Predestined Inheritance

Charles C. Ryrie wrote, "To predestine is to preplan a destiny. The word proorizo means to mark off beforehand. The death of Christ and its meaning were predestined by God (Acts 4:28; 1 Cor. 2:7).  God's elect are predestined to adoption (Eph. 1:5), to an inheritance (v. 11), and to ultimate conformity to Christ (Rom. 8:28-29)."

The root word for predestine pictures the horizon of the sky and earth. At a distance, we may see where the landscape of the earth ends and the sky begins. That's a line drawn by God Himself. So, predestination in Christ draws the line between those who are saved and those who are not. God has "marked off beforehand" to save all who believe in Christ (Acts 16:31).

All who have faith in Christ are predestined to be glorified into His likeness (Romans 8:29-30). We shall be glorified in a body like unto that of our risen Lord. "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). That's what Ryrie called "ultimate conformity to Christ."

Ryrie made it simple and clear, "to predestine is to preplan a destiny." That is the security of every believer. Our destiny is certain and God's plan for every believer is certain. We are predestined as God's adopted children, by faith in Christ, unto an eternal inheritance to be glorified in Christ. 

How God Sees You

How does God see you? Look into the word of truth to see. Then, you will understand who you really are. The word of truth is your Bible. God gives you understanding through His word of truth. The Bible reveals how God sees you.

See yourself as someone who has sinned against God. You may not like to think of yourself as a sinner, but the mirror shows only the truth. All of us can say, "I have sinned." To sin is to miss God's goal for your life. That goal is to bring glory to God. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

Don't stop now. Look into the word of truth again. See yourself as someone whom God loves. See yourself at the cross of Jesus. See that He died in your place and for your sins. That's how much God loves you. There is no way that you could be loved more. You can say, "I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

Now, look into the word of truth one more time. Understand that your life has purpose in Christ. You are a new creation in Christ. God has work for you to do. He has plans for you. "For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them"(Ephesians 2:10).