What is Predestination?
What is Predestination?
Does traditional thought align with the Word of God?
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Introduction
As a followup to What is Grace?, we will address in this article another teaching that is tightly associated with Grace doctrine (unmerited favour) according to traditional thought. Predestination is traditionally, especially in Reformed and Presbyterian theology, the idea that God has chosen, from the ages of eternity, all those whom He intends to save.
Double-predestination
John Calvin (1509 – 1564), a student of the works of Augustine of Hippo, whose work he was introduced to at the Collège de la Marche and Collège de Montaigu in Paris, brought Augustine’s theology of original sin, total depravity, and hence predestination to its inevitable and logical conclusion: that God has not only determined from eternity whom He will save, but also whom He will damn:
Men do nothing save at the secret instigation of God, and do not discuss and deliberate on anything but what he has previously decreed with himself, and brings to pass by his secret direction. (Calvin)
By predestination we mean the eternal decree of God, by which He determined with Himself whatever He wished to happen with regard to every man. (Calvin)
God preordained, for his own glory and the display of His attributes of mercy and justice, a part of the human race, without any merit of their own, to eternal salvation, and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation. (Calvin)
Hence we maintain that, by his providence, not heaven and earth and inanimate creatures only, but also the counsels and wills of men are so governed as to move exactly in the course which he has destined. (Calvin)
In the selected texts above, we catch a fair glimpse of what Calvin taught concerning predestination:
Every thing that every man does is secretly under the instigation (prompting) of God
God pre-selects one portion among men to salvation
God pre-rejects the other portion among men to damnation
One precludes the other
It must be acknowledged that such an understanding as this, and that of free-will, are mutually exclusive and absolutely irreconcilable. The truth of one precludes the reality of the other. Concerning any teaching of men, no matter how well respected they may be among professed Christians, our disposition must continually be: “What saith the Scriptures?”
προορίζω
G4309 • proorizō
from G4253 and G3724; to limit in advance, i.e. (figuratively) predetermine:—determine before, ordain, predestinate.
The Greek word προορίζω, transliterated proorizō, occurs six times in the Textus Receptus1—five of which are found in Paul’s epistles. Paul’s letters, especially Romans, are often made to appear by Calvinists that God predetermines both the saved and the lost. Let’s take a look together at what exactly the Bible authors mean when they say “predestinate”, “determine before”, “ordain”, etc. in the sense of foreordination, and to who and/or what such terms are being applied.
Prophecy
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. 12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
Isaiah 46:10-13
He who knows the end from the beginning foreordains prophecy: “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.”2 Romans 9:9-13 is often used to prove that God loved Jacob but hated Esau from the womb, as though one were predestined to a life of righteousness and the other to a life of disobedience. Let’s take a closer look at these verses.
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (for the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Romans 9:9-13
If God hated Esau from the womb, as is argued by some, then how is it possible that “the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him”?3 It would make this declaration of God’s abundant mercy and grace (and moreover the entire Gospel of salvation) nothing more than a farce.
Likewise, if God predetermined Esau (or anyone) to a life of disobedience, hated him from the womb, and then punished him for what God secretly instigated him to do, entirely outside of his own control (determined by the sovereign will of God), then his appointed damnation is no justice at all, but cruel despotism.
“That the purpose of God according to election might stand,” refers not to God’s love toward Jacob and hatred toward Esau, but rather the prophecy which Romans 8-11 is concerned: the Gentiles being grafted into the Commonwealth of Israel; for as it is written, “The elder shall serve the younger.”
Jesus and the Plan of Redemption
Jesus Christ and the plan of redemption, that is, the narrow pathway of Christ, were, in fact, ordained before the foundation of the world.4 Paul calls this “the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began”5 and “the mystery of godliness”6—that is, that “God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” This plan was indeed decreed from eternity “before the creation of the worlds”.7
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
Ephesians 3:9-11
Redemption was not an afterthought
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
2 Timothy 1:8-10
In 1 Peter 1:20, the great apostle in saying, “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world,” means to assure us that Redemption through Jesus Christ was not an afterthought in the Mind of God. Peter here uses a different word than προορίζω, which also occurs five times in the Textus Receptus8—
προγινώσκω
G4267 • proginṓskō
from G4253 and G1097; to know beforehand, i.e. foresee:—foreknow (ordain), know (before).
In the Book of Acts, Peter, during his speech inspired by the Holy Ghost after having been accused of being “full of new wine”, said the following words:
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. Acts 2:22-24
Here we have another Greek word, this one having two mentions in the Textus Receptus,9 each of which were translated into English as “foreknowledge”—
Let’s now take a look at that second mention.
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.
