Great Doctrines of Salvation
Courtney Hemenway · Jun 20, 2010
Great Doctrines of Salvation, No. 25
Holly Hills Bible Church
https://www.hollyhillsbiblechurch.org/teaching/messages/492627225104

Transcribed from the recording by SermonAudio, so expect the occasional misheard word.

We are in Lesson 14, Basic Doctrines of Salvation, March Banks, Chapter 14. We are on predestination. Do you guys have lessons? Everybody have lessons? Number 14. Do we have it? No. No. All right. Hey, I've seen you before. Alright, we will start off on the question that I always like to have.

What is your definition of the biblical term predestined or predestination? What is your definition? Meant to be ahead of time? meant to do or planned ahead. Predetermined. Predetermined. That's a little shaky. That's using almost the definition of the term. So we'll take that. Others. Just what you're predestined. If you're predestined, what does that mean? Predestination. Don't all speak up at one time. planned out ahead of time. OK? All right.

The Greek term for it is pro-hordizo is the Greek word, which is the compound of the Greek word pro, which means before, and the Greek word hordizo, which means to mark out definitely, determine a point, or constitute. Therefore, the Greek word for predestination means to mark out before or to appoint something beforehand. Marx-Banks defined it as to mark out beforehand, to decree beforehand, or to specify beforehand. I mean, it's an easy one, predestined. It was something that was planned, it was marked, it was told that would happen, planned to do, specified, marked out ahead of time. So, I think the next question, we'll get to it here.

How many times, and he has it in his section on this, how many times is the word predestined used in the New Testament? six times. A lot of people use predestined a lot. When you talk about election, foreknowledge, predestined, they kind of all blend together. What's the typical use for predestined? If you talk to most people, with respect to the Bible, It's usually predestined and it has to do with election. They usually mix it up with election and kind of smatter it all together into this term that says they're predestined.

So you're either predestined to heaven or predestined to hell. And I didn't mean anything by pointing at this. Nothing personal and referring to the left or right side of the room here. So usually that's the term when you use predestined in biblical terms. Most people use it as you are predestined for salvation. Okay. And is that the correct way to use predestined? We'll get to it, but I'm just asking. Is that how you interpreted it beforehand, before you read this or have studied this? Is that how you, yeah. I think that's typically the term that you use when you think of it. And a lot of times, you try and wrestle with how to use that term.

You know it's not predestined for salvation, but it's like, well, what is it then? How do I, you know, we know it's in there. It's six times used in there. So if it's not predestined for salvation, what is it? We'll get to it, but what is predestined usually used for?

You say that it's what God has planned out beforehand for you, for your life, and what he's appointed. I think you used that word. Yeah, but not into salvation. It's more like plans for you, things for you to do, or places for you to be, or whatever. Those are parts of it, yes.

And then other things, predestined. When you come to savings knowledge, what is predestined about you? We'll get to that in one of the questions. But there are a lot of things that's predestined about you. Once you are in Him, there's a lot of things that are predestined about you.

And I argue that if you know even a few of those things, it'll change your condition or your walk. as you realize what's true about you right now, that's predestined about you right now. So, it's used six times in the New Testament, and we'll look at those verses real quick. The first one is Romans 8, 29, and I'll go ahead and read it, and I read it out of the New American Standard.

In Romans 8.29, we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that we would be the firstborn among many brethren.

This one, he also predestined to become conformed to the image of his son. Okay? And that again is the proerditso. It's a diversion depending on the verb tense. And then Romans 8, 30 is the next verse. And it's in this follow-on one to what we just read. And these whom he predestined He also called. And these whom He called, He also justified. And these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Again, so that's again the word predestined is used in Romans 8.30. Yeah, Holly? Sounds like calling is the same as predestined. You know, like you already knew who He was going to call, so isn't that into salvation?

I'll go back up and I'll pull out from the verses. Who's he speaking to in these verses? Believers. Believers. Do you see anything about salvation in here? What is the gospel message? I think this is like you were saved in order to walk in the works that he planned for you. These are things that as a believer, these are true about you now.

And we'll get into this in a later question. So in verse 29, what is one of the first things that is predestined about you being in Him? Now again, this is to believers. So in verse 29, what is one of the first things that's predestined about you? What has God determined for you?

