Paul wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us IN CHRIST in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. (For by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will He chose us IN CHRIST BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.)"
(In Christ) "Who verily was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." (Ephesians 1:3-5; 1 Peter 1:20).
Only Christ was foreknown before the foundation of the world to become Adam (mankind's) Savior (Adam - mankind - did not exist before the foundation of the world, but Christ did exist before the foundation of the world, therefore created human beings were predestined to be saved in Christ, through faith in Christ).
As Paul wrote, "The first man (Adam) is of the earth, earthy: the second man (Jesus, who was born of a virgin) is the Lord from heaven. The first man Adam was caused to be/became [ginomai] a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit." (1 Corinthians 15:47 & 45).
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The last Adam is the Son of man - he represents ALL mankind, but only those who believe in Him have their names written in the book of life of "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8), because eternal life is IN HIM alone.
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We are ALL descended from Adam, and loving darkness rather than the light implies choice on the part of man:
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil (For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.)" (John 3:20-21).
The above implies choice, and it goes back to what Adam did in the Garden of Eden:
"I heard you moving about in the orchard, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid." (Genesis 3:10).
In His merciful love and grace God did not leave Adam to hide (though God could have if He chose to ) - but He did not. God called him
- and He did not first saw Adam into two pieces, and call only one part of him!
Adam is the first human beings and represents all mankind: Those who continue to hide from the light do so out of choice, not because they were "born that way before they were even born" - God did not 'predestine' Adam to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He warned Adam not to.
So as scripture exhorts us,
"Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness." (Hebrews 3:7-8).
"And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say: "Come!" And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge." (Revelation 22:17).
"For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
Ephesians 1:4-5, & 7
"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, having predestined us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."
Those who choose Christ have been chosen, having been chosen in him before the foundation of the world, predestined in Christ "to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will."
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