The difficult subject of predestination

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A Look at Ephesians 1:4-5
“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.” NASV

Some key words to pick out from this passage and ideas

Vs.4- “He chose” eklegomai is the transliterated word meaning to pick out, choose, to pick or to choose out for one’s self.   He did this it says before the foundation of the world.  IN other words, before we could say or do anything to earn it.  He did this for the purpose of our being holy and blameless before Him.

Vs.5- The word predestined is mentioned.  It is used six times in scripture and his the word proorizo.  Most often translated predestined but also determine before and ordain.  Used in Acts 4:28, Romans 8:29.30, 1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 1:5,11.  In verse 5 it says that those who were chosen were chosen before the foundation of the world.  They didn't earn it and they did not receive it based on their goodness.  They received it so that they could be blameless and holy before God.
Vs.5 He predestined  us to adoption as sons- this word adoption as sons is used 5x in Romans 8:15,23, Romans 9:4, Gal 4:5 and Ephesians 1:5.  Adoption gives the one who is adopted all legal rights as a heir.  The Bible speaks often of the believer being a heir. Romans 8:17, Gal 4:7, James 2:5.

Vs.5 a key word is “through”.  He did this through Jesus Christ.  The word through is dia which means the ground or reason by which something is or is not done.  He is the reason and the grounds upon which those who are predestined could be chosen.

Vs.5 the kind intention- eudokia most often translated “good pleasure”, will or choice.

So, if God chose us before the foundations of the world then the whole basis on which a person is saved has nothing to do with what we do?  Or does it?  If God alone predestined a person and we have nothing to do with it then how can a person be sure they were one of the ones who are predestined?  What does this imply about evangelistic efforts?


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