1 Peter 1:2
So here we read that Peter, as an apostle of Jesus Christ, was counted among the elect according to the Father’s foreknowledge through sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Are we to understand that Peter’s sanctification was predetermined by God, and that there was nothing that Peter could have done to prevent this destiny? Moreover, was it impossible for Peter to have fallen away? We read from the apostles second epistle:
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2 Peter 1:10
God does not predestinate the saved
Hereby we know that God does not predestinate the saved: because it is His will that all should obey Him out of love for Him.10 Our understanding of what predestination is must be according to scripture and must not contravene any other truth in scripture. In practicing the rule of interpretation, “precept upon precept… line upon line… here a little, and there a little”,11 and being diligent in our labours of “rightly dividing the word of truth”,12 then our understanding will be in complete harmony with the whole of scripture—therefore enabling us to correctly contextualize “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”.13
Likewise Paul, who exhorted the Philippians to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling,14 and who also said to the Corinthians, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall”,15 said in like manner concerning himself, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway”.16 It is hereby evident that neither Peter or Paul believed or taught that the salvation or damnation of any person were predetermined by God, but rather that they both believed and taught precisely the opposite. In God’s holy character is no respect of persons.17
Furthermore, in his second epistle, Peter swiftly cuts through Calvin’s double predestination (that God predetermines the lost) with only one verse:
The Lord… is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
God does not predestinate the lost
Hereby we know that God does not predestinate the lost: because it is not His will that any one should perish,18 neither does He afflict willingly or grieve the children of men,19 but would rather have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.20
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
Ezekiel 18:23
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
Ezekiel 18:32
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Ezekiel 33:11
Predestination doctrine teaches that God meticulously predetermines each and every thing that man thinks or does, by and for His own pleasure and glory, yet here God Himself tells us that He has no pleasure in the damnation of the wicked. While we know that many will perish, this is not God’s will—for the Father sent His only begotten Son into the world21 to reconcile the world unto Himself.22 Now if it is God’s will that all would be saved, yet we know that the majority will not be,23 we may deduce that God’s will does not predetermine our will, but rather the opposite—we ourselves must choose that God’s will be done in our own lives. Obedience is a divine gift of the author of eternal salvation,24 but God’s will cannot override our own. He cannot choose on our behalf.
God a righteous judge
Lastly, if this were not enough to put this understanding of predestination to rest, consider how that after the Jewish nation’s probation as God’s people closed by the stoning of Stephen25 marking the end of the seventy weeks prophecy,26 Paul (and Barnabas) said concerning them:
It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:46
The Father Himself need not judge, for the Jews had judged their own selves unworthy of everlasting life. As it is written in another place:
15 their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ…
Romans 2:15-16
Concerning not only every open sin, but every secret sin also, God uses our own conscience in the investigative judgment.27 Our God is a righteous judge, and because He has written His law in every man’s heart, it’s thereby our very own conscience, whether it be good or bad toward God, that will either excuse or accuse us of sin, which is transgression of the law28—and no transgressor of the law shall enter the kingdom of heaven.29
Free will
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Romans 6:16-17
There are plenty of verses throughout the Bible proving that God endowed man with free choice, the difference is that our choices have eternal consequences, the ending of which God has foreknown from the beginning. But Paul in Romans 6:16-17 proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that our choices are what determine our eternal destiny, not God’s foreknowledge. The choice lies entirely with us whether we choose to yield ourselves as servants of sin unto death or as servants of righteousness unto life through Christ. The doctrine of Christ is delivered unto us, and now we obey Him from the heart (because He loved us first).30
Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Heaven
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Joel 2:32
Eternal life in the kingdom of heaven was ordained before the foundation of the world.31 The Word of God promises us that whosoever believes on the name of Jesus Christ will be saved.32 Not a select portion, but each and every man and woman who wholly surrenders themselves to Christ shall be raised up at the last day33 to inherit eternal life in the world to come.34 This is God’s promise to all them which keep His commandments, and have the faith (testimony) of Jesus:35
6 I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Revelation 21:6-7
Truly, blessed are they “that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”36
Conclusion
The election of God is always to be understood in the context of prophecy, most especially the plan of salvation and the Elect thereof, which is Christ, and of eternal life in the kingdom of heaven. The saints of the most High God, as receivers of the adoption of sons,37 are called to become partakers of the heavenly calling, which is of God’s election, and so long as they overcome sin through righteousness by faith unto obedience, the same shall not see death, but may have right to the tree of life and to enter in through the gates into the New Jerusalem.
While there are many passages we have not thoroughly addressed herein this article, you will find that each and every one of them, in their intended contexts, not only harmonize with the whole of scripture, but give true glory to God. Every false doctrine is ultimately an attack by the enemy on the character of God and Christ, the hearers of which that are fooled by his wiles bring shame to the name of God, causing the destruction of many. We must therefore “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”38
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:16-19
Hallelujah for His love which passeth all understanding! The love of God with which we love Him and one another is not a compulsory one, but one wholly of our own will. “We love Him, because He first loved us.”39
God bless,
Brandon
Works Cited
The Holy Bible. King James Version. Cambridge University Press, 2001.
Institutes of the Christian Religion. John Calvin, 1536 edition.
Institutes of the Christian Religion. John Calvin, 1559 edition.
Brandon, you play with the pen on the paper, as one plays at the harp, very skilfully! Well structured, explained and referenced from the Bible.
A verse you quoted, always touches my heart: "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, Neither have entered into the heart of man, The things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
God bless you brother!
Tiberiu