"he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will," (Ephesians 1:5).
- I am predestined. "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers" (Romans 8:29).
- Predestination is a predestination of adoption, "he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will," (Ephesians 1:5). I am adopted as His own, sealed with the Holy Spirit until the redemption of my body, in which we await salvation, when God takes possession of His own (Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:23-24).
- The Spirit testifies of predestination. If I am predestined for adoption and the Spirit is a Spirit of adoption then the Spirit testifies that I am predestined. In this the Spirit testifies, of adoption, bearing witness that we are His own (Romans 8:15-17).
- I am eternally secure in my predestination as His own. "And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified" (Romans 8:30). For my predestination for adoption led to my calling, justification, and leads to my glorification. God being glorified and my glorification go together, as God is glorified when that which he eternally purposed in Christ is fulfilled; that I am being conformed to the image of Christ.
"And we know that for those loved of God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28)
- If we are predestined we are called, "...called according to his purpose."
- If we are predestined it is through adoption and according to his purpose and will, "he predestined us for adoption as his own, according to the purpose of his will, " (Ephesians 1:5).
- This will and purpose was set forth in Christ, "making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan..." (Ephesians 1:9).