Predestinated
Predestination is a very confusing doctrine if not given a little context, it is one of the more confusing false doctrines of Calvinism. John Calvin was a Catholic priest who formulated a concept called "TULIP". Predestinated is a biblical word, but it can be very misguided and lead to people being lost. Peter stated some of Paul's writings were wrested to mean different things.
TULIP as an anacronym stood for five facets of salvation taught by Calvin, one being concepts of predestination.
Total Depravity (also known as Total Inability and Original Sin)
Unconditional Election
Limited Atonement (also known as Particular Atonement)
Irresistible Grace
Perseverance of the Saints (also known as Once Saved Always Saved)
Though predestination isn't one of the five, these five have statements that lead to predestination models. Ie. Irresistable grace could be construed to say man cannot resist grace, so anyone receiving grace would automacticly be saved. We simply couldn't resist. Unconditional election would mean we are chosen based upon no action of our own.
Predestination is taught in Acts 4, Ephesians 1, and Romans 8, actually not predestined, but predestinated. It is used in v.5 and v.11 in Ephesians 1.
There are other words translated from the same Greek word. You will need to look those up to see how they are used.
What was predestinated wasn't each individual Christian, but the method we were to be saved. In Christ or by Christ. see Acts 4:28.
Act 4:28 For to doG4160 whatsoeverG3745 thyG4675 handG5495 andG2532 thyG4675 counselG1012 determined beforeG4309 to be done.G1096
The phrase "counsel determined before" is the same word as predestinate. What Peter sees as determined before was Christ's death at the hands of the Jews. Notice,
Act 4:27 ForG1063 ofG1909 a truthG225 againstG1909 thyG4675 holyG40 childG3816 Jesus,G2424 whomG3739 thou hast anointed,G5548 bothG5037 Herod,G2264 andG2532 PontiusG4194 Pilate,G4091 withG4862 the Gentiles,G1484 andG2532 the peopleG2992 of Israel,G2474 were gathered together,G4863
Act 4:28 For to doG4160 whatsoeverG3745 thyG4675 handG5495 andG2532 thyG4675 counselG1012 determined beforeG4309 to be done.G1096
It was Christ's death that was determined beforehand and predestinated. The individual Christian isn't the one predestinated in Acts 4.
In Romans 8 it isn't speaking of the individual Christian, since a plural pronoun "them" is used. It is talking about God predetermining the same process, where all Christians will follow Christ's process.
Rom 8:28 AndG1161 we knowG1492 thatG3754 all thingsG3956 work togetherG4903 forG1519 goodG18 to them that loveG25 God,G2316 to them who areG5607 theG3588 calledG2822 accordingG2596 to his purpose.G4286
Rom 8:29 ForG3754 whomG3739 he did foreknow,G4267 he alsoG2532 did predestinateG4309 to be conformed toG4832 theG3588 imageG1504 of hisG848 Son,G5207 that heG846 might beG1511 the firstbornG4416 amongG1722 manyG4183 brethren.G80
Rom 8:30 MoreoverG1161 whomG3739 he did predestinate,G4309 themG5128 he alsoG2532 called:G2564 andG2532 whomG3739 he called,G2564 themG5128 he alsoG2532 justified:G1344 andG1161 whomG3739 he justified,G1344 themG5128 he alsoG2532 glorified.G1392
Paul uses the plural pronoun to state a class of people who fall under this designation. They are not predestined before meeting these conditions, one is predestined once they do. It doesn't say the world in general is predestinated to go to heaven or hell. The ones predestinated are those who come to meet these conditions.
1. Must love God. Rom 8:28
2. Must feel called by the Gospel preaching. Romans 8:28
3. Trusted in Christ by following through in obedience. Ephesians 1:12.
God sends the Gospel to those who will never love him, and he calls people who don't heed the calling, Thus it is for those who believe they are called to salvation. Those who actually believe it.
2Th 2:13 ButG1161 weG2249 are boundG3784 to give thanksG2168 alwayG3842 to GodG2316 forG4012 you,G5216 brethrenG80 belovedG25 ofG5259 the Lord,G2962 becauseG3754 GodG2316 hath fromG575 the beginningG746 chosenG138 youG5209 toG1519 salvationG4991 throughG1722 sanctificationG38 of the SpiritG4151 andG2532 beliefG4102 of the truth:G225
2Th 2:14 WhereuntoG1519 G3739 he calledG2564 youG5209 byG1223 ourG2257 gospel,G2098 toG1519 the obtainingG4047 of the gloryG1391 of ourG2257 LordG2962 JesusG2424 Christ.G5547
Those who are the called are those who take it to heart. Not all who God calls, but those who live by the calling. One who sanctifies God in their hearts and believe the truth.
So, in Romans 8 the process of calling through Christ is predestinated. And the process of bearing Christ's image is predestinated for those who love God and are the called.
Ephesians 1 is no different, it isn't the individual that is predestinated before being called, but the process of being saved "In Christ" and "Thru Christ". The person must become a Christian before predestination starts for the individual.
Eph 1:5 Having predestinatedG4309 usG2248 untoG1519 the adoption of childrenG5206 byG1223 JesusG2424 ChristG5547 toG1519 himself,G848
The word "unto" and "by" show the primary purpose is the direction and method.
It isn't the individual predestined before becoming a Christian, but the process predestinated after becoming a Christian.. "By Jesus Christ".
Again, a plural pronoun (Us) shows a class of people following the same rule.
Eph 1:11 InG1722 whomG3739 alsoG2532 we have obtained an inheritance,G2820 being predestinatedG4309 accordingG2596 to the purposeG4286 of him who workethG1754 all thingsG3956 afterG2596 theG3588 counselG1012 of his ownG848 will:G2307
Eph 1:12 That weG2248 should beG1511 toG1519 the praiseG1868 of hisG846 glory,G1391 who first trustedG4276 inG1722 Christ.G5547
It shows a process chosen by God's will. It was implemented through us trusting. Thus not without condition. It isn't speaking of individuals being predestined to be lost or saved. The Christian has a predestined process.
1. An inheritance
2. Adoption
3. By Jesus Christ.
4. According to God's predetermined counsel.
It disproves unconditional election because there are clear conditions.