We discuss predestination regarding Romans 9:22-25 here.
Introduction
In our pursuit of the truths of the Bible, we have too often been confronted by our own presumption. We think we know what the Bible teaches, but when we begin to consider the Bible apart from our preconceptions a new picture often emerges.
In this process we have modified our approach to Scripture in at least two ways. We want to know:
- To whom was the author writing, and how would those people understand what was written?
- who is the author talking about, himself or his readers?
We admit that the following might be controversial conclusions. But we ask the reader to examine the Scriptures for himself.
To Whom was Paul Writing?
We first note that Paul is writing to a specific group:
Ro. 1:7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
But that's not all we know. He's writing to the Roman Jews:
Ro. 2:17-18 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law...
Paul was writing to Jewish Christians in Rome. This understanding really helps us in that it contextualizes the various Jewish references, like circumcision (Ro. 2:28). the advantages of being a Jew (Ro. 3:1), righteousness not through the law (Ro. 3:20), Abraham "our father" (Ro. 4:1), death to the law (Ro. 7:4, Ro. 7:9), and freedom from the condemnation of the law (Ro. 8:1-3).
Paul's audience is Jewish, and we should understand how his Jewish audience would hear these words. These have a primary Jewish applicability.
Was Paul Always Writing to and/or About Us?
In addition to the observation that Romans was written to the Roman Jews, we also note that Paul's language is carefully chosen.
In the past we have been too casual as we read.
But recently we have come to notice how Paul's narrative switches in his writing. Sometimes he used "us" or "we," while at other times he referenced "all of us," or "you." We have come to understand these usages are important, because they give us information regarding to whom Paul is referring. Sometimes Paul was making statements applicable to all Christians, and sometimes not, as we will see.
Though some of these Scriptures may not be directed toward us, we should say we are not excused from applying them to ourselves. More precisely, this might change how they apply to us.
You and Us
In Romans chapter one and two it is clear that Paul was speaking directly to his audience (Ro. 1:7). But then he embarks on a long teaching about Jews, the law, and justification by faith, which lasts through chapter five.
Starting in chapter six, Paul begins using the identifiers we/us. This is most certainly the universal we/us, i.e., all Christians:
Ro. 6:3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
When we come to Ro. 6:11 Paul once again turns directly to the reader:
Ro. 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Paul hadn't used the word "you" or "your" since chapter two. We need to pay attention to these shifts, because the things Paul writes about "we" and "us" are not necessarily about "you." Paul continues to write to "you" (Jewish Christians in Rome) through chapter eight.
Firstfruits of the Spirit
Paul carefully laid out all of these concepts to bring us to our subject passages. At this point there is a transition in thought from the things Paul was previously explaining. We will find that he begins to write of a very specific group of people:
Ro. 8:23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
The literal Greek: "...now but even ourselves the firstfruit of the Spirit having we also ourselves in ourselves groan divine adoption as sons..." (de alla kai autoi tēn aparchēn tou Pneumatos echontes hēmeis kai autoi en heautois stenazomen huiothesian) Notice how profoundly self-referential this is. It should be clear that Paul's statement applies very narrowly. We think the Roman church would have understood that Paul was not referring to every Christian. We should also understand this and not be quick to insert ourselves into the narrative.
Paul makes a careful distinction in referring to the "firstfruits of the Spirit." The "firstfruits" are the very first of the crop. We should understand that not every Christian received the very first part of the Holy Spirit - - Paul says this happened to "we ourselves." "We ourselves." They received "the firstfruits of the Spirit."
Contemporary Christians have not received this. Indeed, we are 2000 years removed from this. We have not received the firstfruits of the Spirit, the initial Pentecostal outpouring. We were not among the first. No, we have received the continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
We discuss the "firstfruits" in detail here and here.
Predestined?
If "we ourselves" is not "you," then "you" are not among those who received the firstfruits of the Spirit. Therefore, "you" are not the subject of what comes next in Paul's narrative:
Ro. 8:29-30 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. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
The verse is very specific, those God foreknew... It doesn't say, "God foreknew you..." Now, the reader should note that we are not claiming that God lacked knowledge, only that there was a category of people whom He foreknew He predestined. The ones who received the firstfruits are the ones who were predestined. The initial group of Jewish Christians were predestined:
Je. 2:3 "Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them," declares the LORD.
Ro. 11:2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew.
This is not "all of us." This is not "you."
It is worth saying, however, that simply because those early Jewish believers were called, justified, and glorified, that does not exclude us. It's simply that these "firstfruits" were uniquely and specifically chosen and predestined.
Ro. 8:33-38
If we carry this idea of identifying who is being talked about into the closing verses of Romans chapter eight, we find it is possible that Paul is continuing to talk about a very limited group of people:
Ro. 8:33-38 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” [Psalm 44:22]
What if these verses are not referring to all Christians? It certainly sounds like Paul is talking about someone specific, maybe the apostles? A small group who were right at that moment experiencing trouble and persecution? The earliest Christians?
But then there is a universality to verses 38 and 39. Paul seems to expand his scope to talk about all Christians.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
These certainly are promises that belong to us. But how Paul was applying them at the time he wrote them is a little less certain.
Where Our Quest Began
Our final piece of Scripture, which actually was the starting point of our quest:
Ep. 1:11-13 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
Ep. 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit...
Paul wrote of being chosen and predestined, then mentions being the first to hope in Christ (i.e., the firstfruits). That's "we" and "us." But that's not "you," because in verse 13 he writes about "you" as a separate category. "You" were included when you heard the word of truth. They were the predestined, but all the rest of "you" were included us when "you" believed.
Conclusion
In our opinion, the firstfuits were the earliest Jewish believers (perhaps the 144,000). They were the firstfuits, and they received the firstfruits of the Spirit. They were predestined, they were chosen, and they were foreknown.
And, they have already lived and died.
It is on this basis that we conclude that predestination referred specifically to the earliest Jewish believers, while the rest of us enter by faith. Which means that we are not predestined in the sense that the firstfruits were.
Though we believe Paul was not always writing to us or about us, we do not intend to suggest that these very precious Scriptures do not apply to us 2000 years later. We certainly can gain information from them and apply them appropriately to our lives.
We'll leave it to the reader to determine what that application might be.
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