Conformed to His image. Now, just take that one. You're predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. It's going to happen. And we'll get into it further down. Yeah, that's rather comforting, don't you think? Yeah. I mean, just realize what that... I mean, we'll get into this, but just think of that one right up front. You're predetermined to what? To be conformed to the image of His Son.

Yeah, it's nice too because you don't have to think about it. All you just have to do is believe and accept it. And then let Christ do the work and the Holy Spirit do the work in you. And you don't have to try. You can just be free. I mean, it's very freeing. It's incredibly freeing.

And guess what? Predetermined. Is it going to happen? Fully? Is it going to happen? Absolutely. You know, we're being conformed now. But when we step into eternity, will we be conformed to his image? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's pre-determined that you will do that. No question. It's not sort of, maybe, kind of, if, maybe. No. It is. It's pre-determined.

Back to Holly's question about isn't it the same as calling. Isn't the calling a word that's used sometimes instead of election? Yeah, I kind of dodged that. Because I want to get back to the point is that that's used for election. Usually calling is election. Sometimes the translations will call it calling or chosen, I think, instead of election.

And again, is that for salvation? Do you remember two chapters ago, election? Probably not. I like your honesty. Election, was that ever for salvation? What was it used for? Election. Was that ever for salvation? Look back at your notes quickly. Was that ever used in salvation? Is it for your history in Christ? For your history in Christ. Well, which word does that be used for? Once you're in Christ, your history is His history.

Yeah. Well, see, the election is usually based on groups. Remember, there was groups. You were elected. It would talk about believers as a group. The elect. Remember? The elect. But what did that talk about? That talked about groups. believers. They talked about Israel as a select group or an elect, chosen. Remember, Israel is a chosen people or an elect. So it talked about groups. It talked about groups of believers. Remember the ones in Thessalonica that Paul said, I know you by your works and he knows that they were believers by what they were doing. He was applauding them. And he says, you are the chosen. But he was talking about that group of believers.

So, election or the calling, and those are the more synonymous terms, it was never again for, I chose you for salvation. Chosen stuff is like human beings, once they believe, are predestined to become in the image of Christ. I go back to the thing that you really have to look for. It's like 147 times in the New Testament where Paul typically uses in him, in the beloved. All those things are tied to the in him's. Once you're in him, the identification truths, when you're in him, when reckoned dead and a new creature in Christ, 2 Corinthians, you're a new creature in Christ, Then all those things apply. So where it says elect or called, it talks about a group of believers.

This predestined is always about after you're in Him, these things are now true of you. So yes, it's always after, now these things are true about you. And we'll go over in one of the later questions about what that predestination, what you're predestined to do.

The first thing I said was, you know, in Romans 8.29 is you're to be conformed to the image. Is there any doubt about that? If you're predetermined by God, is that an iffy thing? So, think about that.

You are to be conformed to the very image of Him. Now, think about going back to the identification truths that you were co-crucified on the cross, you now have a new being, new creature, new in kind, new in quality. You are now a legitimate offspring of Christ without the deity. But everything that's true about him is now true about you. So conform to his image, yeah.

It's like we all fall under Adam in our old nature, who is the federal head of this entire race of flesh. We are now under, in Christ, we're now under a new creature in Christ. We're now the federal head of our new race, new creatures, is Christ. So will we like Adam?

Yeah. So now are we going to be like Christ? Yeah. It just takes a while. Yeah. You know, one of those things, and we're a fast food generation. We are a 10 second video clip. We want it now. And these processes, I mean, maturity in Christ, it's a process over our entire lifetime. I think if you get the identification truths, your spiritual growth goes quicker because you have a better foundation.

You're not fighting with the old nature, trying to improve the old nature. Now that I'm a new believer, my old nature can be fixed up and I can do all the laws now. And if you struggle with that and things to do, I think what you were saying, you rest. Grace is now unmerited, no works. you can rest.

Everything fits together. It's like a perfect machine. I'm an engineer. It's the machine. All the cogs, everything fits together. Tell them I'm an engineer. Everything fits together in this thing. The predetermined is for believers. Everything that's predetermined is about you in Christ. I'll go over when we get to the question. This, which we've used before.

