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NASB | Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 1:5 He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will-- |
Subject: Basis of election and predestination? |
Bible Note: Hi, The “foreknowledge” referred to in 1 Peter 1:2 is God the Father’s foreknowledge from before Creation of those persons as such who He had chosen (elected and predestinated) to be brought to salvation by grace. This “foreknowledge” in 1 Peter 2:1 cannot be taken as referring to any hypothetical foreseeing by God that such people would have faith or would trust in Christ or would persevere, because the Scriptures are emphatic that saving Faith is itself the gift of God to His elect (Romans 12:3; Titus 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Galatians 5:22; Acts 13:48; Acts 18:27, and John 10:26), and the preservation of God’s elect people is also declared by the Scriptures to be by God’s grace [John 6:39-40; John 6:44, and John 10:28-29). Ephesians 1:3-11 repeatedly emphasises that God’s election and pre-destination of His people from before Creation took no account whatsoever of any supposed merit or goodness in them because the universally-depraving effects of the Fall of Man (Genesis 3, Romans 12:3; Romans 3:9-18 etc.) ensured that all of 6the human race without any exception were all spiritually-dead in trespasses and sins (Romans 3:23) and were thus incapable of doing and/or being Good in the sight of God. Romans 9:11-13 is a remarkable statement of Election (and therefore salvation) entirely on the basis of underserved grace: Romans 9:11-13 - [9] “For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. [10] And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; [11] (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him Who calls;) [12] It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. [13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Particularly note the phrase in Romans 9, verse 11b “ . . . that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him Who calls.” This is an outstanding declaration of the absolute sovereignty of God’s grace in election and salvation. I hope that these comments are helpful. Please let me know id any point is not entirely clear. Regards, Michael T. |