YOU ARE Predestined and Chosen by God

 “God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.” (Ephesians 1:4).

"...You did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide:  that whatsoever you ask of the Father in my name he may give to you...” (John 15:16 ASV).

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God chose each one of his children to be his very own. This is the place that the “covenant unity” relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, actually begins.

In other words, the relationship starts the moment God, the sovereign Holy Spirit, willingly DECIDES to choose you in the ON PURPOSE. It is important for God’s people to know that God choose THEM, on purpose and that THEY were NOT the ones who chose Him!!

"...You did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide:  that whatsoever you ask of the Father in my name he may give to you...” (John 15:16 ASV).  God is the Chooser.

“...God chose [his people] ...in Christ before the foundation of the world...” (Ephesians 1:4).

“…ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light…(1 Peter 2:9 KJV).

God’s people can’t DENY they have been chosen by God through Christ. God doesn’t CHOSE people because they are special, are deserving, or worthy, or have earned his favor. “……There is NEITHER Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female…” (Galatians 3:26-28 KJV).

“…God SHOWS NO FAVORITISM.  In every nation HE ACCEPTS those who fear him and do what is right—…there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all…” (Acts 10:34-36 NLT). “…God is no RESPECTER OF PERSONS: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent … preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)…” (Acts 10:34-36 KJV).

“…  [Everyone who belongs, to him through Jesus, however, and] … who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children… because THEY BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS…” (Ephesians 3:6 NLT).

The ONLY motivating reason God CHOSE each one of his children is his LOVE for them.  “...IN LOVE.... [God, the Holy Spirit]... predestined [his people]... to ADOPTION AS SONS (daughters) through Jesus Christ to Himself ACCORDING TO THE KIND INTENTION OF HIS WILL …” (Ephesians 1 NLT).

“...He predestined [his people]... to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will...” (Ephesians 1:5 NASB).

Not ONLY does he CHOOSE his people out of HIS LOVE, but he OFFERS them GRACE in order to FAVOR them with his FREE GIFT of SALVATION. “…BY GRACE have ye been saved through… FAITH (through dependence upon God’s WORD); and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; not of works, that no man should glory…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).

Every male and female upon earth was born WITHOUT God’s, indwelling Holy Spirit In all truth, without Jesus, the atoning sacrifice of sin, mankind is deserving of death. “…All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23). “….I was born a sinner (I was born without the indwelling holy spirit)….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT).

“...I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. …I [am] …a slave to the sin[ful nature] …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “…the wages of sin is [spiritual]... death…” (Romans 6:23 KJV). “…For all have sinned (all have been BORN “without” the indwelling Holy Spirit)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV). “…all have ... come short of the glory of God (all are missing God’s indwelling PRESENCE)…” (Romans 3:23 KJV).

HOWEVER, “…God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV).

“... Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (substitute, intervention) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 KJV).

“…Christ (the HEALING solution or CURE) also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us [back] to God …” (1 Peter 3:18 KJV).

"...You did not choose me but I chose you...” (John 15:16 ASV). 

Everyone who RESPONDS to his choosing THEM will become his people. “… AS MANY as received him…” (John 1:12 KJV). “…receive the word implanted….” (James 1:21 NASB).  “…God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son (the Word) “INTO” [YOUR HEART]…” (Galatians 4:6 NASB).

“…Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly. Along with faith … that are [“through” the power of the WORD of GOD]…” (1 Timothy 1:13-14 NIV).

God is“... RICH IN MERCY…” (Ephesians 2:1-5 KJV).  “… delighteth in mercy…” (Micah 7:18 KJV).

 “...God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners…” (Romans 5:7-9 NLT).  “…the Lord loves His people …” (2 Chronicles 2:11 NASB). “...God, …sent his Son ….” (1 John 4:10 NIV).  In “… His love and in His mercy He redeemed them…” (Isaiah 63:9 NASB).

 “...God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” So it is God who decides to show mercy...” (Romans 9:14-16 NLT).

“...We (mankind or God’s people) can neither choose it nor work for it...” (Romans 9:14-16 NLT).

God chose you and chose to show you MERCY on his own sovereign volition. This LOVING opportunity is the WAY God, through Christ, made it possible to be in a “covenant unity” relationship with HIM again.

This TRUTH tells us that it is God, the Holy Spirit, “only” one who determines the PLAN of SALVATION. "...You did not choose me but I chose you...” (John 15:16 ASV). 

He chose you with the intention of bestowing upon you everlasting love, multiple blessings, miraculous mercy, unlimited favor, amazing grace, and bountiful spiritual gifts.  “…in [him] whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will...” (Ephesians 1:11 KJV).

God loves the unlovable and the worst sinner, which is everyone with a sinful nature. Mankind has to trust God’s love and “… lean not upon [our]… own understanding…” (Proverbs 3:5 KJV).