Lewisbury Chafer has 33 things that are immediately true about you. Well, this one came up with one better. It's the riches of His grace. 215 things that are true of me now that I'm saved. So, those are predetermined about you. This is just out of the scripture. 215 things that are true about you once you are a believer. You are new and kind. in Christ, 215 things are true about you right now. And my contention is that if you even get to handle on a few of these things that's true about you, it'll change how you walk or your condition. Because if you really grasp onto those things, mine always has been the intimacy with Christ.

I'm still just amazed at the intimacy that I have with Christ. Do you believe that the God that created all of this, all of us, the universe everything holds everything together that you can go to him and say daddy Abba Abba father do you believe that God in the universe you have the intimacy to go to him and say daddy I'm confused daddy you know I tell me I don't understand daddy thank you Do you believe, I mean, if you just, that's mine, if you just start beginning to understand that you're going to the God of the universe who has everything sovereignly in control and you have the intimacy to go before him like that. What are you worried about? What am I worried about?

If he's sovereignly in control and I can talk to him at any time, man. So, I mean, those are just some things. We've gotten to the second verse of six. The next one, we're in question two still. How many times is the word predestined used in the New Testament?

The next one is Ephesians 1.5. I'll start at verse 3.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing the heaven places, what? In Christ, just as he chose us in him, in him, before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us as to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the kind intention of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed upon us, what, in the Beloved." So, predestined again. What are we predestined in this one? Adoption as sons. Adopted. Did this just die? I don't hear the echo. Sorry.

Alright, the next one, Ephesians 1, 11. In him, end of verse 10. In him, Also, we have attained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose, who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory." Okay, again, we're predestined to what? What do we have?

An inheritance. You have an inheritance. You've been predestined to an inheritance. And what is that inheritance? What's the inheritance? You get the old TV and the furniture and... Being able to worship God forever. That's part of it. What do you get? Everything! Everything! He's planned for us. What does it say in Ephesians? You've been blessed with All spiritual blessings. That's your inheritance. All. You want more? You want more than all? I don't know what that is, but yeah.

Alright, Acts 4, 28. For truly in this city they were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your purpose predestined to occur. uh... this was uh... uh... after uh... uh... what was it uh... who was it there? I can't remember, it was Paul and uh... this is at what address? uh... Acts 428 this is after they got out, they got released by the council and they are praying and this is basically praying to God about uh... Acts 428 I can pull it up. Let me see here. I forget who. They were just released from the council. Yeah, Peter and John. Peter and John, after they'd been ordered to leave the council and not tell about Christ, they pray and basically say this. It's God. It's predestined in God's hands. in this Acts 4 28 verse so this one this one is a predetermined about who Christ this is a verse talking about Christ predestined to die on the cross for us and and suffer as he did.

Did this die? Yeah, I've been noticing some. It seems like it's changed. Yeah, I didn't I don't hear it anymore. Oh, I thought it was too loud. Oh, okay. Okay. All right. I just didn't know if it died or not. So, okay. Um, all right. And then the next one is first Corinthians two, seven, the six time a predestined or predestination is used. First Corinthians two, seven. I'll start with verse six.

Yet we do not speak wisdom among those who are mature, a wisdom, however, not of this age nor the rulers of this age who are passing away. But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory, the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood, for if they had understood it, they would have They would not have crucified the Lord of glory, but just as it is written, things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him." Again, this isn't about predestined, about us. It's talking about Christ again in this verse. So, moving on quickly. Question three.

So those are the six times six times, that predestined is used in the New Testament. So you can look that word up and it comes up in only those six verses in all of the New Testament. So it's kind of funny, like I said when I started this, how much predestined, when you talk to people about predestined, and it's always about you're predestined for heaven or hell, and it's only six times this word is used. But I think as Holly, you know, calling and how is this election foreknowledge and predestination all get blended together. and used kind of similarly.

So we have to look at each of them differently and what they're used. But it's never, none of them are used for salvation. That you're predetermined, you're called for knowledge. Oh, I knew Holly was and Hassan was, but Laura, sorry. You know, it's never used in salvation.

So then it always comes down to your choice. It's available, but it's your choice. Yeah, this is going back to man's responsibility and God's sovereignty. The blend of that. Because you can't reconcile the verses that talk about all should come to know the knowledge, it's God's desire that all come. If that's the case, then how do you have predestination? If he wants them all, then he should have selected them all, elected them all, foreknowledge would have gotten them all. So, there has to be some responsibility.

