I have hear and read some about different opinions concerning these words. As usual I dont accept what I hear or read until I study the subject. I placed the interchangeable words in the title because of the uses in the different version of the bible.
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
First, to make my position clear, I do believe in predestination to a point. Scripture make it very clear that mankind is destined to heaven or hell. That is the final destination of all the human race, but looking closely at the above scriptures, it doesnt tell me that it is decided before I was born as to which place I was going
The focal point of the above scriptures. PREDESTINED ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIS WILL. We need to understand what his will is concerning each individual destiny.
2Pe 3:9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
According the Peter, God is not willing that we should miss heaven, but, there is a condition placed on mankind before we can reach heaven, REPENTANCE
Lu 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
After the resurrection of our Lord Jesus and just before his accension he gave the above commandment to his disciples that REPENTANCE AND REMISSION OF SINS was to be preached.
1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Our Lord Jesus was foreordained to become the sacrifacial lamb the plan of this creation and become the savior of mankind. Even that was conditional to his being willing to die for our sins.
Surely grace for our salvation was foreordained "...before the foundation of the world...". The One who was PREDESTINATED to be our Savior is Jesus Christ, the son of God; and we, the Church, are predestinated IN HIM! That was what was Peter meant when he declared, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other NAME under heaven, given among men, in which we must be saved." This also testifying HOW we are to be saved: "Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the NAME of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and YOU SHALL receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
There is a lot of theology on that subject matter. Some say He only loved those who chose him, and others say yes He loved all the world and died for their sins. Then some might say, Then why does He let so many suffer if he loves everyone.
I John 2; 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins, and not ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.
This verse certainly clearly states that the sacrifice Jesus made was indeed an atonement for as many as would come by faith to receive the forgives of sin. So I think it is in God's character that he does have a certain love for the entire world when it comes to their salvation, but on the other hand he also must be righteous and execute his judgment, which in reality is not his judgment but the judgment which we bring on ourselves through rejection of following that which is righteous.
Seeking truth directly from Him instead of listening to everyone's ideologies is a healthy thing. I always look at Yeshua as a reality and not anyone's religion. Been through all the religions, wow.
