Predestination not Calvinism.

Ephesian 1:4

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Predestinarians are not necessarily Calvinists.

The reason I am not a Calvinist is that I do not agree with John Calvin on Paedo Baptism, his Ecclesiology, his Eschatology, his church discipline or his stance on the Lord’s Table. I do not believe in the persecution or execution of fellow believers because they disagree with my interpretation of scripture.
Plus the fact that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

The doctrine of Predestination existed long before Calvin.
I believe in Predestination because it is scriptural, I believe it because the Apostles taught it.

Before the foundation of the world, “believers”, “us” were "chosen in Him" (Christ).

Eph 1:4  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: 

Four words that go together, "chosen us in Him".
We cannot separate the "chosen" “us” from the "in Him".
 

In the mind of God, believers were placed in Christ before God created the world.
This was predestined according to the council of His own will.

In the same way that Christ was crucified before the foundation of the world.

Those, (believers), whom He Foreknew, He also predestined before the foundation of the world.

God foreknew, (preloved, set His affection on) His Elect, before the foundation of the world.
In God, it was a done deal, it was a completed work, realised in the fullness of time. 

Christ was actually crucified at Calvary but the scripture says “He was crucified before the foundation of the world”. Revelation 13:8.

I was actually born again in 1971. However, God ordained, elected and chose me in Christ before the world began.

Before I was actually saved, I was dead in sin. I was quickened, made alive by the preaching of the Word through the Holy Spirit.
 

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

Before this point in time, I could not seek God. (No man seeks after God).

Romans 3:11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
 

Just as Lazarus could not come out of the tomb until Jesus called him, neither could I come out of death into life before I was called.
The actual event was certain to occur, because God had foreordained it.

God predestined the Elect to life because He foreknew (ginosko - preloved) them in Christ.

John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believed on Him should not perish but have eternal life.

It was because He loved that He gave. It was because He preloved, that He predestined.
 

It was certain that Lazarus would be raised from the dead because God had already heard the prayer of Jesus.
 

The words of Jesus:
Joh 11:10  But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 

Joh 11:11  These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 

Joh 11:14  Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 
Joh 11:41  Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 

 

Joh 11:43  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 
 

It was a done deal, it just needed to become actual. Lazarus heard the Word, (Logos) and was enabled to act on it.
I heard the Word,  (Logos) and was enabled to believe.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
 

Calling, quickening and hearing precedes faith.
Justification follows faith.

Ordo Salutis. The order of Salvation.

Foreknew, Predestined, Called, Justified, Glorified.
 

Not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man but of God.

John 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Man's will, either "bound will" or "free will", could not save man. It was God’s will, It was all of God..

God in Christ is the author of salvation.
 

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

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