WHAT IS PREDESTINATION?
Throughout the centuries men have taken up the pen to write on this very subject. The answer needs to be scriptural. The whole word of God must come into play. A good way to start is to have a fresh slate. The mind cannot be engraved upon by certain preconceived doctrines. If the doctrines we hold to are true then scripture will bear witness. If our teaching on Predestination does not hold true with the totality of scripture then as good Bereans we continue to try to unravel this Mystery.
I am convinced that we can understand what the Lord in scripture says we can understand.
[Eph 1:7-12 KJV] 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be tothe praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ._
Here the Lord opens to us the Mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which he purposes in Himself.vs.9. So we can know the things God has in His own counsel concerning his plans for us. In fact it is the Lord's will that we know.
[Eph 1:17-23 KJV] 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
In this spirit of being able to comprehend the Lord's will for us we seek truth. All past formulas, ideas, dogmas must be surrendered to the Lord. We seek to pull down Strongholds (mindsets) contrary to the whole of scripture. When a certain doctrinal mindset emerges that puts scripture within its perimeter it cannot be the word of God, but man's point of view. Scripture must be allowed to speak for itself and man to fit in God's perimeter. 2Peter 1:19-21 A good way to start is to look at the definition of Predestination: to predetermine, decide beforehand, in the NT of God decreeing from eternity, to foreordain, appoint beforehand. ( Blueletterbible.org.)
I have never questioned many years of reading Eph. 1 or Romans 8:28-30 that the simple reading of the text is speaking of salvation. I mean personal, individual salvation. In the churches I attended there was no real preaching/teaching on the subject of Election, Predestination, Foreknowledge. Once in a while a guest speaker would come by and speak on these subjects. As I matured more in the Lord I wanted to know the truth for the implications are staggering. How could the Lord chose some to salvation, but the rest of humanity is destined to eternal flames? Mind you, the Lord is to burn them in hell without being able to repent. No chance of salvation, destined to the Lake of Fire. This was a great burden to me I could not understand. How can this be so?
I started watching debates on line. Tried to understand all the reasoning; God is Sovereign. He does all according to His good pleasure. There is no unrighteousness with God. I tried to intellectually believe these doctrines, but my heart was troubled, defiled. The other side of the argument does not look scriptural to me. When simply read, or closely examined I see no option other than God elected some and predestined them to salvation based on His loving kindness and grace. How can a man save himself, it is impossible. Other possibilities are that the Lord predestined groups of people not individuals, or to service they are elected. Sometimes the scripture does speak of election to service as Cyrus mine elect or Jew and Gentile predestined in One Body. However, the text still reads that individuals are Foreknown, Elected, Predestined.
As I continued to study, pray and earnestly seek for understanding I believe the Lord showed me something I never heard even in debates of well known scholars. Total Depravity is true not because Calvin or Augustine taught it, but because it is scriptural. Rom.3:10... Regeneration must precede saving faith. Titus 3:5. The Lord grants repentance. 2Tim.2:25,26. No man comes unto the Father. Jn.6:44. There are many more scriptures that can be cited. There are also many scriptures on the other side. He is the propitiation not only for our sins , but for the whole world. 1JN.2:2. Who will have all men to be saved... 1Tim.2:3,4. For God so loved the world... Jn.3:16
As I wrestled with this for some time. I believe the Lord revealed the answer. I went to bed after some studying and prayer. In the morning as soon as I got up it hit me. The Lord foreknows, elects and predestines people before the fall of Adam. Why is this important? Because Adam is the Federal Head of all mankind after he fell into sin and also before he sinned.
Abraham, Melchizedek and Levi
I remembered how the apostle Paul wrote of The tribe of Levi who paid no tithes, paid tithes to Melchizedek Through Abraham.
[Heb 7:9-10 KJV] 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
This simple scripture gives us the method of how the Lord could chose some to salvation and damn the rest. All the people that will ever be born into this world resided in Adam's loins before he fell bringing ruin to all mankind. The seed of every person to be born was in Adam. If you try to Predestine people to glory after the fall, you must damn the rest of mankind for not being chosen. But if the Father foreknew who would believe the gospel before all mankind was cursed by the fall of our representative, Adam, Then mankind truly had a free will not marred, bent on sin. Once mankind is born into sin it is impossible to be saved by their free will. Sin separates mankind from God to such a great degree that man of himself cannot even believe the gospel. They are totally blind and deaf.
Luk 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
1Co 2:14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Man Created in God's image
What does it mean to be created in God's image? It cannot be physical for God is a spirit and must be worshiped in spirit and in truth. Jn.4:23,24. God's image is what separates man from the animals. It is His very essence, his personalized image stamped into the mold of mankind. This involves conscience, reasoning, logic, morality, intelligence light-years beyond the rest of creation. There is something else that most miss. It is that being created in His image means we have volition. The Lord is not interested Automatons. The LORD GOD is a totally free being. He cannot sin for he in His volition has chosen not to sin. There must be in each of us who are created in His image this wonderful, beautiful quality to be of free mind and will. This quality of person-hood was in Adam before he sinned, yet he had the potential to sin and did sin. We being in Adam also had this image of God before the fall. After the fall sin destroys man's ability to use his volition to do good.
1Jn.3:4 ¶Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Jer. 4:22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
Now let us see how the LORD predestined mankind to heaven or to hell.
1Pe 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Please note that election is according to God's foreknowledge. Here is a link where you can see how the word is used: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4267/kjv/tr/0-1/
The LORD always elects according to His foreknowledge. Even if the word is not in a verse, but it speaks of election, it must be according to His foreknowledge.
Eph 1:4
According as he hath chosen (elected) us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:...
Deu 7:6
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Mat 24:24
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Rom 8:33
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 11:5
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
2Th 2:13
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen (elected) you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:...
Predestination of God's elect means : Whom He foreknew He predestined i.e. pre- determined their destination to glory. Rom.8:29. All the teaching I have read focuses on man after the fall not being able to save himself, including not being able to believe. This is the doctrine of Total Depravity. On the other side (Arminius) taught Prevenient Grace. This doctrine by passes total depravity in that it teaches that salvation is open to all. God's grace is available to every fallen creature from Adam onward.
Tit 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,...
Jhn 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:...
There many verses along this line. Here is a short video explaining prevenient grace.
https://youtu.be/desLETZuPbM Not only is total depravity by passed, but the dilemma of God sentencing man to eternal damnation (for they cannot believe) because they were not chosen.
IS GOD UNRIGHTEOUS ?
This is a question that must be answered. If He is we are all in trouble. No serious student of scripture can come to such a conclusion. This is the main problem with the Augustine / Calvinist view of scripture. Let's examine what is really being taught here. First of all the word of God teaches that only a Remnant will be saved.
[Mat 7:13-14 KJV] 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Both Arminius and Calvin believe this. However, they both come to the same conclusion in very different ways. When the LORD created man He of course new that most of mankind would end up in the Lake of Fire. This is inescapable. In Calvin's view only a select few are predestined to glory. In the Arminian view only a few will believe via prevenient grace. The bottom line is that most perish. Is God indifferent to all who perish? Doesn't He care? Is their unrighteousness with God? When we look at our Savior while on earth He was loving, kind, merciful, compassionate.
[Jhn 11:33-36 KJV] 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
Mar 10:21¶ Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.