| Predestination |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Sunday, September 05 2010 14:04 |
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The doctrine of predestination has always been controversial simply because it takes from man the ultimate power to do something that would gain God’s approval and result in his salvation. The word indicates that the destination has been pre-determined. It comes from the Greek word prooridzo, which came to mean to “set a mark” on something ahead of time, or “to mark out ahead of time,” in the sense that we say we will schedule an appointment with someone ahead of the event itself. In considering this doctrine, one should first ask if it is Biblical. If it is not, then one is right in rejecting it. People often say, “I don’t believe in predestination!” If the Bible does not teach the doctrine, then they are accurate in so saying. I may say that I do not believe in the “pre-tribulation rapture” because the Bible says nothing about it. I tell people I do not believe in the “age of accountability” for the same reason. So does the Bible teach it? If it does, then when one says “I don’t believe in predestination,” he is, in effect, saying that he doesn’t believe the Bible, and that is really not a safe ground to occupy. The Bible does teach predestination! The word is used specifically in Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:5 and 1:11. The concept is taught many times under the expression “God chose us” or “chosen by God” as in Eph. 1:4, 2 Thess. 2:13, 1 Pet. 1:1-2, Rom. 8:33, and John 15:16. Jesus referred to the predestining of God’s elect under the term “those the Father has given me” in John 6:37, 6:39, and 17:2. Paul in 2 Tim. 1:9 referred to grace given us before the world began, and Luke in Acts 13:48 said that all those appointed for eternal life believed the gospel. We may add to this list many other verses speaking of “the elect” (those whom God has chosen), and other less specific references and allusions to predestination. It has been said that every verse in the Bible teaches predestination, and there is some truth to this statement when one considers the Biblical point of view when speaking of redemption. Many people say that only when they understood the Biblical doctrine of predestination did the Bible come together and begin to make sense. Thus, we may accurately say that all Bible-believing Christians do believe in predestination! To refuse to believe in predestination is to refuse to believe the Bible. But, as some often say, we all believe in predestination, we just don’t understand what it is. Perhaps we should comment on what it is not. It is not, as Jacob Arminius taught, that God looks down the stream of time and sees what is going to happen and then chooses those whom he sees will, in time, choose Christ. This interpretation is called the “prescient” view of predestination, and upon analysis it is seen to be nonsense. What is the point of God’s marking out someone for salvation when that person is going to be saved whether or not God predestines him or her? One person said it was “idiocy,” and that is probably a good description. Others have said that predestination applies only to the apostles and those in the early church. But the language of Romans 8:29-30 would have us to understand that only that group foreknown, predestined, called, and justified are glorified. Paul speaks of the same number of people all along, and that would be the entire number of the saved. If predestination affects only first century Christians, then how would we know what in the Bible would apply to Christians today? One could then argue that salvation was a blessing available only to first century people. Again, when an interpretation reduces to nonsense, then it cannot be true. What is true is that salvation, glory and power belong to our God (Rev. 19:1). Those three attributes go together. God will not be robbed of his glory. God is all-powerful, and this sovereign God accomplishes salvation for His people that He may receive glory. God has always had a people of His choice. One cannot read the Old Testament without understanding that reality. Paul explains in great detail in Romans 9 how God chose Abraham, and of Abraham’s two sons, God chose Isaac. Of Isaac’s two sons God chose Jacob, even in the womb before the twin boys were born and had done anything good or bad. This Paul said God did to establish his purpose in election; that is, so that we today would understand how God operates, sovereignly, according to a purpose (Rom. 9:6-24). When we understand the doctrine of predestination in Biblical context, then we understand how much God has loved us, even from eternity. We know God has a plan for our lives, and that our destiny is heaven. But what of those God has not chosen? Did God predestine the damned? Is God a cosmic tyrant? Does he drag the saved kicking and screaming into the kingdom? Is he guilty of spiritual rape? These are charges we hear. However we answer these questions, the fact remains that the doctrine is true. It is also true that no one comes to Christ unwillingly, for the very act of regeneration renews the will so that we seek God. It is true that those who reject Christ are doing exactly what they want to do. What some may call coercion, the Bible calls drawing lovingly, opening the heart, making us willing, calling, making alive. As far as those who are lost are concerned, Scripture teaches that God uses His word to call people whom he has chosen for salvation (2 Thess. 2:14, James 1:18). It is incumbent on us to preach the word to every creature, for Christ has other sheep that must be brought in (John 10:16). Like Paul left in Corinth to preach among people God had marked out as His (Acts 18:9-11), we do not know who the elect are, and it is none of our business to try to determine that. We preach the gospel to every creature and God will cause life in the hearts of his chosen. Paul knew that he and Apollos were planting and watering, but God would give the increase! (For further study on the subject of predestination, we recommend you listen to the audio series The Doctrines of Grace and/or The Sovereignty of God by Danny Hale or the series on Romans from Engedi Ministries. –David Lawrence) |