Bible Study – 10
The Chosen – the Foreordained – the Elect– the Predestined
Lesson Point
How does scripture read concerning the topics title? Does God intervene at times and make a choice for us OR does God leave everything up to us mortals? Some believe HE makes all of our choices which could mean that even the bad choices could come from HIM? For sure, we are not puppets on a string OR all of the world would believe exactly the same. Within the Christian church, people differ in the subject matter so let me share some scripture with you.
Is it God’s Choice or Man’s Choice?
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Bible Study – A verse, a passage, or maybe a topic that we may want to learn more about. As I have observed on occasions; the same verse or passage often can cause debate among theologians. Not everyone interrupts scripture exactly the same way; commentaries of God’s word don’t always agree, soooo why don’t they if the Holy Spirit is leading each of us?
KIS – Keep It Simple; the majority of scripture does not need a Doctorate in Theology to help us to read the word and know what it is supposed to tell us. Yes, scripture from the same topic helps to interrupt other scripture and it mostly means what it says. Occasionally a Greek or Hebrew word may be a challenge for the English translation. i.e. – Love in the Greek has 3 meanings.
Dialogue and friendly debate is good BUT remember God is LOVE, so speak in love. Some believe in Calvinism and some use the Arminianism passages. Both sides of the debaters have good points. They both can’t be totally right! This is a study without a conclusion.
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Question-1: Does scripture say what it means AND mean what it says? __Is it a Yes or a No?___
Romans 9:6-26, [Comment – The Apostle Paul who was born Jewish and a Pharisee is an example. One day the Lord gave him an assignment to proclaim the scriptures to the Gentiles. He wrote a dozen or so epistles and served the Lord until his death. Did the Holy Spirit speak through him?]
SCRIPTURE – But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants will be named.” 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. 9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls;12 it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” 14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! 15 For He says to Moses, [Ex. 33:19] “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” [God makes the choice] 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed THROUGHOUT the whole earth.”18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” 20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? 21 Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? 22 What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? 23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. 25 As He says also in Hosea “I will call those who were not My people, ‘My people,’ And her who was not beloved, ‘beloved.’” 26 “And it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, ‘you are not My people,’ There they shall be called sons of the living God.” [Verse 2:23]
The promise – God’s CHOICE are the ELECT; somehow it is one of the mysteries, those who God has chosen, somehow make the choice to put their TRUST in Christ as their Lord and Savior; after conviction takes place. A Question – Wasn’t the promise to Abraham also written in Galatians 3:15-29.
Question – What does scripture mean in Revelation 3:5 when it mentions erasing a name out of the Book of Life? Are some names erased from the Book if they don’t overcome; just a question?
Question-2: Sometime in the future, when tribulation on earth is about to end all of life, will the Lord intervene so mankind is not totally wiped out?
Matthew 24:22, 22 Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
[ Matthew 24 is a snapshot of the end-of-days. God will only allow mankind 3 ½ years [Great Tribulation.] to follow the antichrist before Jesus takes on his WARRIOR status to defeat evil. It’s the last 3 ½ years for a secular King or President to rule in the world.]
Question-3: Jesus walked on earth two-thousand years ago; the 2nd advent is a term used to express his return to earth. What do you think? Will it happen?
Matthew 25:31-34, 31 “But when the Son of Man [Jesus] comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
[When the earth was formed or created, it was prepared for the sheep of the flock. It was a part of the Master Plan. This was not a thought out as some fable. Sheep = Saved & Goats = Unsaved]
Question-4: What does chosen one mean?
Luke 9:35, 35 Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”
[God the Father speaking about God the Son; there was only 1 chosen to provide salvation and atonement for ALL of mankind.]
Question-5: Like the first question; are the Elect also chosen of God? [John 6:22-71 is the text.]
John 6:37, 45-46, 65, Jesus taught the following; 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe [non-believers].” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
[Whoa! Who does the Father give to Jesus? Can God choose?– Sounds like no one has ever seen the Father, who is Spirit, but He is the one who has put the PLAN of all ages into motion. Reading John 6:22-71 is a study in itself; review it often and remember God’s WORD is our standard so read it; then believe it. Mark 1:14-15 tells us to repent and believe the gospel.]
