Do you think God chose you?  Romans 8.28-30

Do you believe that you were chosen by God?  I mean, chosen out from all the rest, which would follow then, that some were not chosen?  Hmmm.

We have looked at Romans 8, verse 28, from a couple different angles—today, please consider how it leads into the thoughts which come after it:  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  And now, today’s text:  “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

This is a passage that has been used, abused, interpreted and misinterpreted.  I should like to do none of the above.

Okay, here we go – predestination?  (as a doctrine in Christian theology) the divine foreordaining of all that will happen, esp. with regard to the salvation of some and not others. It has been particularly associated with the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo and of Calvin.

ORIGIN Middle English : from ecclesiastical Latin praedestinatio(n-), from praedestinare ‘make firm beforehand’.  Simply, that God chose who would actually enter into relationship with him before time began.   

Theologians botch this one . . . in fact, they have done so, for hundreds  (of thousands) of years, many lined up behind either Arminianism or Calvinism, or some derivation.  I am not a theologian, so may I be so bold as to just offer my humble opinion?  God chose us.  As my street friends say, ‘true that’.  God chose us . . . but he chose all of us.  His Son did not die for a select group, even though some act as though he did—he died for all—every tribe, tongue, socio-economic group, gender, and color.

The fact that Jesus died for all people created problems from the beginning with the Messiah, because remember, the Jewish people were waiting for a conquering Messiah who would overthrow the harsh tyranny of Rome for them.  The Messiah was coming for them!  Then, the Jews would assume their rightful place, and elevated status as God’s truly ‘chosen ones’ among the lesser people of this planet.

‘Tis a difficult saying, who can abide it?’ – from the recesses of my mind the phrase arose.  I did an internet search to find its origin-----John chapter 6.  (Is that what the Lord meant when he said that his word, which ‘goes out from his mouth will not return empty’?1  Scripture is planted somewhere in our minds, even when we might not be cognizant that it is even there, and the Spirit brings it to mind when it is prudent?  Again I say, ‘hmmmmm’.)  ‘Tis a difficult saying, who can abide it?’ captured the responses of those who listened to Jesus, those who had structured their lives so that they could just follow him, and listen to the things he taught . . . and of course, see the miraculous things he did!  Two of his most known miracles are found right in this chapter—feeding 5,000-plus people from one young boy’s lunch, and then walking across the surface of the Sea of Galilee.  But then the teaching that followed was difficult to understand and absorb, hence the response by some of the listeners, ‘tis a difficult saying, who can abide it?’ 

Predestination is just such a matter.  Yes, God chose us, and it was so from time immemorial!  He chose us by creating us to have relationship with him; then, when a breach occurred because he allowed us to choose, he set up a way to redeem us; and gave the thing that cost him everything!  Then, he allows us to choose yet again—but does not force his will on us—and when we do, he makes us right with him.  Please note with me----all of this was initiated by God!  So, yes, God did choose, and very intentionally and deliberately . . . he chose you and me to love him and enjoy his love forever.  Amen.

Christine