Predestination

Summary: (top)

God chose some people before creation to know Him and be saved through faith in His Son, not because of anything these people would do or because of any merit in them, but solely because God desired these people to know Him.

This occurs through God's working in people to make them come to a point where they decide to turn to Him, in order to praise and glorify His name. In this way, "All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved" and it is God's will for those who do so to turn to Him.

Introduction: (top)

The doctrine of predestination (also known as election) is often looked at hesitantly, as it is a concept which is both hard to understand, and hard to justify to those who do not understand or accept God's rightful place as Sovereign ruler of all.

In this study I have simply stated what the Bible says, but have also commented on a few common misunderstandings and objections to this doctrine. However, the Biblical teaching of predestination will only be understood when the reader has a thorough understanding and acceptance of God's absolute Sovereignty, that is, that God is the deserved ruler of everything, whose desire is the purpose for all, whose will is the reason for our very existence.

The Biblical Teaching:

Where Predestination is Taught in the Bible: (top)

The below are just example passages, more will be introduced throughout the study.

Acts 13:48: "When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed."
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5: "For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction."
1 Peter 1:1: "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia"

An Example of God's Sovereign Choice that is similar to Predestination (top)

The story of Jacob and Esau is well known - the twin sons of Isaac (the son of Abraham) were still in the womb when God told their mother that the older would serve the younger - Esau would serve Jacob - which was totally against the custom at the time (normally the firstborn male was esteemed well above others): "Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad - in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls - she was told, 'The older will serve the younger.' Just as it is written: 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.'" (Rom. 9:10-13)

Why Predestination is Highlighted so Often: (top)

As it is meant as a comfort: (top)

Romans 8:28-30: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

As it is a reason to praise God: (top)

Ephesians 1:4-6: "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves."

Ephesians 1:11-12: "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, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory."

Misunderstandings Concerning Predestination: (top)

1. That it is fatalistic - there is no human choice involved: (top)

It is quite easy to arrive at this conclusion after stating that God chooses all who will know Him. However, we see clear teachings of human choice in the Bible:

All are invited to know God:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28)
"For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'" (Rom. 10:12-13)
"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." (Rev. 22:17)

Some reject God and are condemned for it:

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." (Matt. 23:37)

These suggest that God chooses who will know Him, then works in them so that they come to a point where they decide (as a result of His working in them) to turn to Him.

2. That God's choice is based on a foreknowledge of people's faith: (top)

This misunderstanding implies that God doesn't choose believers, but recognises in believers the faith that they will have, therefore knowing who will believe, and then "predestines them" to do so by creating them.

However, this is not the case for several reasons:

First we must remember the example of Jacob and Esau again - God did not base His decision on any characteristic of Jacob or Esau, He simply decided that "the older would serve the younger" and it was so (see Rom 9:10-13).
Second, the Bible never mentions this idea. Rather, believers were predestined in love, to glorify God: "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." (Eph. 1:4-6)
Thirdly, the Bible specifically says that predestination is not according to anything that believers will do - it is God's choice: "So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who 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" (2 Tim. 1:8-9)
Fourthly, if God were to act in this way it would be the beginning of salvation by works: "So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." (Romans 11:5-6)
Finally, even faith is given by God - so God could not look into the future and see who would have more faith before deciding Himself whom He would give faith to: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:8-10)

A Discussion of Predestination by the Apostle Paul: (top)

Here Paul is in the middle of discussing predestination, and asks first if God is unjust for choosing some and not others:

What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses,

"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,

and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, `Why did you make me like this?' " Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?

What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

(Romans 9:14-23)

Conclusion: (top)

There are a few points to be remembered when dealing with predestination:

1. Only God knows who will be saved. This should be seen as an encouragement to evangelise, for you do not know whether the person next to you has been chosen by God or not. Further, since it is God who is choosing, He can chose and work in anyone He wants - it could even be the most vocal opponent of Christianity that you can think of, for He has worked in such miraculous ways before (in the Apostle Paul for example).

2. No one deserves salvation through Christ - all of mankind deserves condemnation, so those who have been chosen ought to praise God for working in them to know Him.

3. All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:12-13) - so someone who wants to be saved will be, but that person will be saved because God works in them to create that desire.