COMMENT – Hebrews 8:13 reads that the OLD covenant is obsolete; what does it mean? As mentioned earlier, Galatians 3:15-29 was given by the Holy Spirit to Paul, the Apostle, to pass on to the New Believers. One thing you can put your total trust in; the NT is the newer covenant so read it, believe it, and put your Hope & Trust in it! Jesus said, “Repent and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:14.
Question-6: Who are sheep? A better Question, who are not sheep?
John 10:25-30, 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
[The Son and Father are one OR the same concerning the Plan of God. The sheep are followers of Christ; everyone else must fall into the goat category by default, How about you?]
Question-7: Are you a friend of Jesus?
John 15:16, 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you slaves [servants], for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
[Jesus must have been given authority to choose. HE and only HE made the choice on who would be Disciples when he walked the earth; aren’t we fortunate to be chosen as Christians in today’s world???]
Question-8: What was the predetermined plan of God?
Acts 2:22-23, 22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
[The Plan starts with the Atonement Blood; without it the Judge [of the universe] would have to give the Guilty verdict to all of mankind because the wages of sin is eternal death. Romans 6:23.]
Question-9: Were the ‘Sons of Israel’ the only chosen by God the Father?
Acts 13:48, 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
[The CHOSEN trusted in Jesus for their eternal home in heaven. The Jews became jealous as Paul and Barnabas spoke. The truths were spoken to Israel first but since they were unworthy [unbelief], the Gentiles received the Word.] Hosea 2:23
Question-10: Can a mean, nasty, vile person change and become a chosen disciple for Christ?
Acts 9:13-16, 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man [Saul], how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
[Yes – He became the Apostle Paul and suffered greatly at the hands of those who were non-believers of the Christian faith.]
Are Christians a majority or a minority in today’s world? How about a Christian in IRAN or even Europe?
Question-11: Does God need a reason for choosing who it is that HE wants to lead?
1 Samuel 16:1-23, 2 So he sent and brought David in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” [David, the youngest of the brothers is chosen by God to become King of Israel; eventually at age 30 it happened.]
Question-12: Is there a reason God made a covenant with Israel? [Jer. 32:38-40 & Ez. 37:26]
Ezekiel 16:60, 60 “Nevertheless Israel, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. [Yes – The Chosen people of God were back in Israel in 1948; Jerusalem came under their control in 1967 – AD 70 to 1948 scattered around the world]
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More scripture on the subject
Romans 8:28-30, 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. [People like to quote verse 28 but the context also includes verses 29 and 30. What do you think; ARE you called?]
Romans 9:11-20, 11 for though the twins [Esau & Isaac] were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him [God] who calls, [Exodus 33:19 further down on the list]
Romans 11:5-6, 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. [People, we cannot earn our way to heaven. A remnant of Christians will be present on earth until God’s END-TIME Plan is executed.]
Romans 11:28-29, 28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
[If you are chosen of God, you are eternally SAVED once you TRUST. God’s PLAN is to have followers throughout the world sharing the Gospel. It is God who makes sure one of us shares the Gospel with one of his chosen. It is irrevocable or forever.] ..church goers who never repent?
Ephesians 1:3-5, 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ;4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will…. [Before creation, we who are Christ followers were chosen by God???] – Mind boggling isn’t it? – [Likened to God writing a script for BROADWAY and now it is taking place during our lifetime.]
Colossians 3:12-13, 12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
[Do we all love (Philia-Agape-Eros) our neighbor as we love ourselves? Do we love the enemy when at war? Do we love the Democrat OR the Republican when we differ in ideals? I have work to do; how about you?]
1 Peter 1:1-3, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ [the Son] and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, [Today the CHOSEN are scattered here and there throughout America & the World.]
Exodus 33:19, 19 And GOD said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, Moses, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.” [God has that choice because HE is God.]
Eccl. 3:1-8, There is an appointed time by God for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— 2 A time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance…..etc.. [God’s time]
- God appoints ALL of time.
Genesis 1:26-27, 26 Then God said, “Let US make man in OUR image, according to Our likeness; ……” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. [God [plural, US & OUR] chose to create Adam; it was HIS choice.]
Genesis 6:8, 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. [God choose him]
Genesis 11:31 – 12:3, God chooses Abram to leave UR and go to Canaan …
Genesis 24: xx, [When it was time for Isaac to have a bride, God choose Rebekah, remember Eliezer, the servant of Abraham who prayed; God then provided or HE choose the bride for Isaac.]
