Sermon Central
-
God's Purpose In My Problems Series
Contributed by Rev Dr Randall M Deal Sr on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: Part 16 of Series. When I understand WHAT God’s purpose is in my problems...I will understand WHY He allows problems in my life!
Gk. Proginōskō (pro-gē-nō’-skō) 1) to have knowledge before hand
FOREKNOWLEDGE = VERY DEBATABLE WORD that many people have argued about. Calvin said that this means that God chose you in advance. Wesley said God simply knew in advance. There’s a lot of controversy over this word among great Bible scholars. You can believe either way….
But either way…..what he’s basically saying is your commitment, your Christian life, did not begin with your commitment to God. But your Christian life began when God committed Himself to you!!! God knew in advance. God knows everything. There is no past, present, or future with God.
It’s like this, sports fans: You hear the end score of a ball game that I’ve been TEVOING at home. Then when I get home, even though I know who’s already won, I go back and watch the entire game.
It very much like God is watching a DVD of your life. He already knows what’s going to happen. He sees the beginning and the end all at the same time.
Same word is found in…
1 Peter 1:1b-2 (NASB) (AGAIN….TO BELIEVERS)
who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood:
We were chosen according to the foreknowledge of God. God knew in advance when you would choose Him. And for we believers, He knew that we were going to become Christians, because He has foreknowledge.
He FORKNEW me!
Step 2. He PREDESTINED me!
v. 29 "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined." (NASB)
PREDESTINATION is based on foreknowledge. Don’t get scared of this word, either. It simply means that God made a decision about you ahead of time.
Gk. Proorizō (pro-o-rē’-zō) to predetermine, decide beforehand
God chose in advance!
“The purpose of predestination wasn’t favoritism but Christ likeness.”
"He also predestined {to become} conformed to the image of His Son" (NASB). This verse isn’t talking Heaven or Hell! . The word "predestination" is always used for believers only. It’s never used in reference to unbelievers.
Some believe that God predestined some people to heaven and some people to hell, but then what do you do with…
2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for ANY to perish but for ALL to come to repentance.
Do people perish? Yes! Because God’s will is not always done.
God’s ULTIMATE WILL is always done and that’s what we’re talking about here.
PREDESTINATION’s goal is NOT heaven…it’s Christ-likeness.
Believers are PREDESTINED to become like Jesus!
CLEAREST verse on predestination, without the word in it:
Philippians 1:6 (NASB)
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
Predestination means when God saves you He’s going to see you through. What He starts in your life, He finishes!
It’s SIMPLE! God starts the process of making you like Jesus, first by foreknowledge. He knew you were going to be born. He knew you were going to be saved. On that foreknowledge, He predestined you to become like His son!
