What does predestination mean in a Christian context?

Predestination is a doctrine illustrating God's sovereign plan in salvation, as described in Ephesians 1:5, which states that believers are predestined for adoption as children of God according to His will. This means that before creation, God intentionally chose certain individuals to come to faith in Christ. This view upholds that salvation is entirely a work of God's grace, independent of human action or merit. Predestination assures believers that their salvation is secure, resting solely in God's purpose and not their own efforts, echoing the sentiments found in Romans 8:29-30 where we see the chain of salvation from foreknowledge to glorification.