But Drew?

I thought you were gonna talk about the "Predestined."

Well?

I am :-).

But I had to set up my premise first however with a different subject matter :-).

That there are hierarchies on heaven and earth

So here we go, 

"The Predestined" 

sub-categorized also as 

"The Elect"and 

"The Chosen".

Maybe one of the most controversial subjects in the church.

Predestined

Acts 15:18

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Acts 17:26

26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

1 Corinthians 2:7

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

2 Timothy 1:9

9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

Ephesians 1:3-14

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Romans 8:29-30

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 

30 And those he predestined, 

he also called; 

those he called, 

he also justified; 

those he justified, 

he also glorified.

fore·know

fôrˈnō/

verb

be aware of (an event) before it happens.

John 17:24

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

The Elect

Titus 1:1

1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

Matthew 24:22-25

22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

25 See, I have told you ahead of time.

The Chosen

Matthew 22:14

14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Colossians 3:12

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

1 Peter 2:9

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 1:2

2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, 

through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, 

to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

Epilogue

Wow!

Yeah, I know.

Put yourself in my shoes for a minute trying to make this make sense to others lol.

Lets review again:

The predestined, the elect, the chosen, one more time.

And what are they?

"Blameless".

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

He what?

"he predestined us"

Made known to who?

"To us"

(It's not all believers, that is not what this is referring to)

With what?

"With all wisdom and understanding"

He made known what?

"he made known to us the mystery of his will"

To be put in effect when?

"when the times reach their fulfillment"

We were what?

"we were also chosen, having been predestined"

The new church that is coming

"who were the first to put our hope in Christ"

It can't be the first all over again right?

That has already happened.

Firstfruits anybody?

The first, the best of whats to come.

"For those God foreknew he also predestined 

to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn"

Not all believers are a Paul of Tarsus, or a Moses or a Noah etc.

"according to the faith of God's elect"

Not all, but for the sake of  "The elect"

were the days shortened.

"but for the sake of the elect"

Again, "The elect" its not all believers, 

as has been established, 

there are Hierarchies involved here.

Not all are called, let alone chosen, 

not everyone is a priest or preacher.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood"

Who what?

"who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father

Through what?

through the sanctifying work of the Spirit"