Predestination
This subject has been debated since I was a young man. Some say that the Lord has predestined some which will be saved and those to go to Hell. They say that this has been determined from the beginning. They use scriptures that were have been predestined from the foundation of the world. The problem with this reasoning leaves us to think, if God knows who he will save and those who he will condemn why worry about salvation then. This is the problem when you use a particular scripture to form your reasoning. You don’t see the complete picture of God’s divine plan.
There are two scriptures I’d like to focus on, Peter and Ephesians.
First we read in Peter the following scripture written:
I Peter 1:19
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world,”
If you notice in this scripture Peter tells us that Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world. This means Before the foundation was ever laid were were determined to be redeemed by the blood of Christ. That means even before Adam was created. God’s divine plan to redeem us was determined then and not after the fall of man. The we have Ephesians:
“Ephesians 1:4
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”
Yes we were predestined to become the sons of God in Christ before the foundation of the world. But to imply some are chosen through predestination to be saved and some to be lost is not implied here. If we take God at his word when he said whosever will let him come does not pick and chose.
Mark 3:35
“For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.”
There is predestination but not the pick and chose this one will be saved or this one is to be lost. That would deny that ability to those whosoever will.