Bible Discussion Thread

predestination seems either far too simple or far to deep for my understanding. can one know they are of the elect?

Hello Bennie. Both 'election' & 'predestination' are never in the power or domain of mankind, but rests entirely in the omniscience & purposes of God. Most don't see much difference between those words as they both denote 'a special selection to receive a specific result'.

But the difference is apparent, where the 'elect' are the specially chosen of God (i.e. of Israel: Romans 11:26-28; and of the Church: Romans 8:33; 1 Peter 1:1,2; Colossians 3:12). And those of the elect (the Church now, as "blindness in part is happened to Israel" ( Romans 11:25), are predestined for a reason: Ephesians 1:11,12, to give praise to God's Glory (in His Love, redemption plan, life in the Spirit; all that Israel failed to grasp. And Ephesians 1:5, predestined to become His adopted children by Jesus Christ's Sacrifice; again that which Israel forfeited by their rejection of their Messiah). Though the day will come, when Israel will re-enter that blessed position when they bow before Jesus ( Romans 11:15-26) & both saved Jew & Gentile will share together as God's family.

I shared the above, though that wasn't your enquiry, as I hope that you might see that both 'election' & 'predestination' is all of God's Work according to His Will & Knowledge. We know that we are blessed in being God's elect & have been assured of adoption into His family, & that happens only after our own humbling before Him & repentance, being drawn to God by His Spirit & then receiving His Spirit into our lives. Israel had every opportunity to truly be God's children & servants, but they never bore His Light to the world, rather lived in spiritual darkness. 2 Timothy 2:19: "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his." God know those who are His - His Seal is upon them, they are the elect. Our knowledge of our election is when the Holy Spirit does His Work in our hearts, confirming His Work of Grace & giving us the assurance of eternal life.