Predestined

God is like an ambulance driver - watching to see what we choose to do - and then TURNS things for good....in a sense - TAKES what WE GIVE HIM....and he orchestrates it to Work for Good.… NOT impeding man’s will, but simply orchestrating things OUTSIDE of man’s will, like maybe the weather (making it rain so people will naturally on their own make choices, or causing lights to turn RED to force situations to happen?

Today - I think we’ll get a more clear answer to which it is...

But what have we seen so far?

We’ve seen that ALL people that God glorifies… God had - Justified (saved)...

....and ALL that God has saved - - HAD BEEN - called by God.

And now - back to our question that ended last week’s sermon...

SLIDE: Question

Why does God effectually call people?

If you remember - there are 2 types of CALLs - in the Bible.

And 1 Cor showed us this...

1 Corinthians 1:22–24 ESV

22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

There is a GENERAL CALL of the Gospel - that goes out to ALL the world!

Where is THAT general call in this passage?

“We preach Christ crucified” <— General Call

Now - where’s the Effectual Call of God?

v24 - “but to those who are CALLED (effectually) - both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God....”

And notice the importance of that phrase - “Both Jews and Greeks”!!

Why is that phrase important?

Because Paul (GOD) - had just said - THIS GOSPEL MESSAGE - is a stumbling block to JEWS...and FOLLY to Gentiles...

BUT - there’s a SUBSET of PEOPLE - WITHIN THOSE TWO GROUPS...

And THAT subset of people - are DIFFERENT - because they are CALLED BY GOD!

To the Jew - the gospel is a STUMBLING BLOCK - but NOT to the Jewish person who has been called by God.

To the Gentile - the gospel is foolishness - but NOT to the Gentile who has been called by God.

It’s NOT a DIFFERENT TYPE - of people group - WHO are...

smarter...

have a different background or upbringing!

a different race of people

God is saying - TAKE ALL the people in the world -

AND the Gospel Message - is NOT ACCEPTED by mankind - Not accepted by ANYONE...

UNLESS they’ve been CALLED by Me.

AND SO - the REASON God did it this way - is to say - the...

DIFFERENCE between those who DO NOT accept the Gospel and those who DO ACCEPT the Gospel -

IS - - GOD’s CALL!

The DIFFFENCE is NOT FOUND in man..

But in - GOD

But then - back to our question....

SLIDE: Question

Why does God effectually call people?

What’s it BASED ON?

Romans 8:29–30 ESV

29 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. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

As we can see - the Effectual CALL of God is grounded in...

The Predestination of God!

God CALLS people - because He had PREDESTINED them...

NOW - what does that mean?

First - what does the word itself mean?

SLIDE:

Predestination: To predetermine, decide beforehand. Decreeing from eternity. To foreordain, appoint beforehand.

So the word itself - MEANS what you would think it means.

NOW - let’s look at an example of God’s Predestination - from the Bible - and then APPLY the concept = to our text here in Romans.

When we look at Jesus coming to earth - to SAVE Sinners - we know that there are some NON-negotiables when it comes to Forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Ok, so this is a non-negotiable.

In order for forgiveness to come - God has decreed that blood must be shed.

We see it throughout the OT - even right after the fall - God making SKINS to cover Adam and EVE - -

AND - with the sacrificial system of the OT...

BUT - we all remember the first PASSOVER...

Exodus 12:1–13 ESV

1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. 7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. 10 And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

God was going to STRIKE all the firstborn of the people...

And God DID - EXCEPT for whom?

Those who had a LAMB substitute...

Those who placed the BLOOD of the Lamb over the door.

And interesting - Jesus was known as who? According to our text?

Romans 8:29 ESV

29 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.

Jesus Himself - STRUCK down (the FIRSTBORN) as the Lamb of God- HIS blood poured out - for THOSE WHOM HE CALLED!

But HERE’s the THING - The shedding of blood - is non-negotiable.

It MUST HAPPEN!

But WHAT did mankind experience in the killing of Christ??

We have verses that tell us… STOP AT v8

John 18:1–8 ESV

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”

OK - so what has gone into this up to this point?

It told us - JUDAS betrayed Jesus. Judas made decisions.

The BAND of Soldiers comes - each man deciding to - COME.