The bible says “…in all thy getting, get understanding…” however, that kind of understanding comes by faith.“...By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear...” (Hebrew 11:3 ASV).

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” (Romans 11:33-34 ASV).

God has also said, “… my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways…..as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than you ways and my thoughts than your thoughts…” (Isaiah 55:8-9 ASV).

God’s HOLY character, words, and actions have untold depths. “….the [depths] of the riches…of [God’s]….wisdom and … knowledge….” (Roman 11:33-34).  Often God’s “…ways [are] past tracing out…”

Thus, it is NOTHING, but AMAZING that God loves wretched mankind and chooses them to become his people.  ^“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9 NIV).

God said “this” about Israel, “...For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth...” (Deuteronomy 7:6).

I am NOT an expert on the topic of predestination, but the following paragraphs are my three perspectives, for now, after a little studying. First, predestination (includes salvation’s all-inclusive invitation “to every one that believeth...or CALLS upon the name SHALL be saved...” (Romans 10:4, 13 KJV) = This is God’s will).

Second, predestination (includes select election “…he chose us (the elect) in him before the foundation of the world…” (Ephesians 1:4-5 ASV) = based on God’s will too).

Third, predestination (includes foreknowledge “… whom he did foreknow, he also did predestine…” (Romans 8:28-30 KJV) = (all God’s will).

Here’s a quick review: A). Predestination says EVERYONE who BELIEVES and CALLS upon Jesus shall be saved (Romans 10:4, 13). B). Predestination says God CHOOSES people to be saved. C). Predestination says it is through God foreknowledge that some are saved. 

Are those views right? Are they contradictory? Can anyone be saved or are some elected? Predestination is based on God’s sovereign will, which is “...done in earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 KJV).

GOD SAID: "...You did not choose me but I chose you...” (John 15:16 ASV). 

“…God SHOWS NO FAVORITISM.  In every nation HE ACCEPTS those who fear him and do what is right—…there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all…” (Acts 10:34-36 NLT). “…God is no RESPECTER OF PERSONS: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent … preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)…” (Acts 10:34-36 KJV).

“…  [Everyone who belongs, to him through Jesus, however, and] … who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children… because THEY BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS…” (Ephesians 3:6 NLT).

Being predestined to be CHOSEN actually doesn’t exclude anyone. “…God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life...” (John 3:16 KJV).

“... Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (substitute, intervention) for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 KJV).

“…RECEIVE (obtain, accept, etc.) ... the engrafted WORD, which is able to SAVE your souls…” (James 1:21 KJV).  “…everyone who asks receives (obtains, accepts, etc.)…” (Matthew 7:8 NIV).  “... AS MANY as received (obtained, accepted, etc.) him (the WORD of GOD), to them GAVE HE [INDWELLING] ... POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe (depend upon) ...his name (the WORD of GOD)…” (John 1:12 KJV).

YOU willfully RECEIVE or ACCEPT this gift of God. “…BY GRACE have ye been saved through… FAITH (through dependence upon the WORD of GOD); and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD; not of works, that no man should glory…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).

GOD SAID: “... In every nation HE ACCEPTS those who fear him and do what is right—…there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all…” (Acts 10:34-36 NLT). "...You did not choose me but I chose you...” (John 15:16 ASV). 

What matters is that YOU are chosen by God and that you “…..[were] predestined according to [His]… purpose who worketh  all things after the counsel of his own  will...” (Ephesians 1:11 KJV).

God chose mankind (the world) “…before the foundation of the world…” (Ephesians 1:4),

God is sovereign and omniscient. Thus, whatever “predestination” view you choose, if you are part of the world, God has personally, called YOU to respond by faith. “...But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name...” (John 1:12).

God chooses you. “No one can come to me except the Father which hath sent Me draw him...” (John 6:44 KJV).

And the only criterion for His choosing you is based on his love for you and NO other reason. “...Jehovah did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all peoples...” (Deuteronomy 7:7 ASV).

NO human being can DO anything to be chosen by God. "...You did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide:  that whatsoever you ask of the Father in my name he may give to you....” (John 15:16 ASV).  God is the Chooser.

Mankind is the RECIPIENTS who ACCEPT his choosing. “...To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made [the lost and spiritually dead souls]... accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6 KJV).

 “...He (she)... that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).  Jesus said, "I and my Father are one." (John 10:30 KJV). Remember true “covenant unity” ONENESS is unique to God and can be experienced by the relationship with Him through Christ.

Jesus said God “….sheweth him all things that himself doeth” (John 5:20 KJV) and “….whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19) and the “...Son can do nothing of Himself” (John 5:19 KJV).

“...he (she) that is joined unto the Lord is one (intimate) spirit...” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV).