Rene,

 

You called "predestination" a "false doctrine", among other things.

Could you comment on the below Scripture?

 

Romans 8:29-30

 

(29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

 (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

 

A clear and simple paraphrased rendering of the above verses solves the problem of the apparent contradiction on this issue:

 

(29) For those that God knew would accept the call of salvation, for these he also predetermined that they would be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

 

(30) Moreover, those who He predestinated (to be conformed to His Son's image), these He also called: and those who He called, He also justified. And Those He justified, He also glorified.

 

The predestination spoken of in this verse has to do with the fact that God has already made up His mind on a certain issue. And in the same verse He identifies what that issue is. The issue is about conformity to the Son. Those from among fallen man who chose to accept the "free gift of salvation," these would be the ones that God has decided (previously) would be conformed to the image of His Dear Son. Unfortunately, there are always some scholarly people who decide to interpret this verse in a way that makes it contradict another very important verse of Scripture, which says that God "would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth" (1. Tim. 2:4).

 

Conformity to the image of His Son. That is the issue! And for those who care to take a look at the past, it has always been the issue. "Image" and "likeness" is what Adam lost through the fall. But what is gained through salvation is something even better than what Adam lost. What is gained as one is transformed into the image of God's Dear Son is a glory that Adam never had. Indeed, not only has Image and likeness been restored, but praise be to God, something priceless has been added to it. What is that? Like the icing on the cake - it is the glory of The Son.

 

I think, if God's children would worry less about which doctrine is true, and more about allowing the Holy Spirit to perform His assigned task, to conform us into the likeness, and image, and glory of the Son, more of the lost would begin to take notice of a true testimony of Christ, and be saved.

 

 

Sentinel Kulp

   

Young's Literal Translation:

 

      "Because whom He did foreknow, He also did fore-appoint, conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be first-born among many brethren;  and whom He did fore-appoint, these also He did call; and whom He did call, these also He declared righteous; and whom He declared righteous, these also He did glorify" Rom. 8:29-30).