With the intent of capturing Jesus.

But was there something else - BENEATH all of these decisions?

SLIDE: Predestination:

Grounded in God’s Will

God Willing the Will of Man

Predestination

YES _ how do we know this?

Back to v8

John 18:8–9 ESV

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”

So Jesus tells us - that THIS EVENT - and ALL the decisions that went INTO this event...

Remember how we started this sermon today ??

I had said - OK - i SEE that you all DECIDED to come here today!

BUT - I DO NOT see all of the decisions that LED to you coming today!

*How many decisions played into you coming today? 100’s of thousands?

YES! - HOW?

How many people are there in your life - for whom you would have CHANGED your plans to come to church TODAY - and NOT come to church - DEPENDING on what happened to those people?

So basically- your CLOSEST friends, coworkers, neighbors, family members, etc.

NOW - If something bad had happened to any of them - you VERY well may have NOT COME today… yes?

OK - so now think of all the people IN THEIR LIVES - that could have made choices to say - HARM one your family members or coworkers, or friends...

IN THIS TEXT -

We see JUDAS and the band of Soldiers making decisions - SAYING things!

DOING things!

We EXPERIENCE that...

BUT - there ARE decisions being MADE - BY GOD - beneath what we - SEE!!

What does v9 on the screen say?

THIS EVENT - Those decisions and EVERY decision that led to it - WERE MADE - BECAUSE Jesus had said prior to this - Of ALL that You have given me (Father), I have lost not one)

But the story continues....

John 18:28–31 ESV

28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”

Pilate here - questioning the Jews - and the JEWISH leaders - responding with words that they wanted to say.

Pilate is trying to hand this situation back to the Jews and they keep handing it back to Pilate...!

ALL of these people - making choices...

But is there something else WORKING underneath ALL of this?

v31

John 18:31–32 ESV

31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.

WHY were these decisions MADE?

Why did the Jewish leaders RESPOND this way?

Because God was underneath ALL of this - WORKING!!

And so as we know - Jesus ends up being CRUCIFIED...!

Hundreds = if not thousands - if not tens of thousands of DECISIONS made...

How they would capture Jesus

How they would TRY Jesus...

How the Jewish leaders would convince Rome to partake

When Christ would die

How He would die

ALL of these decisions made - BY MANKIND!

But was there MORE to it all?

YES...

John 19:11 ESV

11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

They KILL Jesus...

And now they’re dividing up His garments...

John 19:24 ESV

24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things,

Why did they DO THESE THINGS?

Because GOD decided they would!

John 19:28 ESV

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”

Jesus died on the cross - and then...

John 19:32–33 ESV

32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

Why didn’t they CHOOSE to break His legs?

John 19:36 ESV

36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.”

Man is making ALL KINDS of decisions here - Actually - the WORST decisions EVER MADE in HUMAN HISTORY...

THE killing of the God-Man Jesus Christ...

MANKIND - making decisions..

But NOW WE SEE - WHY they made these decisions.

GOD was working this all OUT!

And just in case we’re not sure...of that....

Acts 4:25–28 ESV

25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

God PREDETERMINED - based on HIS OWN WILL - what would happen...

And MANKIND lived out - what God had PREDESTINED to take place!

Yes - MEN and women - MADE choices… but those CHOICES were NOT OUTSIDE of God’s PREDETERMINED PLAN...!

MEANING - God’s PLAN was IN CHARGE.… NOT man’s will to choose!!

And we see this same thing here - play out all throughout scripture...

The one obvious story we go to for this is - Joseph - being sold into slavery....

WHO sold Joseph into slavery?

Genesis 37:26–28 ESV

26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.

Who sold him into slavery - according to the Bible?

His brothers sold him.

Genesis 45:4 ESV

4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.

Genesis 45:5 ESV

5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.

Genesis 50:19 ESV

19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?

Genesis 50:20 ESV

20 As for you, you meant evil against me...

*Explain

Genesis 50:20 ESV

20 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.

The brothers CHOSE to sell Joseph into slavery - Yes

God chose to sell Joseph into slavery - Yes

The brothers - LIVED OUT - what had been PREDETERMINED to HAPPEN by God.

The brothers were EVIL in doing it - because they had EVIL motives.

