ARE WE PREDESTINATED TO HEAVEN OR HELL?
Acts 2:23 ‘…this Man (Christ Jesus), delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.’ (Christ – Predestinated, Fore-Planned)
1 Peter 2:4 ‘……disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious’ (Christ – Predestinated)
1 Peter 1:19 ‘For He (Christ), was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (Christ – Foreknown)
1 Timothy 2:4-6(God,)who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (Christ – Mediator)
2 Timothy 1:9-10 ‘(God,) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, (‘good news of Jesus Christ.’(Christ – Purposed, Planned, Gift of Grace, Life)
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
25whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation (a mercy seat; sacrifice), in His blood through faith.
This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance (long time patience), of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. NASB20 (Christ is Predestined, Gift of Grace)
Romans 3:28 ‘For we maintain that a man is justified by faith (faith in the Predestined Christ), apart from works of the Law.
Romans 5:1 ‘Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’
So, by a predetermined plan and foreknowledge (foreknown plan) of God – God determined, All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God – planned a gift of grace – (freely gave all who have Faith in Christ Jesus) – justification through the redemption (purchased, by His shed blood) which is in (Faith in) Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:29-30 ‘For those whom He foreknew (believers in Christ Jesus), He also predestined (planned Gift of Grace) to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He (Christ Jesus) would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined (all with Faith in Christ), He also called (invited); and these whom He called (invited), He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.’ (A Predestinated Plan – Christ Jesus)
Ephesians 1:5,11 Having predestinated (predetermined plan) us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, in whom (Christ Jesus), also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works out all things after the counsel of his own will: (Predestinated Plan – Jesus Christ)
Ephesians 3:4-11 ‘…the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit, to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel (good news of Jesus Christ), of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given to me to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration (working knowledge) of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which he carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord’
(Predestinated, Planned Purpose, Hidden Mystery – Jesus Christ)
Philippians 2:6,7 Christ Jesus, emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him THE NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, so that at the name of JESUS EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
Heb 1:5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, “YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU”? And again, “I WILL BE A FATHER TO HIM AND HE SHALL BE A SON TO ME”? 6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “AND LET ALL THE ANGELS OF GOD WORSHIP HIM (CHRIST).” 7 And of the angels He says,”WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.” 8 But of the Son (Christ) He says,”YOUR THRONE, O GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER, {Psa 45:6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.}AND THE RIGHTEOUS SCEPTER IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM. 9 “YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE, GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU (CHRIST) WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS.” (Jesus Christ – Purposed, Planned, Gift of Grace, Eternal Life)
Colossians 1:15-20 ‘He (Christ Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him (Christ Jesus) 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 through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself.’ (Predestinated – Jesus Christ)
Colossians 1:25-28 ‘..so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to who God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Predestined – Jesus Christ)
Colossians 2:2-3 ‘…hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ (Mystery, Predestinated Planned – Gift of Grace, Eternal Life)
2:6 ‘Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,………….For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;’
2:12 – 3:3‘…having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them having triumphed over them through Him. …………you have been raised up with Christ,……..FOR YOU HAVE DIED AND YOUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD.’ AMEN (Predestined (planned Gift of Grace) to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He (Christ Jesus) would be the firstborn among many brethren)
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, … ’ (Christ – Predestinated)
John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.‘ … 33 “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ (Christ – Predestinated)
John 3:31 “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (Belief in Christ – Salvation, Predestinated)
1 Peter 2:4 ‘……disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious’ (Christ – Predestinated)
1 Peter 2:6 ‘…..Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone (Christ), elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confused‘
Acts 2:38 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call (invite) to Himself.”
Beware of the evil one:
Just as you plant (sow) a garden with seed and it bears fruit: so God sows seed (the Word of God, Christ Jesus, Luke 8:12,13) “The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. ”The evil one desires to destroy your faith. He uses this term, ‘Predestinated’, to take away The Word (The Word is Jesus Christ) from your heart so that you may not believe and be saved, and to steal away salvation just as it is offered to you. Pray Jesus Christ delivers you. Amen “The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”
You? ‘All’ are invited!
