Throughout the history of the church, there has been debate about predestination. This doctrine of predestination, which is most often related to salvation, means that God in his ultimate sovereignty has predetermined certain individuals to receive salvation while condemning others. In considering this topic, how does the idea of predestination mesh with God’s sovereignty, man’s free will, and salvation?
There are two main camps in this debate which we will consider, along with some passages to contemplate regarding predestination.
Is Predestination a Biblical Teaching?
We must first establish that predestination is a Biblical doctrine. Though many think of it as a New Testament teaching, there is evidence of it in the Old Testament as well. In the Old Testament, God chose people for his specific purpose, even though predestination was not always connected to salvation.
Noah was a righteous man, and God chose him to build the ark and rescue his family while the rest of the world was destroyed. God chose Abraham and built a nation through his lineage. God also chose David while he was a young shepherd to be the king of Israel. This was also true of Moses, Gideon, Jonah, and many others.
Here are some verses that speak to predestination in the Old Testament:
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6).
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).
In the Old Testament, many were chosen to fulfill God’s will, which he had purposed in advance for them to complete. In the New Testament, predestination is primarily associated with salvation, which forces us to consider one of the most important questions in relationship to predestination.
Does Predestination Supersede Man’s Free Will?
Belief in Jesus is critical to obtaining salvation; without belief in Jesus, no one can be saved. We also know that we come to this place of belief as God draws us to him. This means God plays a role in calling people to him and giving them the opportunity to put their trust and faith in him. However, belief is still a choice, so how does this align with the doctrine of predestination? If man’s eternal destiny is predetermined by God, then what role does belief even play if it will not change what God has already determined? The answer to this question depends on how you view predestination.
I mentioned earlier there are two major positions on predestination. One position is known as unconditional election, which means God chooses people by his will and human actions or decisions have nothing to do with it. This position is consistent with Calvinism. For those who hold this position, they may use verses like these to support it:
“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 for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Ephesians 1:4-5).
“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” (Ephesians 1:11).
The other position states that God’s predestination is based on his foreknowledge. Since God is all-knowing, he knows in advance who will choose to receive Christ or reject him. Because he has this knowledge, then he will predestine those who he knows will choose him to an eternity in heaven and to hell for those who don’t. However, man still has the free will to make this decision. This is consistent with Arminianism. This verse in Romans seems to support this position.
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Romans 8:29-30).
Why Is God’s Foreknowledge Important to Predestination?
The passages in Romans reveals that God predestines those he knows will receive him. This brings his foreknowledge to the center of the conversation. I believe we should consider every mention of predestination in the Bible, with the acknowledgment that God already knows in advance who will receive Christ and choose the path of salvation, and who will reject it. You cannot have a conversation about predestination without recognizing this truth.
The reason God’s foreknowledge matters is that without it, predestination seems unjust because it removes man’s ability to choose and therefore takes away man’s free will. How can God judge you for rejecting Christ and his plan of salvation if you never had a choice in the matter? While no one is worthy of salvation, God has left the choice to receive and follow him up to us, which means we receive either eternal life or eternal condemnation, but we decide which one we want.
Romans 10:13 tells us that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. This means that everyone who looks to God for salvation will find it. The act of calling is a response to God drawing you, but you can still decide how you will respond to that call.
Freedom to Choose
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
This verse forces us to consider predestination from another perspective, one that I believe reinforces the idea that God does not supersede our ability to choose. The truth this verse tells us is God does not want anyone to perish because his desire is for everyone to come to repentance. If God wants everyone to come to repentance, then why not just predestine everyone to do that?
The only logical conclusion, in my opinion, is while he wants everyone to come to repentance, he does not force everyone to come to repentance. He allows us to choose if we will repent and if we will believe. As much as he loves mankind, he will not override man’s will and allows people the freedom to choose the direction they will walk in. This too has been consistent throughout Scripture.
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
In God’s love and mercy, he will give you enough evidence to make that decision, but the decision you choose he will leave up to you.
Final Thought
The debate and discussion about predestination will not end any time soon. Certainly, my one article will not solve this debate. So, what should be our focus: predestination or preaching?
Regardless of your position on predestination, we have a responsibility to share this gospel with other people. It’s not for us to determine who will believe and who won’t – we have no control over that. However, we can control whether we share this truth or not. Let’s focus on doing what God has called us to do and let him deal with everything else. Our job is to bring the good news, not figure out who will receive it.
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10:14-15).
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Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. His most recent book is The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has just released his first Bible study course called Bible Study Basics. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com.