Question: What is the difference between Election and Predestination? C. W.
Predestination (Rom. 8:29, 3029For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:29‑30); Eph. 1:5, 115Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (Ephesians 1:5)
11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11)) is the position and relationship that we are to fill. We are marked out beforehand to be the companions of Christ (Rom. 8:2929For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)).
God might have saved us, and kept us at a distance from Himself, but He marked us out beforehand to be His children by Jesus Christ to Himself. It was His good pleasure to do so. It is what the chosen ones are predestinated to.
Answer: Ephesians 2:2121In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:21) compares the church to the temple: it is not yet finished. It is divine workmanship fitly framed together and it grows. It grows without sound of hammer or tool of iron. It is heavenly.
Answer: Saul of Tarsus was a Jew so zealous for his religion, that he was persecuting the Christians even unto death.
In Acts 2:3737Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (Acts 2:37) to 40, Peter preached to the opposing Jews to “repent and be baptized every one in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”... “Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” We see in this how that baptism changes the person’s position. The name of the Lord is put upon him (Gal. 3:2727For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27)).
It was Saul taking his place in this symbol of the death of Christ (Rom. 6:33Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3)) that brought him into new associations, and thus cleared away all that he had been going on with. He knew that Christ, whom the Jews put to death, was risen and glorified, and already had owned Him as His Lord, when he replied:
“Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?”
The sins that baptism could wash away, are the person’s old associations as Jews or Gentiles.
The first Gentiles brought into the church of God on earth were Cornelius and his household. God gave them His Holy Spirit when they believed the gospel. And Peter, who had the keys (not of heaven) but of the Kingdom of God, was compelled to bring them in saying, “Who can forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we.” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus: that is by His authority. He could not leave them still on Gentile ground (See Acts 10). It is external only.
Answer: In this chapter we see Paul the Apostle in ministry of the gospel. It was committed to him, and he was devoted to the Lord and to Him to please Him in His service. He made himself the servant of all, that he might gain the more.
When he spoke to Jews, he put himself into their place to make it plain to them that they were under the curse of law, and guilty of the death of Christ. He had been the same once but was now delivered.
To the Gentiles, he showed them their guilt as away from God, without hope. He suited himself to those he spoke to, and this our blessed Lord also did perfectly. His all-seeing eye knew what was in their hearts.
The woman at the well in John 4.
The Pharisee and the woman in Luke 7.
The woman and her accusers in John 8.
The Pharisees and lawyers in Luke 11,—all felt that God was speaking to them.
On the other hand, making ourselves all things to all men does not mean that we should go with them into the worldly parties, frivolities, and games. We need to walk in wisdom toward all, so to gain them for Christ.
Paul told his conversion in Acts 22 to the Jews to meet their condition, and then in Acts 26 to bring the gospel before the Gentile king and judge. He wanted that they also should share the blessing that he had received.
With hearts lifted up to the Lord for guidance, may we in our little measure walk in the same path.