Predestination and election are for those who are already saved and will be perfected or glorified by the grace of God. They are NOT for electing some to Heaven and others to Hell (as many erroneously believe).
According as he hath chosen us [the saints] in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Eph 1:4)
This is, indeed, a weighty topic, and I by no means claim a familiarity with it that could see me argue the case more eloquantly than many scholars already have.
However, since the topic has arisen, I suppose I must do my level best to defend what I see as the biblical stance on the matter.
You say that predestination and election are for those 'already saved and will be perfected or glorified'...presumably in the age to come.
However, I don't see scripture saying that. It very clearly say that God 'chose us before the foundation of the world'. Now...how are we 'already saved' before the foundation of the world, if even the world wasn't around? Unless it was something that God ordained to be before it, you know, actually came to be.
If we keep reading Eph 1:
he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, -Ephesians 1:5
And then we see this six verses later:
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, -Ephesians 1:11
So, we have God 'choosing us' before the world even began. And it was 'according to the counsel and purpose of his will'. Let me ask you something real quick before we go on: is there anything in that that gives the slightest hint that WE get a say or a part this?
Let's recap what we DO get: we get to be holy and without blame. We get adoption as sons and an inheritance. All amazing, incredible, blessed things. But not a single thing in that implies we get a choice. Why would I WANT a choice? Yes please, sign me up.
The reason for God having chosen His children from before the foundation of the world is stated right here -- that they should resemble Christ and be morally (without blame) and spiritually perfect (holy), and completely filled with the love of God. This will only happen perfectly at the Resurrection/Rapture which is for the perfecting and glorifying of the saints.
This thought has absolutely nothing to do with predesination or election or the verses at hand. Does God want us to grow in holiness and in being like his Son? Absolutely! And yes, the verses tell us that, but not only that. And that is not WHY God 'chose' us before the foundation of the world...in that, it is not why that language has been employed. The author could have just as easily have said "now that you have chosen to give you life fully to God, live in a manner worthy to him and spend your life becoming more Christ-like". He didn't. Instead, he gave us incredible information about God and a word called 'predestination'. Which ought to give us pause in and of itself. We all know about the word 'destiny'...the notion of something in which a higher or hidden power is believed to be able to control future events; of man or the world in general. Christians believe that to be God. We believe it quite strongly, that he has a set plan for man and this world and that nothing will deter him from bringing that good plan to fruition. So why, then, should the notion of 'predestination' be so difficult? The idea that this same God, all knowing, all powerful, all good, having a plan from eternity past?
Because that is what scripture tells us. The word used: προορίζω, means just that. "to predetermine, foreordain".
Having predestinated us [the saints] unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will...(Eph 1:5)
Since the children of God are in fact His children through the New Birth (born of God, born of the Spirit, born from above, born again) they are not being adopted like adoption is practiced on earth (children not related by blood becoming a part of a human family). So what is this heavenly adoption (since our citizenship is in Heaven)?
It speaks of all the rights and privileges of those who are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. So predestination is for the purpose of divine adoption, not salvation (justification). Thayer's Greek Lexicon says that adoption is "the consummate condition of the sons of God, which will render it evident that they are the sons of God", which means the future perfection and glorification of the saints when they will also possess their eternal inheritance. As John says "we shall be like Him [Christ] for we shall see Him as He is" (1 Jn 3:2).
You know, it seems to me that you throw a lot of words and meanings around in order to try and convince someone (sorry, not me) that a word doesn't actually mean what it means.
In essence, you are attempting here to say that "Predestination" doesn't mean what it actually means (linguistically wise) because adoption in heaven is different from adoption on earth. Is that right?
Well, for my reply, please see above where 'predestination' is actually what it means. Because when we start throwing language out the loungechair...oh goodness, I meant window....you see my point.
My other reasons for seeing 'predestination' and election as biblical and exactly as the words suggest they are; is based upon other verses and considerations as well. Romans 9 is rather crucial when considering this topic, and I would say, hard to argue against: "
who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is moulded say to the moulder, 'why have you made me like this?'"
What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— Romans 9:22–23
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” -John 6:37–40
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. -John 6:44
But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” -John 6:61–65
Also, Jesus mentions in his High Priestly Prayer about how God has 'given' him the people, out of the world, who were his. And then this:
And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. -Acts 13:48
Finally, I see this in Romans, and its something I have seen firsthand. People...don't
see, the beauty or simplicity of the gospel. It matters not how eloquent you are, or how rational and convincing a pastor is, or a scientist, or whomever you see put forth a fact of God; people who haven't had their eyes and heart opened by the Spirit of God cannot see.
It really comes down to human sinfulness; without God's grace and mercy, we're lost. If he hadn't chosen us all, at some point along the way (and why isn't before the foundation of the world an excellent time?), we'd all be lost, in a maze of our own making, trying to put a foolish crown upon our own head.
For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God. -Romans 3:9b–11