Sermon Tone Analysis

The Point of Predestination

LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS

The Point of Predestination

November 26, 2017

Dr. David S. Steele

Intro

A. “This I know, that no one has been able, without falling into error, to argue against this predestination, which we defend according to the holy

Scriptures.”[1]

1.

As a church family, we stand on the shoulders of men like Augustine who wrestled with the weighty doctrine of predestination.

2. Our own statement that concerns the doctrine of salvation reads in part:

“Salvation is based upon the sovereign, free election of God before the foundation of the world apart from foreseen faith.

God elects according to the purpose of His will thus manifesting the glorious display of His goodness and grace.

Election utterly excludes boasting and promotes humility, love, purity, prayer, praise, assurance, evangelism, and global missions to unreached peoples.[2] Regeneration is the sole work of the Holy Spirit that brings God’s elect to repentance and faith.”[3]

B. The title of the message is The Point of Predestination

1.

In this message, I want to explore with you the inner workings of predestination.

2. Questions:

a.

What is predestination?

b.

Why predestination?

c.

What is the purpose of predestination?

d.

What is the ultimate end of predestination?

C. A word about expository preaching

1.

One final question: Why have we been emphasizing predestination so much?

2. Answer: Because it’s what we find in the passage before us.

One of the great benefits of expository preaching is that we are forced to wrestle with

the words in a given text.

We are forced to wrestle with theology.

And when we wrestle with theology, we grow.

We go deeper into grace and we are conformed into the image of Christ.

D. Text -

E. Before we begin to dig into the inner-workings of predestination, we need to align our theological bearings.

1.

We begin by noting that predestination is a biblical term.

Indeed, it is a biblical reality.

We can deny it, we can ridicule it, we can ignore it, and we

can critique it - but at the end of the day, we must concede that predestination is a biblical term.

“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, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined (προορίζω) to take place.”

(, ESV)

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined (προορίζω)to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

And those whom he predestined (προορίζω)he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

(, ESV)

“he predestined (προορίζω) us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” (, ESV)

“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined (προορίζω) according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,” (, ESV)

2. Defining predestination

a. προ - “before”

b. òρίζω - “to define; to mark out the boundaries or limits of a place or thing; to determine; appoint decree; ordain.”

c. προορίζω - “to predetermine; decide beforehand; appoint beforehand.”

3. A theological explanation of predestination

a. “Predestination we call the eternal decree of God, by which He has determined in Himself, what He would have to become of every individual of mankind.”[4]

b. “The doctrine of God’s eternal predestination is so necessary to the church of God that without the same can faith neither be truly taught, neither surely established; man can never be brought to true humility and knowledge of himself, neither yet can he be ravished in admiration of God’s eternal goodness, and so moved to praise him.”[5]

F. As we begin our journey into the inner-workings of this doctrine, I want to draw your attention to four headings that will enable you to see and savor the doctrine of predestination.

The first heading is a bit of review from last week but is an important aspect of understanding God’s redemptive plan.

F. As we begin our journey into the inner-workings of this doctrine, I want to draw your attention to four headings that will enable you to see and savor

the doctrine of predestination.

The first heading is a bit of review from last week but is an important aspect of understanding God’s redemptive plan.

I. DIVINE PLAN ().

A. WHEN WERE WE PREDESTINED?

1. Predestination took place in eternity past.

2. Each one of God’s elect were predestined before the foundation (καταβολή) of the world.

B. FOUR ASPECTS OF GOD’S PLAN[6]

1. God’s plan is eternal.

“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.”

(, ESV)

“remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 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,’” (, ESV)

“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,” (, ESV)

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”

(, ESV)

2. God’s plans are set in concrete.

His plans are unchangeable.

“The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,” (, ESV)

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.

Has he said, and will he not do it?

Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”

(, ESV)

3. God’s plan includes random events (what some could consider to be fortuitous or chance happenings).

“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”

(, ESV)

4. God’s plan includes the sinful acts of people.

“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, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”

(, ESV)

“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.”

(, ESV)

Summary: So God has a divine plan.

“History in all its details, even the most minute, is but the unfolding of the eternal purposes of God.”[7]

II.

DIVINE PURSUIT ().

A. WHY DID GOD PREDESTINE US?

God did not choose us randomly or capriciously —

1.

We were predestined for this reason - because he loved us.

2. Love (ἀγάπη) - “Affection or goodwill.”

3. It is as if Paul anticipates an objection to this doctrine - for in verse 4b, he tells his readers what motivated God to elect a people for his own

possession.[8]

B. WHAT KIND OF LOVE IS IT?

1.

An eternal love.

a. We’ve already seen in some detail how God’s love for his people is an eternal love as he sets his affection on them in eternity past.

2. A focused love.

a.

If the doctrine of predestination tells us anything, it tells us of God’s focused love for his people.