Predestination What does the Bible Say? There are 29 verses in the Bible on Predestination There are 31.154 verses in the Bible on Free Will There are four major understandings/ applications/ interpretations of what the word Predestination means and how it applies to our daily life as a Christian. In this brief study, I will list all four interpretations. Three of the different understandings/ applications/ interpretations are able to comfortably co-exist with each other. Before I give these four interpretations, I would like to give a word of caution & warning. Caution & Warning
One of these areas of understandings/ applications/ interpretations causes me great caution. Before studying any understandings/ applications/ interpretations of God s Word, I am commanded to check the fruit of those who teach this understandings/ applications/ interpretations of God s Word. Mt. 7:15-21 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. I have found the following fruit of those who passionately focus on this fourth interpretation. I have found them to be: 1. Prideful They all seem to consider themselves Above Average in intelligence and generally Smarter than others or they wish to be Smarter than others. I do NOT see them obeying the Bible command to ask God to help them search the motives of their heart. a. 1 Chronicles 28:9 "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. b. Proverbs 16:2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. c. 1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. 2. Not passionate about Evangelism. 3. Weak in Bible study 1
Because of these three areas of poor fruit, I generally have great caution about hearing anyone who has these traits in their lives. With that background, let me now give the four major understandings/ applications/ interpretations of God s Word on the subject of Predestination They are: 1. End Times vs. Individual Free Will 2. God s promise to reach those who WANT to understand 3. It is a mystery 4. Man actually does not have a Free Will! 1. End Times vs. Individual Free Will This is the strongest, clearest and simplest understandings/ applications/ interpretations of God s Word on the subject of Predestination There are two major reasons why this could be accurate. 1. The main subject of Romans 9. Of the 29 verses on predestination in the Bible, 25 of them are in Romans 9. The main subject of Romans 9 is that God has PRE-DESTINED that there will be a time during the End Times when there will be a Great In-Gathering of the Jewish people. Every other comment in Romans 9 is simply expansions and explanations about how God can promise that there will be a Great In-Gathering of the Jewish people at the End Times. 2. The number of Scriptures on Free Will There are 31,173 total verses in the Bible. There are 29 verses in the Bible on Predestination and 31,154 verses in the Bible on Free Will Predestination is a side subject in the Bible. It is NOT a major subject but is simply a rabbit trail that the Apostle Paul traveled to explain how God s Purpose in the End Times will be fulfilled. 2
Scripture has many examples of how God is able to fulfill his promises and yet violate man s individual free will. Perhaps Mordecai said it best when he told Esther: Esther 4:14 For IF you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" This verse in Esther really closes the subject on the possibility that you have no choice in your eternal destiny. Please read it again carefully. Mordecai makes it VERY CLEAR to Esther that GOD S PURPOSES are totally and definitely going to be FULFILLED. In addition, he makes it clear to Esther that she has a CHOICE. If she chooses to cooperate she will be blessed. If she resists God, she will pay the price, but God s will in the overall purpose and plan God has can not be stopped. Here is another example of Jesus explaining that Predestination has more to do with God s end times plan than about individual free will. Matthew 18:7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin. Such things MUST COME But WOE to the man THROUGH WHOM they come. Now let s read what the Bible says about Pharoah. It is also significant that Paul chose Pharoah as an example of Predestination, since we are told that Pharoah hardened his OWN heart. It seems fairly simple that Pharoah CHOSE to harden his heart and that God accelerated the process. In fact, Exodus makes this very clear. 1. Exodus 8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said. 3
2. Exodus 8:32 But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go. 3. Exodus 9:12 But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said to Moses. 4. Exodus 9:34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts. 5. Exodus 10:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them 2. God s promise to reach those who WANT to understand There is only one verse in the Bible that EXPLAINS the subject of Predestination. It is: Romans 8:29 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. It is also significant that Paul intentionally wrote this verse one chapter before he wrote the Romans 9 subject of the End Times gathering of the Jews. Predestination could be a explanation of one of the question that rings in the heart of every passionate Christian. Here is a rough paraphrase of that question. Father, I will live my life to bring you glory and to bring others to you. Yet my heart grieves for those who have NEVER HAD A CHANCE to hear the Gospel! What about them Father. 4
Romans 8:29 could be seen as a promise from our Father that he knows every heart BEFORE they are born. In His Goodness and Love, He is promising us that He will make sure that everyone who WANTS to come to Christ will be given the opportunity. This verse would also explain why God Hated Esau BEFORE he was born. Romans 9:10-13 Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." Scripture is very clear that Esau CHOSE his own path. Genesis 25:32 "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" Genesis 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. Hebrews 12:16 See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 3. It is a Mystery. Paul also alluded to this in Romans 9 when he stated that this subject is beyond human comprehension. 5
4. Man actually DOES NOT HAVE a Free Will. The deeper you look into this doctrine the more aberrant it becomes. o It requires a decision to ignore tens of thousands of verses about human choice. Words like Chose, Choice, Because, If, Should, Be, Do, Do Not, Therefore, Consequently etc. must be Explained Away in studying the Bible. o It requires a decision to ignore the fact that the entire gospel is based on choice o It requires a decision to ignore the fact that God is Love and the basis of Love is Free choice. o It requires a decision to ignore the weird secondary doctrines that arise out of this doctrine. There are a LOT of them! o It requires a decision to ignore the lack of fruit in the lives of those who passionately teach this doctrine. o It requires a decision to ignore the weak Bible Study of those who passionately teach this doctrine. Personally, I am very comfortable with all three of the first three understandings/ applications/ interpretations of God s Word on the subject of Predestination. I have listened and studied carefully those who are passionate about the fourth understandings/ applications/ interpretations of God s Word on the subject of Predestination and I do not see this as an accurate study of God s word. Isaiah 66:2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. Deuteronomy 4:2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you. 6
Deuteronomy 12:32 See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it. Proverbs 30:5-6 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. Revelation 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. II Tim. 2:15 NKJV Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. NAS Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. NIV Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Mt. 18:12-15 "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninetynine that did not wander off. 14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. II Peter 3:3-9 3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 7
1. Romans 8:29 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. 2. Romans 8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 3. Ephesians 1:5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will 4. Ephesians 1:11 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, 5. Romans 10: 9-21 (How significant that the longest passage on Predestination in the Bible Romans 9-11 has right in the middle the greatest verse on Free Will Salvation in all the Bible.) That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14How, 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? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" 16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 18But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." 19Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." 20And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me." 21But concerning Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." 8
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