Genesis 45:5, 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come closer to me… 5 Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. [God chooses Joseph, the 11th son in HIS plan to preserve Israel.]
Has God predetermined every moment in time.?
OR are some choices left up to mortal man.?
‘A Mystery’
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Another of the theologians’ thoughts
The CHOICE, Accepting or Rejecting
Think about this; if you are not a puppet on a string being pulled one way and then another; you can make a choice on most things that come your way in life. You have a free will to do many things throughout your life; some might be the right thing to do and some not.
Spiritually, God does not force any of us to take the narrow road that leads to heaven but you are invited to travel it. Our choices for the most part come from within; no doubt sometimes a poor influence from someone you know leads some down the wrong road, but it’s a choice.
Studying scripture may be by a topic or it could be by a verse or several verses. As I have observed over the years when in a group; people differ in how they think about the words in the study. This particular study will have different people possible thinking yes or no. So, what does scripture say? Is the ‘Doctrine of Election’ the choice of God and in turn mankind once chosen, they GO, and share the ‘good news’ with others, as the Holy Spirit of God leads them, a QUESTION?
The Holy Spirit makes a Choice; it’s to convict me, how about you?
QUESTION-13: Was one criminal chosen of God before the foundation of the world OR did he make a willful choice without the influence of the Holy Spirit’s conviction? Was he one of the ELECT spoken about in scripture?
Luke 23:39-43, 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He [Jesus] said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with ME in Paradise.”
The two criminals with Jesus at the crucification – Reject or Accept; is it a choice?
One would end up in Paradise & one in Hades.
QUESTION-14: Could Peter and Andrew have rejected the call of Christ? Jesus choose them as his disciples. Was this Gods predetermined plan?
Matthew 4:18-20, 18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
Two fishermen – Accept or Reject the call when Jesus said, “Follow me.”
OR was it predetermined; that is a question?
QUESTION-15: Do people today make the choice to follow after Jesus OR were we selected by God before we were ever born, is it a DIVINE appointment that God plans for you or me; a question?
Matthew 28:18-19, 18 And Jesus [God the Son] came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
The Disciples – Go and share the Gospel; do they Obey or Disobey.
Obedience has an eternal reward
We all have a choice to Obey and Accept the mandates of Christ; we are not forced, are we?
Have you made the choice to trust in Jesus?
Is it God’s Choice 1st or Man’s Choice?
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So, is there a conclusion for you? My conclusion as I studied is that the Lord has a PLAN; His MASTER plan will take place as HE determines. An example is that SALVATION only comes through the atonement of Christ, which meant the Son, that is, God the Son shed blood for ALL. It is called a GIFT. The ‘ALL’ must accept the gift before it is theirs to keep. Only God’s blood has the POWER to cleanse the sin of you or me.
Just like the passage in Matthew 7:13-14 tell us that few travel the road to heaven; then it would seem only a few are the Elect, the Foreordained, or the Chosen. The ones who are given or chosen by God are the ones who Jesus tells us in John 6:37-40; that he will not lose a single one. We who are chosen can PRAISE God as one of them.
Who you pick as a wife or husband could be the wrong choice but it is a choice that ALL can make. What job you take is a choice or what house you purchase is your choice…. Some of our choices are good and some are not-so-good. Do overs are rare, so try to be ‘in tune’ with the ways of God.
SCRIPTURE SAYS WHAT IT MEANS; AND MEANS WHAT IT SAYS, in CONTEXT.
IF we are to be obedient to the Gospel, we will share the WORD with others; those who God chooses will accept or put their TRUST in Jesus; so don’t be discouraged if someone rejects what you are trying to share. In verse 60 of John chapter 6, many of those who seemed to be following Jesus departed. We, who have been selected, and have trusted in the Savior are those who are to share the Gospel as the Holy Spirit within us leads. God chooses otherwise it wouldn’t be Grace.
This study is exactly that, a study. What is scripture telling us?
Hebrew or Greek words were what the original Prophets or Disciples used to write what we now read in English. Sometimes the theologian will use a word from the bible and then give you what the original language meaning was trying to describe; not an error in the text but something that needs a clarity to. My point is that sometimes a detailed ‘study’ bible will help each person doing a bible study; we want the meaning that God is trying to convey, right? Study your Bible; enjoy the truths and promises. God makes choices; HE has all authority.
So, what do ‘you’ think?
The main thing; have you TRUSTED in Jesus?
DG