And when you look at it, what is the only thing you can do that is not works, that's not related to any effort by you? It's faith. Faith is the only thing that's a non-meritorious act. That's all he requires of us. Faith in his son. And this, sorry, goes into Mike's saying that our free will is our Freedom to choose. To choose. Salvation or not. Right. And everything else just kind of falls into what we're predestined to do. After that point, then it's more of just accepting, not necessarily choosing, but accepting. It's believing in the facts that are true about you. You know, believing what he's told you is true about you now.

Do you believe you're, again, being conformed to the image of Christ? Do you believe you're adopted as a son? Do you believe that you're justified? These are all true about you. That's where the spiritual maturity is, really understanding and believing those things that are true about you already. It's not predicated on you believing because it's already true about you. It's you just accepting those and believing by faith what's true about you. Did you have something more?

If God died for everybody's sins, they are all taken care of, but He leaves it up to people if they want to believe Him or not. They have that choice. If they want to reject Him, then that's their choice. Isn't that kind of where God wishes it all, so He took care of all, but everybody doesn't have to take it if they don't want to. Absolutely. And that's where the only question left now. Is there any question about your sins? Not this guy across the street. That guy. I'm going to go the other direction. The lady at that house over there. How about that?

Is there any question? Have her sins been paid for? Yes. So, if her sins have been paid for, what is the only question remaining? Does she believe? The only thing that's left is, do you believe in Christ and what He did on the cross? By faith. It's just by faith. thing that you have to do, some effort, some anything. It's just belief. That's the only question that's left for every human being on the earth. It's not about their sins being paid for.

It's already done. That was accomplished on the cross. That was done on the cross for everybody, all sins. My sins, past, present, future, they were all on the cross. He paid for them. The lady across the street, all of her sins, past, present, and future, were on the cross with Christ. He paid for everything. There was not one sin that wasn't paid for by Christ on the cross.

So, if that's true, is everybody saved? No. It still comes down to that choice. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did? Death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. So that's the only question remaining. And so then when we continue sinning, after we choose... You do? I'm sure you guys don't. No, no, no, no. That we still have our salvation and he still has our predestined plan, we just kind of... aren't as close to him, like maybe we hide in our sin a bit, but we still have the salvation, but we just have to be patient to have the faith to know that our sins will, that we won't do them as often. The thing that you lose by sending us is fellowship. You know, you're either in the flesh or in the spirit, walking or however you want to, the term. and you lose that fellowship with him when you're sinning.

He knows about all that too, and he uses all these events in your life. He allows things to happen, but when you couch it in the terms of, are you ever separated from his love? No. So even if he allows you to stumble, bumble, whatever, it's for what? To conform you to his image, to glorify Him, to draw you into intimate fellowship with Him.

What happens a lot of times when you sin and you confess, 1 John 1.9, what happens?

The fellowship is restored. And what is the confession? Agreeing with God. Yeah, I'm not acting as who I am in Christ. That's the confession. And if I'm not acting, okay, I'm not. This is who I am. And you know, I'm convinced that God allows you to do some things until you go, the V8 moment, you know. Duh! That's not who I am in Christ. You know, after four times I fell down the stairs, you know, it's like, okay, I get it.

But then I think the danger is to, even when you get it, is to not come up with your own plans to change it. Because then you kind of go under the law again. You think, well, I'm not going to do this, or I'm going to do this. And then you're kind of setting yourself up to say, it's my plan now, how I'm going to not sin.

The minute you put I in there, you're dead. you know, that I will do it and I purpose to do this or I'm going to do this. You know, I've used this example several times, you know, with me and this is my own personal, memorizing scripture. You know, I just, I felt I had to do that because that's what the really good Christians were. They knew and they could memorize and quote scriptures, you know, and it used to just bug me because I'm not a memorizer. I'm not. And I thought here, God is looking down a little sad to me because I'm not doing this.

Well, whose plan was that? Was that his plan or my plan? Right, that's your plan. And for you to say, every day I'm going to memorize one scripture. Well, he's really kind of going for a shower. That's me who's saying that. The minute I relaxed, I know more scripture now than I ever have when I relaxed. How many, 20 years probably took me to learn that lesson? You know, I'm a slow learner.

