What Is Biblical Predestination?
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin Overfield
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001
What Is Biblical Predestination?
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did
predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also
justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." (Romans 8:28-30)
The context here indicates that the "called" whom God also predestinates
are them "that love God". The fact that these people love God is proof that
they must also choose God by properly responding to His call; for without
their choice there is no love. Such is also the case that they keep God's
commandments. Otherwise, their love for God is nonexistent.
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous." (I John 5:3)
Therefore, I say that such predestination as the Bible teaches does not
prevent or override the free choice and responsibility of souls before God.
Furthermore, PREDESTINATE, which means "to determine before"
(Vine's), is dependent upon God's foreknowledge. "For whom he did
foreknow, he also did Predestinate". In other words, God only predestinates
based upon what He knows about how we are going to respond to the
gospel and all the influences of His grace upon us.
Just because He knows these things beforehand does NOT mean that
He causes all of them to happen (which is a fatalistic position to take).
For
instance, Jesus knew beforehand who would betray Him and how it would
happen, but this does not mean that He caused Judas to fall - "Judas by
transgression fell" (Acts 1:25) of his own free will.
God knows everything past, present, and future. We have limited
knowledge of the past, present, and -- through God's prophetic Word --
even of the future. Just because we know some facts does not mean that
we cause all of them to happen; nor does God's knowledge make Him
personally responsible for all of the facts that He knows.
God can see it all perfectly and completely without error. Therefore,
He knows who will be converted, who will be sanctified wholly, who will
backslide, who will return to Him, who will "endure to the end" and be
ultimately saved in Heaven, and who will be forever lost in Hell. But, dear
people His knowledge of the facts is based upon the choices of individuals
like you and me.
This is why we may say with certainty, "Whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17). And, this is why we should not
be overly concerned about the matter of predestination. What we SHOULD
be concerned about is our present relationship with God!
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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