Is every single thing that happens in this universe controlled and planned? Is mankind pre-ordained to either live with God or be subject to death by the Almighty God without a choice in the matter?
Found in only four verses in the Bible (Eph 1:5, 11; Rom. 8:29, 30) the concept of “predestination” of all humanity has many adherents. John Calvin, a contemporary of Martin Luther believed, “unconditional election or predestination is the doctrine that by the decree of God some men and angels are predestined to everlasting life and others foreordained to everlasting death. The number is so certain that it can not be increased nor diminished.” 1 Either, God has already saved you or God is going to kill you. You have no say in the matter. No choice. From the beginning of time, you are either in with God or out with God. Is this what the Bible teaches on the concept of “predestination”?
Predestination is about those called of God now. The “first fruits” of His plan of salvation.
The Calvinist view of predestination precludes humanity of any choice as to their spiritual outcome. This is patently unbiblical. Genesis 2:9 through chapter 3 we see Adam and Eve were given a choice. Choose the “tree of life” or the “tree the knowledge of good and evil.” They chose poorly. Deut. 30:15-20 God gave Israel a choice, “life or death, blessing or cursing, choose life.” God gave ancient Israel a real choice to make. Joshua 24:15 Israel was again given a choice of life or death. This theme of “choice” pervades the Biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation 20:11-15. At the second resurrection of all people who ever lived, they are given a choice to obey God and live or to choose to disobey and die. The Calvinist view on predestination cannot be correct and is not substantiated by Biblical text.
The Biblical verses pertaining to predestination are Ephesians 1:5 “…having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…” The second verse is Ephesians 1:11 “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will…” Romans 8:29 is the third verse on predestination, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:30 is the fourth and final verse to mention “predestination, “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified, these He also glorified.”
Context is paramount in Bible study. Every context of predestination in the Bible is about the first fruits of God’s spiritual harvest being called now to justification and eventual glorification. Concerning predestination who was Paul speaking to? Eph. 1:1 the saints. Who was Paul NOT speaking to? The uncalled of God. Paul had a specific audience, those NOW called by God. He goes on to say the saints were chosen “before the foundation of the world” (verse 4). God has a plan for His saints. His plan is to give those chosen now “adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself” (verse 5). Paul is reiterating what he had previously written to the Romans. Rom. 8: 14-17 Paul describes the adoption of God’s Christian children into the spiritual family of God. Romans 8:30 confirms and reiterates God’s plan for His family. This is the plan of God, adopt humanity into His family.
Paul points out in Romans 8:28 God foreknew who He would call into His family today, the first fruits of His spiritual harvest. Only those who are the “first fruits” of God’s spiritual harvest are predestined. See the one page article “Pentecost” at https://www.cscog7.org/pentecost/ for further details into the “First fruits” of God’s spiritual harvest.
Eph. 1:9-10 Paul points out the future “fullness of time” and it is the saint’s “inheritance” which is predestined. Christians, the “first fruit” of God’s spiritual harvest are predestined to receive glory with Him at the fullness of time. When is this to occur? It happens at the return of Jesus Christ to rule this world and to establish His ever-lasting Kingdom of God (I Cor. 15:20-23: 50-55: I Thes. 4:13-17; Rev. 19:11-16).
Predestination has to do with the calling and election of the saints now. The concept of predestination to a predetermined death as espoused by Calvin is not biblical. All four references to predestination have to do with the adoption into the family of God and the four biblical references are directed to the saints, not the uncalled. Who are the first fruits of God? Rom. 8:23: I Cor 15:23; James 1:18 and Rev. 14:4. The called-out Christians of today are the first fruits of God’s harvest. At this time God is only calling the few to His election (Rom. 11:2,5). He does the calling, John 6:44. The vast majority of mankind will be called and given a choice to obey God at the second resurrection written of in Rev. 20:11-15.
We humans do have a choice. Only the first fruits of God are predestined to His family. No one is “predestined” to death. All will be allowed to make their choice either for or against God at the second reserrection. For those called now it is our blessing to be a part of His family. To those called later, they will stand before God (Rev. 20:11-15) and like ancient Israel God will say to them, “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life…” (Deut. 30:19a). those called now (predestined) will be kings and priests in the future Kingdom of God (Rev. 5:10; 20:6).
1 Backman, Milton V., Christian Churches of America: Origins and Beliefs. Bringham Young University Press, 1976, page 87.
All verses quoted are from the NKJV