God was NOT evil in doing it - because God had GOOD motives!

Another example ??

In 722 - Assyria conquers Israel...

Decisions MADE!

Yet - -

WHY did Assyria attack Israel?

Isaiah 10:5 ESV

5 Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!

What's God saying here...It says - Assyria, the rod of my anger...

So God here is NOT HAPPY - He's angry!

And He calls Assyria - the rod of His anger!

He's raising up Assyria - COMMISSIONING them to do something... He says - The staff in THEIR hands is my anger!!

next verse...

Isaiah 10:6 ESV

6 Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

God here is describing how He raised up Assyria to be the TOOL of His judgment against His own people!

God - PREDETERMING EVENTS in human history - according to His OWN will…

And using mankind to carry these things out.

NOW - What about Salvation?

SLIDE:

Why does God call men to be justified (saved)?

Romans 8:29–30 ESV

God calls men - because He had - PREDESTINED them....

God PREDETERMINED their destiny...

Does the Bible SPEAK to this....outside of the Golden Chain of Redemption?

Yes -

2 Timothy 1:8 ESV

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

2 Timothy 1:9 ESV

9 who 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,

What does Paul do here?

Paul GROUNDS our gospel suffering endurance - in the God who SAVED US and CALLED US, based on His OWN WILL… BEFORE the ages began!

Ephesians 1:11 ESV

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Isaiah 46:10 ESV

10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

- And you might be thinking - OK - But God APPOINTS people to salvation?

Really??

Acts 13:44–46 ESV

44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:47–48 ESV

47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Now - some want to claim that this APPOINTMENT - is done BY the gentiles themselves...

That they CHOSE eternal life by faith...and therefore APPOINTED themselves...

But the word for APPOINTED here (tasso) - it’s PASSIVE… it’s in the passive tense - which means - SOMEONE other than the Gentile = is DOING it!

John 8:41–43 ESV

41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.

John 8:44 ESV

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

John 8:45 ESV

45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

John 8:46 ESV

46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

Jesus is going to reveal for us - WHY this person does NOT believe Jesus...

And before we get there - APPLY what you think - AS THE REASON.

Like - what are EVEN the POSSIBLE reasons?

That the guy grew up outside of the church family...?

That the guy went to a terrible school?

That he’s simply chosen to go his own way?

John 8:47 ESV

47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

Does that fit into your theology?

Remember what Jesus said about his sheep?

John 10:27 ESV

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Why do Jesus’ sheep - HEAR His voice?

Both verses together...

SLIDE

John 8:47 -

47 “Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

John 10:27 -

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Whoever HEARS the words of God - IS OF GOD

And if you are - OF GOD - you HEAR the voice of Jesus - and you FOLLOW Him!

Back to our text...

Romans 8:29 ESV

29 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.

Those whom God foreknew - He PREDESTINED (predetermined) to be conformed to the image of His Son...

AND HOW does that play out for us who believe?

2 Corinthians 3:12–16 ESV

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

2 Corinthians 3:17–18 ESV

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 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.

Pul says - and WE ALL - all Christians, all believers - EACH ONE - is being transformed into the image...the image of the Son...

AND as we know from our text - this - INDIVIDUAL transformation - was PREDESTINED (predetermined) by God.

SUMMARY

Predestination

Grounded in God’s Will

God Willing the Will of Man

Revelation 13:8 ESV

8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

Before the foundation of the world, God had a book - and the name of the book is -

The Book of Life of the Lamb who was Slain

Think of ALL that is implied in the NAME of the book.

Before the Foundation of the world - Before man was created....Before man sinned...

The name of God’s book - gives us a GIANT CLUE as to what God had PLANNED.

The Book of Life (implies - death would be a reality)

Of the Lamb who was slain (implies - a Sacrifice - which brought LIFE - which conquered death)

The Bible is CRYSTAL clear on the doctrine of Predestination.

God - BEING God - predetermined to have a people of his own...

A people of His own - made up of individuals

Predetermined His OWN plan playing out - Events in history

And Predestined people to be CALLED unto Salvation...

Romans 8:30 ESV

30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

SLIDE: Question

Why does God predestine people to be called for salvation?

Next week - Lord Willing...

We will see...

Let’s pray

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