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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: Theological Term: Predestination |
Bible Note: Hi, jamison... In particular predestination, predestination is an active work of God. It involves His intervention. It is an act of commission. It is something that He intentionally does. (See post #150812.) On the other hand, reprobation is something that happens to fallen men in the absence of God's intervention. The former is active, the latter is passive. Read with greater attention my previous post (#204720). The quotes state this very succinctly. I may have focused too narrowly on the alternatives. Let me add two more, including the one you suggested, and add a bit more by way of explanation. 1. Universal Predestination This is the position that God has preordained, prearranged, and actively saves all men. This view is held by some theologians, generally from the more liberal camps. Since there are an extraordinary number of Scriptures that speak of men suffering the righteous wrath of God (Matthew 8:11-12; Luke 13:27-28; John 3:36; Romans 1:18; 2:8-9; Hebrews 10:27; Revelation 14:10; etc.), I deem this view as untenable for even the most casual student of the Bible. 2. Particular Predestination This is the position that God has preordained, prearranged, and actively saves some men, while passively allowing other men to continue in their sin. This view is the orthodox Christian position, held by conservative theologians, generally from the Reformed and Fundamentalist camps. 3. Universal Reprobation This is the position that God has preordained, prearranged, and actively condemns all men to His wrath. This view is not held by anyone. 4. Particular Reprobation This is the position that God has preordained, prearranged, and actively condemns some men, while passively allowing other men to be saved. This view is not held by anyone. 5. Double Predestination This is the position that God has preordained, prearranged, and actively saves some men and preordained, prearranged, and actively condemned all other men. This view is held by some people, but I do not know of any theologians who are its proponents. 6. Non-Predestination This is the position that predestination does not exist. This view is held by a variety of people, including a few theologians, generally from the more liberal camps. Given the extraordinary number of Scriptures that speak of predestination (Acts 13:48; John 1:12-13; Romans 8:29-30; Philippians 1:29; Ephesians 1:5, 11), I deem this view as untenable for even the most casual student of the Bible. Error arises out of presuppositions about the nature of God and the nature of man. Making God less than He is, or making man more than he is, both result in confused doctrines. God is simultaneously loving and wrathful, without conflict or contradiction. God is simultaneously just and merciful, without conflict or contradiction. Etc. Man's sin leaves him in an utterly desperate position. Confused doctrines arise when we fail to understand that man is utterly helpless to make even the tiniest concession to righteousness. The teaching of salvific synergism minimizes God's holiness and man's depravity, contrary to the sound doctrine of Scripture. In Him, Doc |