act 13v48 Ordained To Eternal Life
"ORDAINED TO ETERNAL LIFE"
Acts
Paul had preached the gospel clearly in power of the
Holy Spirit. When the Jews heard the message, they walked out in angry protest;
but the Gentiles desired that it be
declared to them again (v. 42). When the Jews heard the story of
substitutionary redemption, "they were filled with envy and spoke against
those things...contradicting and blaspheming"; but when the Gentiles heard
it "they were glad" (w. 45, 48). When the Jews heard the gospel of
the grace of God, they despised it, rejected it, and put it away from
themselves, judging themselves to be unworthy of everlasting life; but the
Gentiles "glorified the Word of the Lord" (vv. 46, 48). What made the
difference? Luke gives the answer in plain, simple, unmistakable words:
"As many as were ordained to eternal life believed." The doctrine of
the text is undeniable - All who believe the gospel were from eternity ordained
by God to eternal life. And all who were ordained by God to eternal life shall
believe the gospel. God will save his own elect.