be a source of comfort and assurance. It is the divine confirmation that God's plan for believers is secure and that they are being shaped into the image of His Son. This concept should not lead to complacency but rather to a profound sense of awe and a deeper worship of God's unchanging grace. The certainty of God's plan provides a foundation for believers to stand firm in their faith, knowing that their salvation and transformation are in His capable hands.
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:29 ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding predestination as divine assurance affect your view of God's sovereignty and your personal faith journey? [49:33]
Day 2: Trusting in God's Providence
The belief in God's providence is foundational to the Christian faith. It is the understanding that every event in life, including trials and hardships, is part of God's sovereign plan. This trust is not blind optimism but is rooted in the character of God, who is good and who orchestrates all things for the good of those who love Him. The story of Joseph in the Bible exemplifies this truth, as does the ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Believers can take comfort in knowing that God's providence is at work, even when circumstances seem bleak.
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." (Genesis 50:20 ESV)
Reflection: Can you identify a situation in your life where you can see God's providence at work, turning challenges into opportunities for growth or blessing? [43:33]
Day 3: The Power of the Effectual Call
The effectual call of God is a transformative act of the Holy Spirit, which regenerates a person's heart and enables them to respond to the gospel. This calling is not based on human merit but solely on God's purpose and grace. It is a powerful reminder that salvation is a gift from God, granted before the beginning of time in Christ. This understanding should lead believers to a humble acknowledgment of their dependence on God for their salvation and a grateful recognition of His grace at work in their lives.
"He saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began." (2 Timothy 1:9 ESV)
Reflection: How does the concept of the effectual call challenge your understanding of grace and your response to God's invitation to salvation? [57:40]
Day 4: Foreknowledge and Intimate Love
The concept of foreknowledge in Scripture is profound, signifying God's intimate love and choice of His children before the foundation of the world. This love is the true beginning of salvation, where God sets His affection upon believers, choosing them for a relationship with Him. This divine selection is not based on any foreseen merit but is an expression of God's gracious character and His desire for a people who will be His own.
"Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will." (Ephesians 1:4-5 ESV)
Reflection: How does the knowledge that God chose you in love before creation impact your sense of identity and purpose as His child? [48:54]
Day 5: Spiritual Growth and Christlikeness
The ultimate goal of spiritual growth is to become more like Jesus. This transformation is not measured by religious activities but by the degree to which believers reflect Christ's character. God uses every aspect of life, including trials and joys, to mold His children into the likeness of His Son. This process is ongoing and requires a commitment to pursue holiness and to allow God's Spirit to work within.
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific way you can cooperate with God's transforming work in your life to become more like Jesus today? [01:03:13]
Quotes
1) "We should never doubt in the dark what the Lord has revealed in the light. This verse says he works all things out for good all of the time because God is always good." [40:31] (Download | )
2) "Behind every promise of God is the Providence of God. This verse says God works all things together for good. We know this promise is true because it is based upon the Providence of God." [42:16] (Download | )
3) "One true test of your spiritual growth is whether or not you're becoming more like Jesus. God wants to use everything that comes into our lives to make us more like Jesus." [01:03:13] (Download | )
4) "God lays his finger on a template of his son Jesus Christ and then he places that template over our lives and he chips away at everything that doesn't look like Jesus." [01:04:28] (Download | )
5) "Do you realize how wonderful your predestination is? It means that God's will for your life is already set and nothing can change it. It's going to happen." [57:40] (Download | )
6) "The effectual call is when the Holy Spirit regenerates that person and enables that person to respond to the gospel that he has heard and then empowers him to come." [58:49] (Download | )
7) "Predestination never refers to the sinner; it refers to the Savior and the Saint. Predestination has nothing to do with the lost whatsoever." [54:02] (Download | )
8) "God certainly must have chosen me before I came into this world, for he never would have chosen me afterward." [56:32] (Download | )
9) "The elect are predestined to fulfill God's plan. It's already been decided, the victory is won, it's going to happen." [57:06] (Download | )
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?