The Pattern from Eternity

"4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will," (Eph 1:4-5 AV)

"28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Ro 8:28-29 AV)

Man, emphatically, is not the captain of his soul, nor master of his fate.

He would like to think so, but the reality testifies against him as does the Scriptures. For the children of God their pattern is from eternity, written in the eternal decree of God, sent into the world in the Person of the Son of God, and worked in them by the Holy Spirit.

It is not for you or for me to decide this for ourselves, to determine [!] what sort of person we are going to be, for it is God that works us "both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Even the good works that we are called to do are not to be defined by ourselves but have been "forordained that we should walk in them."

This is not to mean that we are not called to make the choice or that preachers are not called to exhort us to do good works. On the contrary we are called to "put on Christ," " put off the old man" and "put on the new man." The will of man is real and he is responsible for his choices. But what is he to put on? whatever suit of clothes he fancies he would look good for himself or for his neighbors? No. He is to put on Christ, the model from eternity.

People choose according to their fancies and corrupt hearts, but the sheep of the Lord know his voice and they follow Him. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism.