"Turn to your Bible and read for yourself in the only two chapters in which this word predestinate or predestinated is found. The first is Romans 8:29-30, the other chapter is Ephesians 1:5 and 11. You will note that there is no reference in these four verses to either heaven or hell but to Christ-likeness eventually. Nowhere are we told in scripture that God predestinated one man to be saved and another to be lost. Men are to be saved or lost eternally because of their attitude towards the Lord Jesus Christ. Predestination means that someday all the redeemed shall become just like the Lord Jesus" (H.A. Ironside).
H.A. Ironside's definition of predestination is simple, scriptural, practical and to the point. It maintains the responsibility of man to receive Christ. The purpose of predestination is to conform every believer to the likeness of Christ in the glorified state of salvation complete. In essence, we shall be like Him (1 John 3:2). John Calvin's definition of predestination is an obvious contrast. In this definition, Christ is not mentioned. It is not focused on the Son of God.
"By predestination we mean the eternal decree of God by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man. All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others eternal damnation; and, accordingly as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestined to life or to death" (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 3:21:5).
It is important to understand the meaning of the word "predestinate" from the New Testament Greek. The word is proorizo meaning "to mark out beforehand." God marked out a destiny for every believer beforehand. All who receive and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are predestined to be glorified into the likeness of His resurrection. "Beloved, now we are the children of God; and we know not what we shall be, but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2).
Christ is the Predestined One in His death at the cross and glorious resurrection (Acts 2:23-24). The believer's predestination is in Christ alone. In Christ by faith, we become the body of Christ known as the church. We are members of His body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Our sure hope is predestined in Christ. As believers in Christ, our future is certain and our hope is not in vain.
