Long before time, God looks ahead. He plans to create humans for a unique purpose. He gives them the gift of choice, even about their relationship to God.14 He foresees just how badly we make our choices.15 He knows every detail of our miserable condition, every pain we inflict on others and ourselves. Is He angry at our sin? Oh yes, God hates and condemns all sin.16 But His first choice is to forgive us and rescue us.17 As God looks forward, He has already made His decision. (“Predestine” means to pre-decide, to determine beforehand.) His carefully considered plan is to turn soiled, devilish sinners into His own sons.
“He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will” (Ephesians 1:5).
This entire plan fits God’s “purpose” (1:5) and “counsel of his will” (1:11). In other words, He wants to do this. It pleases Him to do this. When He first creates humans, He places them near the “tree of life,” by which they can “live forever” (Genesis 2:9; 3:22). He instructs them how to keep away from death. They choose to rebel, for which they must die.18 But God wants neither their rebellion nor their death.
Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11).
What gives God pleasure is for us to fulfill the purpose for which He creates us – for us to live! Yet, to live with the Holy One, people must “turn from their ways” of sin. They must become holy like their Maker.19 God had this holiness in mind when He chose us:
“He chose us in Him… that we should be holy and blameless before him” (Ephesians 1:4).
14. Research subject – Humans can choose: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15,22; 2 Samuel 24:12; 1 Kings 18:21; Psalm 119:30,173; Proverbs 1:20-31; 3:31; Isaiah 1:18-20; Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 10:42; John 5:35; 7:17; Hebrews 11:24; James 4:4; Revelation 22:17; see Study Note: Fatalism and Determinism
15. Deuteronomy 31:16; Matthew 7:13-14,22-23; 20:18; 21:43; 23:34; 26:24,31,34; Acts 20:29
16. Proverbs 6:16-19; Isaiah 61:8; Jeremiah 44:4-6; Hebrews 1:9; Revelation 2:6
17. Exodus 34:6-7; Psalm 145:9; Ezekiel 18:3; 1 Timothy 2:4; 4:10; 2 Peter 3:9
19. Research subject – Be holy to be with God: Leviticus 11:44-45; Deuteronomy 10:12; Psalm 15:1-5; 24:3-5; 51:10-11; Ezekiel 18:30-32; Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:8; 2 Corinthians 6:17; 1 Peter 1:16