Matthew 22: 1-14
And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,
“and sent out his servants to call those who were invited [bidden] to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.
“Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited [bidden], “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle [are] killed, and all things [are] ready. Come to the wedding.” ‘
“But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.
“And the rest seized his servants, treated [them] spitefully, and killed [them].
“But when the king heard [about it], he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited [bidden] were not worthy.
‘Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite [bid] to the wedding.’
“So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding [hall] was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.
“So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.
“Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
“For many are called, but few [are] chosen.”
note: Because I always read from the 1967 Scofield Bible KJV With Word Changes and his (their) commentary, I was surprised there was no ‘note’ or commentary on this selection of scripture. Passing over this and choosing to go on with the point of my comments.
Jesus is speaking to the multitude, to the Pharisees,Sadducees,and to his disciples.
First: ‘as many as you find, invite[bid] to the wedding.’ So, His servants went out into the ‘highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding [hall] was filled with guests.’
Second: Then ‘The King’ weeds out the goats, tares, unbelievers, those who do not believe in Christ Jesus, and those who were not clothed in righteousness because they did not believe in Christ.
Third: The words ‘called, chosen’ should be defined as ‘bidden,’ ‘invited’.
*Strongs:
*The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible,[n 1] generally known as Strong’s Concordance, is a concordance, constructed under the direction of Dr. James Strong (1822–1894), of the King James Version (KJV). Dr. Strong first published hisConcordance in 1890, while Professor of exegetical theology at Drew Theological Seminary. It is an exhaustive cross-reference of every word in the KJV back to the word in the original text.
Unlike other Biblical reference books, the purpose of Strong’s Concordance is not to provide content or commentary about the Bible, but to provide an index to the Bible. This allows the reader to find words where they appear in the Bible. This index allows a student of the Bible to re-find a phrase or passage previously studied. It also lets the reader directly compare how the same word may be used elsewhere in the Bible. In this way Strong provides an independent check against translations, and offers an opportunity for greater, and more technically accurate understanding of text.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong%27s_Concordance
Strong’s Concordance includes:
- The 8674 Hebrew root words used in the Old Testament. (Example: Hebrew word #582 in Strong’s Concordance)
- The 5624 Greek root words used in the New Testament. (Example: Greek word #3056 in Strong’s)
call G2564them that were bidden G2564 Matt 22:3,4
| The KJV translates Strongs G2564 in the following manner: call (125x), bid (16x), be so named (1x), named (with G3686) (1x), misc (3x). |
| Outline of Biblical Usage [?]
I.to call A. to call aloud, utter in a loud voice B. to invite II.to call i.e. to name, by name . to give a name to i.to receive the name of, receive as a name ii.to give some name to one, call his name A. to be called i.e. to bear a name or title (among men) B. to salute one by name |
called G2822 Matt 22:14
| The KJV translates Strongs G2822 in the following manner: called (11x). |
| Outline of Biblical Usage [?]
I. called, invited (to a banquet) A. invited (by God in the proclamation of the Gospel) to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom through Christ B. called to (the discharge of) some office i .divinely selected and appointed |
| Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
κλητός klētós, klay-tos’; from the same as G2821; invited, i.e. appointed, or (specially), a saint:—called. |
chosen G1588 Matt 22:14 (For G1063 many G4183 are G1526 called, G2822 but G1161few G3641 are chosen. G1588)
| The KJV translates Strongs G1588 in the following manner: elect (16x), chosen (7x). |
| Outline of Biblical Usage [?]
I. picked out, chosen A. chosen by God, i. to obtain salvation through Christ a. Christians are called “chosen or elect” of God ii.the Messiah is called “elect”, as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable iii. choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians |
| Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
ἐκλεκτός eklektós, ek-lek-tos’; from G1586; select; by implication, favorite:—chosen, elect. |
Revelation Last Day 