20.c. “The Lord knows those who are his”

Romans 8:29   For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

 Psalms 1:6   for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

 Jeremiah 1:5   “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;

 2 Timothy 2:19   But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

 Revelation 13:8    and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

 Ephesians 1:5   he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

 Ephesians 1:11   In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

Predestination can be easy or hard to understand.  I think it is easier when you become saved, born again, and made new.  It is hard as concrete to understand apart from believing in God, Jesus Christ, and the work that was done on the cross for our redemption, salvation, and forgiveness.  It is hard to fully understand God’s omnipresence, omnipotent, and omniscience.  All-knowing, all-powerful, all presence, Creator, alpha and omega, beginning and end, all truth, righteous, Holy, is our God.  If possible to say, eternal past and eternal future.  Before the foundation of creation, He predestines to call us and for us to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.  Satan will put doubts into our hearts and minds.  He will lead us to believe God can’t or won’t or just plain doesn’t have any idea what He is doing, or that if He does, He certainly won’t do it for the likes of us.  But, He did and certainly does.  He already knows who will, or won’t, surrender to His calling of repentance and belief, trust, and hope in Jesus Christ.  He knows who will harden their hearts and those who will humbly surrender to His plan and purpose of redemption.  He has prepared a place for both.  To those who harden their hearts, He has prepared eternal Hell and forever separated from Him.  To those who humbly surrendered He has prepared eternal heaven and forever present with Him.  

If you find predestination hard to understand, yield to Him first, then allow His word to begin to give you a glimpse of His will, purposes, and plans.  Certainly, we will only see glimpses of this but what we see will over-shadow all doubts and fill our hearts, minds, and souls with peace and assurance.

16.o. “That he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart”

Romans 8:28–30   “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified”.

Jeremiah 24:6  I will set my eyes on them for good,

Psalms 46:1-2   God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

Genesis 50:20    As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good,

Deuteronomy 8:2-3    And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.  And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

 

The sovereignty of God is defined as God’s complete control of everything in the universe. Although humans can make genuine choices that have real consequences, ultimately those choices are either caused or allowed, by God to accomplish His divine, perfect will. Even though the sovereignty of God is often the subject of theological debates and contentious ones at that, the doctrine of God’s sovereignty is a practical one that has a significant impact on our daily lives.

The sovereignty of God has a tremendous impact on everyday life in that it removes all cause for worry. When all around us seems to be in chaos and turmoil, it is immensely comforting to know that our powerful and loving God has it all in hand and that nothing happens that is out of His control. Even seemingly terrible things happen to fulfill God’s perfect plan and purpose, and everything happens for the good of those who love and trust Him.