Examples of predestined believers in the NT
Group 1 – Read Lk 17:11-19
1) What do you find in the action(s) and heart of this Samaritan that distinguishes him from the other nine lepers in this story?
2) Read Eph 1:11-14. What do these verses tell about God’s purpose in electing a chosen people for himself?
- How was this purpose fulfilled in the action(s) of the ten lepers of Lk 17? Or was it not?
- Accordingly, how did the attitude of the Samaritan testify of his predestination?
3) Why does God want us to so magnify his glory?
Group 2 – Read Lk 19:1-10
1) What do you find in Zacchaeus that set him apart from other people in the crowd?
2) Why did Jesus tell him “I must stay at your home today!”?
- Why did he not appeal instead e.g. to his “free will” with a call to decide and choose between Jesus and money?
3) Why would Jesus call him a ‘ true’ son of Abraham? [cf Jn 8:36-38; Ro 9:6-8; Gal 3:7-8]
Group 3 – Read Jn 13:1-17
1) Why did Jesus actually wash the feet of his disciples? vv1 & 17
2) Was this lesson intended for all men? Why or why not? vv1 & 18
3) Of all the disciples, would not Judas have benefitted most from this lesson? Why not? cf Mt 7:18
4) Then why did Jesus “exempt” Judas explicitly from such duty by telling him upfront that he was not talking of him?
- Why tell even Judas himself?
- Why isn’t this unfair, or even cruel?
Group 4 – Read Mt 11:25-30
1) What are “these things” mentioned in v25? cf Mt 13:13
2) What advantage do those have who humble themselves to become like little children? cf Mt 23:12
- What makes them humble?
- Their own insights or that Jesus heals their eyes to recognize their true state? cf Rev 3:17-18
3) Compare Mt 11:25 with Ro 9:10-12. Why does human reason protest against the kind of predestination that Paul taught?
- Paul anticipated such protest, Ro 9:14&19. Why?
- If God’s foreknowledge would mean that He chooses those of whom He foresaw that they will freely choose Him, would anyone protest at all? Why not?
- Since Paul expected everyone to protest, what does this say about the true meaning of God’s “foreknowledge”?
4) How could Jesus praise God for hiding things from the proud the way he did?
- Why did Jesus consider it pleasing to God that the gospel is hidden to all but “little children”?
- Was he cold about it, or heart-broken, rather, when he said this?
- Why was there no solace over this tragedy except in submission to God’s will by praising him? Mt 26:39
- For comparison, read Ro 9:1-3 => What was Paul’s emotional state when he wrote about election and predestination?
- What happens when this subject is treated other than with the compassion of a broken heart?
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