You know, where we... She planned how your brain works. Exactly. You know, and... And under what circumstances? You know, it just took me 20 years to figure that out. You know, I'm, like I said, pretty slow. And it's not interesting that you can have the good intention of saying, oh, I memorized scripture, but really it's just... Trying to put the glory sort of on yourself.

Because what is the motive? Right, to look good. And when you learn the identification truths, you take all that pressure off. And you learn grace, I mean under grace. The unmerited, unlimited blessings. Well, it's nothing you can do. God isn't going to smile on you because you learned three verses today. God, one, wants just a relationship. And as you have that relationship and you know Him, eternal life is to know Him, as you know Him, those things will come out. It's just because you're around Him. You're knowing Him. And then it's who you are. Yeah.

Is it God that's allowing you to sin or you're making the choice to sin? Because God doesn't want you to sin, so He doesn't allow you to sin. You make the choice. Man's responsibility, God's sovereignty. He allowed it, I did it. I chose to do it. But you didn't encourage it. No, no, and that's what in James, you know, I think James is saying, you know, hey, you didn't do it, I did it. You know, it was my eye looking at lust and I conceived and I, you know, that was me.

But he allows it. And I think it's in this process of growth. You know, it's like when I say about Satan attacking. When Satan attacks you, and you say, he's not omnipresent, so if it's your day to be attacked by Satan, it's a special day because in all the world, you were chosen today. But God allowed that. If it happens, He allowed it. You chose to do whatever thing you did, you chose, but He allowed it. So it's again, man's responsibility, God's sovereignty, how they blend together.

This I was just going to throw in. Isn't this a good time for the devil? Although, doesn't the devil have angels and stuff so that it's not necessarily omnipresent? Yeah. I mean, he has a third of the angels who fell with him. So there's a higher chance. Right. Higher chance. I love that. You only got a lieutenant in the army. No, God allows it. He has to and it's like with Satan. What do you do when you, I've said this several times, what happens when you defeat somebody? What do you do? You defeat XYZ country. What do you do? Make them work for you. Is Satan defeated? No, not yet. Well, officially he is. He hasn't got the memo yet or what? He didn't get the memo, I guess. No, he's defeated. He's defeated. But he doesn't know it. Oh, he knows it. He knows it. He absolutely knows it. He has a chance, though. He's working like crazy.

He'll do whatever he can, but it's only what God allows. So, yeah, it's an odd thing, but if you believe in the sovereignty of God, he allows it. Satan's defeated and he allows him to... You know, you can look at Job. I mean, that's a classic example of God sifting a man, allowing Satan to sift him. He's defeated now. He's defeated. He's just being used. To what? But you've got to put it all in perspective.

Again, are you separated from his love? If he allows you to sin, are you separated from his love? When you sin, you have been separated. Does He still love you the same? So His love is the same. From my side, I'm whittling away the fellowship side. Yeah, but His love never changes. I can't be separated from it. I mean, from His side, I can do stupid things. But again, He's using all these things, I think, to conform you.

How many times, you know, it may take me 20 years to figure out that memorizing Scripture is not going to make God a little bit happier for me. He's going to smile just a little bit because I memorized all of James 1. I did. God's going to smile on me for that. No. And he allowed me to go through a lot of that before I finally found out it's unmerited. There's no cause and effect for me.

He's given me all. What more do I want than all spiritual blessings? Again, a lot of times we pray for things that we already have. So, okay, I'm getting woefully behind. Okay, question three. Did we get to question three? Does God ever use the word predestined with respect to unbelievers? We're in number ten. You want to get through it that badly, huh? Wow, I think we're on three. My computer doesn't lie, I think I'm hearing. Does God ever use the word predestined with respect to unbelievers? No. So again, going back to what is predestined? Is it ever for unbelievers that you're predestined for hell? You're predestined for salvation? Never is that way.

All the verses which refer to predestined refer to believers with the exception of Acts 4.28 which refers to Christ. Predestination is never mentioned with respect to the unsaved. There is no scripture reference that states that God predestinates those who would be saved and those who would be lost eternally. Again, this would contradict scripture which states that God would want all to come to a savings knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 2.4, God who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. So if it was predetermined, how do you reconcile that scripture? If he wanted them all and he predetermined, how do you reconcile that statement? You can't. So that's again God's sovereignty, man's responsibility. It's a combination of both. Question four, trying to get to where Holly thought we were at question five.

