Predestination

Question: We received several questions that deal with the subject of predestination!

Answer submitted by Pastor Erik Neilson:

Predestination is a bit of a hot topic among scholars and those interested in debating theology. The most important thing I can say initially is that this topic deals with salvation but is not a salvation issue. In other words, we could be wrong in our understanding of this topic and still be saved! As always, Adventure Christian Church believes, "In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love." We can be passionate about our views but we must be respectful when we disagree for the sake of Christian unity. Having said that, here are just a few thoughts on predestination:

1. Predestination is a biblical concept used throughout the New Testament. The word predestined (in Greek proorizo) appears in Acts 4:28; Rom 8:29-30; 1 Cor 2:7; Eph 1:5, and Eph 1:11. Please realize that your Bible translation may not use the exact word "predestined" but will sometimes use synonyms like "chosen" or "called" or "foreordained." All Christians should believe that the Bible teaches predestination, but not all Christians agree on what it means.

2. For some predestination means that God, in his absolute sovereignty, picked who would go to heaven and who would go to hell. People in this camp believe that saved people had absolutely nothing to do with their salvation; God selected them and they had no power to resist him. Similarly, this view teaches that the unsaved have been selected by God for destruction and they have no ability to change that. Hearing the gospel, believing the gospel is not an option for them because God will not allow them to be saved...they are "predestined" for destruction. How far people apply this can vary, but at it's core is a great emphasis on the fact that God is in control. Understandably people who are saved like the idea that they were specially "chosen" by God. Some have called this view the "Great Doctrine of Comfort." I suppose it should be comforting to believe that God has saved you while passing over others and nothing you can do will ever change that!

3. For others predestination is understood as God already knowing how things will turn out in the end. Romans 8:29-30 says, " For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." Some understand predestination as it pairs with the idea of foreknowledge. The thinking goes like this: God already knows will be saved (and who will not be saved) at the end. But his knowledge of the end did not determine the end. Those whose destinies were foreknown by God were the ones who are "predestined" to be like Jesus (vs 29).

4. So who is right? God is right. That may sound like a cop-out but it's the truth! We should never understand salvation apart from the work of God. There is no salvation apart from God (Ac 4:12). No one can come to Father without God drawing them to salvation (Jn 6:44). No one can even declare Christ as their Lord without some divine assistance from the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:3). I think we should always emphasize God's role in our salvation because his role is primary. What do we really contribute to our salvation?

5. For those who are adamant that God forces people to be saved and condemned I think we should think carefully about passages that deal discuss God's desire for people to believe, repent and be saved. (2 Peter 3:9, 1 Tim 2:4, John 3:16, etc) How can God want people to be saved while depriving them of the opportunity to be saved? That's a question that must be addressed in our thinking through this issue.

6. People who are passionate about this topic will present very strong arguments from Scripture on both sides. For some, this issue is so central, that they will not fellowship with people who disagree with them. I think it's ironic and a bit sad that saved people could divide on an issue dealing with salvation.

7. One of the tough questions I was asked dealt with a specific passage on this topic from Romans 9. I've included my response to that question since it deals with this same topic:

Dear ______________,

I'm wrapping up my tough questions series and didn't pull yours so I thought I'd respond via email. First of all...great question. Probably the most debated issue among Christian scholars concern the Sovereign will of God versus the free will of man. Let me break it down like this:

1. Some people believe that people have no free will whatsoever.
2. Other people believe that people have free will and do whatever we want to do.
3. Other people believe somewhere in the middle.

When we read passages like Romans 9 it's important to remember that the whole Scripture determines our theology. So we can't read one section apart from the others without skewing our understanding. If we read Romans 9 by itself, without considering other portions, it would seem that some people are just chosen for God to destroy. By whatever criteria, for whatever reason, they never had a chance. Many people believe that and I respect that view and even understand how they reach that conclusion. But how do we justify that with passages like 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Tim 2:4, and John 3:16.

When we read that God hardened people's hearts, I think that there is something implied in that. At face value that sounds like God played a mean trick on someone. But consider what what commentator said:

"We should not think that God persuaded an unwilling, kind-hearted Pharaoh to be hard towards God and His people. In hardening the heart of Pharaoh, God simply allowed his heart to pursue its natural inclination." (Guzik)

The hardening spoken about in Romans 1:24, 26, 28 makes it seems that God "abandoned" (NLT) or "gave them over" (NIV) to what they already were doing. In other words, he allowed them to go the direction they wanted unrestrained. And that's what we see with Pharaoh. Consider Exodus 7:13, 7:22, 8:15, 8:19, 8:32, 9:7, 9:34. All these passages tell us the attitude of Pharaoh towards God and his people.

I think the problem with passages like that this is that we theologians want to pin God down. In our supreme wisdom we get hung up on things like free will. Common sense says we all have a degree of free will. Scripture's teaching is that God has a will as well, and his ultimate will is always accomplished. The truth is that this is a mystery and I prefer to marvel at it and wonder rather than strip it down to it's frame and reassemble it in the way that makes most sense to me. I recently heard a very scholarly professor say, "god makes me do his will of my own free will." I agree with that!