Posted on August 6, 2011
by Wayne Davis
in Uncategorized
From Eternity to Eternity Predestined Lesson One
Our presence in this world is no accident. There was a carefully laid plan for us long before the first sunrise. The good earth upon which we walk did not evolve into its present form. The world was created full grown and able to reproduce its own kind according to the Genesis account. Jehovah God, the Creator, pre-planned or predestined mankind’s role according to His desire, and because of this plan, He created the world. At the time God started the clock, His Son, Jesus Christ, existed with Him in “no time” which is eternity. In fact, it was through Jesus that this world was created according to the Apostle John.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him; and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. John 1:1-3
This earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep at the beginning of time (Gen. 1:1ff). The Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters, and through Jesus, and for Jesus, all things were created.
And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Col. 1:15-17
However, before the first move in the creation of this world was made a plan existed to adopt believers “in Christ” as God’s children. God wanted children in His eternal kingdom and this is His reason for designing us as He did and creating the world the way it is. God predestined, or planned ahead, for those who love Him to be adopted as His children according to the Apostle Paul.
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, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. Eph. 1:3-6
Since God wanted sons and not servants or angels, He set up certain conditions for reasons probably known only to Him. We do know these conditions called for the forming of this world. It took God only four days to make this earth ready for animal life.
It should be noted the “theory of evolution” about the beginning of life is just that, a theory of men about creation. It should also be noted, no one has ever disproved the Biblical account of creation. It is the best and most complete answer for how and why we and this cosmos came into existence.
On the sixth day, God created the first candidate for His child, called a living being or soul. This is the way God made the first living being:
Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostril the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7
God called this first living being Adam. Everyone born since has the same characteristics (Acts 17:26). Take note of the distinctiveness of the two parts of a living soul. One part came from the substance of the earth and the other from God. Other Biblical terminology that describes the two parts of living souls like us is used in the following Scriptures.
Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7
And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. II Corinthians 4:16
Our physical bodies are the containers for our spirits in this world only. Our inner man came from God and identifies with our spirit, it is our real “self.” We became living souls in the process of physical birth and we have developed character and personality. Our “self” will never cease to exist.
God’s plan calls for Jesus to come back again to bring many sons to glory at the end of time. Please consider the following.
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10
All people have been created for this purpose. God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” I Tim. 2:4. Although, He is not wishing that any one should fail to be a part of His eternal kingdom in heaven, the predestined plan is only for those who love Him.
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. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Rom. 8:28-30.
Predestined is the very best word to describe our role in eternity before time. We were a plan in God’s mind so that He could have us as children in His kingdom. We should read the Bible with this plan in mind; otherwise, we may find the Scriptures difficult to understand. We will love God when we understand and have faith in His plan for us.
God predetermined our role before He created the world. Isn’t it great to know we are more important than the physical things of creation? In fact, if God had not wanted children there would have been no reason to create the world.
Even though the very first people God created broke His covenant for them, God has not given up on His predestined plan for those He foreknew. The reason the Apostle Paul used the word “foreknew” was because God has the ability to know our future; however, it is not controlled. God foreknew the Christians to whom the foregoing Scripture was written because they accepted His plan. Because mankind became lost from the plan, God is willing to redeem us through our personal faith in Jesus Christ.
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12
Each of us must make our own choice; howbeit, our choices are limited to accept or reject God’s redeeming plan. There is no other purpose for our existence except to be God’s children.
The way God has worked with people in different ages is the divine story of the Bible. The role of His Son, Jesus Christ, and our reconciliation to God is the central theme. Our next lesson will show how the word “called” is the best word to sum up what God has for the people in the “world realm” who have become lost from His predestined purposes for mankind.
* All Scriptures in this course are from the New American Standard Bible.