Does predestination affect in any way God's calling to the unsaved? Why or why not? Does predestination affect in any way God's calling to the unsaved? No. No. Why? It's already there. The calling's there. You just have to choose to accept it or not. I don't know about the calling. The calling is usually for the... the calling and foreknowledge, those are usually applied to all believers. It's again... But the idea that he says, come, I've done it for you. That's all you have to do. That is for the unsaved. Yeah. Predestination, though, is talking always about believers and what's true about believers.

Or in the case of Acts 4.28, which is talking about what was going to happen to Christ. So there is predetermined. So again, this gets back to the God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. Miles has that position paper. on man's responsibility to God's sovereignty.

And he quotes in there again, I used this before, the natural mind is not able to give due place to both sovereignty and responsibility, and hence all theological systems fail on one side or the other. But it's clear that Scripture maintains both, and that the spiritual mind is always in accord with Scripture.

So again, for the unsaved, predestination is never referred to them that they're predestined to be forever lost. So it doesn't apply at all to them. It doesn't affect in any way, shape, or form. Predestination doesn't have any effect to it, because it's all talking about what's predestined about us.

Let's see what I have here. I said with John 3.16 and 1 Timothy 2, 3 and 4 about those all who believe come.

If predestination deals with predestination of who would believe that God has predestined those to be saved and those to be lost, how can you reconcile those verses? You can't. Any of those verses that say He wants all to come to a savings knowledge, whosoever come, all those things, you can't reconcile those with any kind of predetermination based on salvation.

So it's always about the believers, predestined. Alright, quickly, and I'll probably get a portion of these, but I want to go through several of them just to give you an idea. These are the things that, in question five, what is predestined for the believer? OK, what's predestined about you? We have them in those verses that we have referenced. There are several of them in there, which we've gone over.

The Romans 8.29, we're predestined to be what? Conformed to his image.

In Romans 8.30, we are justified, positionally glorified. So we're justified in whom he justified, he glorified. In Ephesians 1, We are adopted, we have sonship. In that verse, in love he predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to himself according to the kind intention of his will.

And then in verse 11, Ephesians 1, 11, in him, again the in him's talking about the identification, in him, Also, we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose, who works all things after the counsel of His will. So we have inheritance. So, adoption, conformity, justification, all these things.

What about other things? Did anybody come up with any other things that are true about you? Predestined? Did all those 250 things that we can't remember all at once? 215, yes. Just give me a couple. Does anybody have any? Eternally secure. Absolutely. What else?

We're also physically eternally done with us. We're not on your list, but we are. That is a special gift and it's connected to what he has planned for us. Yeah, I mean the works that he's planned for us, yeah, we have works that are predetermined. They're going to be snatched away before you finish. Right, he has predetermined the works for us to do and once we're done with those, I think it's checkout time. It's time to be face-to-face with him. We don't have any purpose anymore. Yep.

What are some other ones? Yes, I have 215 You guys are so, OK, your homework assignment for next week, come up with two, two different things that's true about you. I have 215. It should be easy for you. Just think of two things that are true about you. You know, again, the intimacy, all those things I had that I think, Abba Father, you know, there are so many things that are true of you right now, that if, like I said, if you just start, and I really want to push that, try and come up with two by next week. Because it will change you as you realize what's true about you right now. You know, if you know what's true about you, it can't help but change you in your walk, your condition, All right, let's close with prayer.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for again this time. We thank you every time, again, just so we can get into your word. We thank you about predestination and predestined. We are so thankful about all the things that have been predetermined for us in him. And it is life-changing. It is our condition as we realize these truths will again just bring us into closer fellowship with you and into that conformity that you have predetermined about us being conformed to the image of your Son.

So Father, we just give you great thanks for just the blessings you bestow upon us moment by moment. We thank you that you're sovereignly in control of all things and just all those truths that we can never be separated from your love. Father, that you have blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. There are just all these truths that we come to recognize that Just give us that cause to praise you more and more and just to be in awe and amazement of who you are And again We just thank you that you're intimately involved with each and every one of us and we can just rest in that fact and get that peace that Surpasses all understanding resting in the facts that you have that are true about us right now So father, we just thank you for all these things and we pray in Jesus name. Amen