PREDESTINATION
TUESDAY, JUNE 10
READING:
Here are a few of the great questions we received from you about Predestination:
These are profound, age-old questions, and we’re excited to dig into the Scriptures with you.
Let’s define Predestination.
Many theologians have expounded on this interpretation of Scripture, and offered varying degrees of thought around what is “election” and who would be chosen. Of course many teachers refer to the more extreme version offered by John Calvin, who defined predestination as:
The Scriptures often cited as foundational for this belief are Ephesians 1:4-12 and Romans 8:28-31 Romans 9:10-24.
However, these Scriptures alone do not fully capture GOD’s providence as it relates to salvation. The doctrine of Election, as described by Calvin, also doesn’t fully address the breadth of Scripture (the complete message of the Bible,) that demonstrates GOD’s grace and the high value He places on human free will.
When Paul refers to those who are ‘spiritually blessed’, ‘predestined’ or ‘chosen’, he recalls the Jewish Scriptures (Torah) which show GOD’s plan to choose some (Abraham, Israel, and the Prophets) out of the many so that He can restore His blessing to the many (see Genesis 12:2-3). This narrative, repeated throughout Scripture and climaxing in Jesus as Messiah, is paramount to GOD’s restorative plan for humanity.
Eleven times in Ephesians 1 alone, Paul connects our ‘election’ or ‘predestination’ to being ‘in Christ’. We are not chosen individually because of who we are, but rather when we choose to follow Jesus we join Him in His blessing - we are blessed with eternal life because of His sacrificial work on our behalf. Similarly, in Romans 8 & 9 Paul’s references to the elect are linked to GOD’s choice of Israel (Deuteronomy. 4:37 & Deuteronomy 7:6-8) as the vehicle for the salvation of all people through Jesus, the Messiah (Ephesians 2:11, Ephesians 2:18).
You may have heard it taught in our church that “GOD has predestined the plan, not the man!” There are numerous examples in Scripture of GOD’s gift of free will and desire to partner with people in the restoration of creation from sin. Certainly, the Bible teaches that GOD knows who will be saved and who will not, but His desire is for everyone to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). GOD reveals Himself even through the natural world, so there is universal knowledge of GOD available to all, even without the revelation of Scripture - though it is His gift and our responsibility to share it (Romans 1:20-21, Matthew 24:14). GOD’s patience and the sacrifice of Jesus suggest our own will and action impact our eternity as well as the eternity of those around us. Our GOD, in His grace and wisdom, loved us first and has orchestrated a path to reconciliation for all who will choose Him.
- “There are people who may never hear the Gospel or understand who Jesus is. Is there biblical hope for their salvation, or are they eternally lost even if they never had the chance to respond to the Gospel?”
- "If we are chosen and predestined, are we robots or can our prayers actually possibly change the outcome of things.”
- “I believe God is all knowing and is never surprised…. So is everything already mapped out for our lives regardless or do we really have free will?”
These are profound, age-old questions, and we’re excited to dig into the Scriptures with you.
Let’s define Predestination.
In a broad sense, predestination refers to GOD’s providence - His sovereign, active involvement in and governance over all things as an all-knowing, omnipresent Creator GOD. However, often the doctrine of Predestination is understood more narrowly as Election: GOD’s choosing certain people to be saved.
Many theologians have expounded on this interpretation of Scripture, and offered varying degrees of thought around what is “election” and who would be chosen. Of course many teachers refer to the more extreme version offered by John Calvin, who defined predestination as:
“GOD’s eternal decree, by which he compacted with himself what he willed to become of each man. For all are not created in equal condition; rather, eternal life is foreordained for some, eternal damnation for others. Therefore, as any man has been created to one or the other of these ends, we speak of him as predestined to life or death.” (Calvin, Institutes, III.xxi.5).
The Scriptures often cited as foundational for this belief are Ephesians 1:4-12 and Romans 8:28-31 Romans 9:10-24.
However, these Scriptures alone do not fully capture GOD’s providence as it relates to salvation. The doctrine of Election, as described by Calvin, also doesn’t fully address the breadth of Scripture (the complete message of the Bible,) that demonstrates GOD’s grace and the high value He places on human free will.
When Paul refers to those who are ‘spiritually blessed’, ‘predestined’ or ‘chosen’, he recalls the Jewish Scriptures (Torah) which show GOD’s plan to choose some (Abraham, Israel, and the Prophets) out of the many so that He can restore His blessing to the many (see Genesis 12:2-3). This narrative, repeated throughout Scripture and climaxing in Jesus as Messiah, is paramount to GOD’s restorative plan for humanity.
Eleven times in Ephesians 1 alone, Paul connects our ‘election’ or ‘predestination’ to being ‘in Christ’. We are not chosen individually because of who we are, but rather when we choose to follow Jesus we join Him in His blessing - we are blessed with eternal life because of His sacrificial work on our behalf. Similarly, in Romans 8 & 9 Paul’s references to the elect are linked to GOD’s choice of Israel (Deuteronomy. 4:37 & Deuteronomy 7:6-8) as the vehicle for the salvation of all people through Jesus, the Messiah (Ephesians 2:11, Ephesians 2:18).
You may have heard it taught in our church that “GOD has predestined the plan, not the man!” There are numerous examples in Scripture of GOD’s gift of free will and desire to partner with people in the restoration of creation from sin. Certainly, the Bible teaches that GOD knows who will be saved and who will not, but His desire is for everyone to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). GOD reveals Himself even through the natural world, so there is universal knowledge of GOD available to all, even without the revelation of Scripture - though it is His gift and our responsibility to share it (Romans 1:20-21, Matthew 24:14). GOD’s patience and the sacrifice of Jesus suggest our own will and action impact our eternity as well as the eternity of those around us. Our GOD, in His grace and wisdom, loved us first and has orchestrated a path to reconciliation for all who will choose Him.
JOURNALING QUESTIONS
- What is most difficult about the concept of GOD’s providence for you to grasp and why?
- How does your understanding of GOD’s redemptive plan through Jesus impact your perspective on predestination?
- In what ways can you see that GOD has blessed you to be a blessing, as He did Abraham, so that others might come to know Him?
RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
Born Identity, Sermon by Cam Huxford
Blessing and Election in the Biblical Story, Bible Project video teaching
What Is Predestination? A Biblical, Historical & Theological Overview, article by Steven Wedgeworth
N.T. Wright on the Bible's Most Misunderstood Verse, Christianity Today podcast interview of modern theologian N.T. Wright by Russell Moore
Blessing and Election in the Biblical Story, Bible Project video teaching
What Is Predestination? A Biblical, Historical & Theological Overview, article by Steven Wedgeworth
N.T. Wright on the Bible's Most Misunderstood Verse, Christianity Today podcast interview of modern theologian N.T. Wright by Russell Moore