Text: Ephesians 1:3-5; Romans 8:29-30
Has God predestined certain individuals to be saved, or a certain group to be saved?
Passages used to defend the “individual predestination” doctrine – Ephesians 1:4-5; Romans 8:29-30; Nehemiah 9:7; Romans 9:10-13 (explain each)
Consequences of the “individual predestination” doctrine:
- No reason to do good
- No reason to evangelize
- Makes God out to be a cruel and unjust tyrant
What the Scriptures teach about predestination:
- Those who are “holy and blameless” (Ephesians 1:4-5),
- Those who are called (Romans 8:29-30),
- Those who are in Christ (Ephesians 1:3; Galatians 3:27) will be saved
The right view is better than the wrong view – How? Hope; all can be saved
Our response: What should this cause us to do?
- Become part of the group predestined to be saved
- Remain faithful to continue in that group
