What Is "Predestination"? How Does It Shape Your Daily Life?

[Bob Estey]

Yes amen

But we have to make sure we are born again out of this world first

Who initiates the rebirth, God or us?

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Who initiates the rebirth, God or us?

God does,

But when is it completed?

 

[BlessedPeace]

So God doesn't love the world?

Is every single person on earth going to Heaven?

 

[BlessedPeace]

I have already learned much. I'm now considered an expert in biblical data concerning the New Testament. I therefore stand in the spirit very close right in the face of both God and Jesus Christ.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Is every single person on earth going to Heaven?

Does that mean God does not love them?

 

[BlessedPeace]

Does that mean God does not love them?

Who goes to Hell?

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Who goes to Hell?

Whoever does not believe.

John 3:
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

 

[Bob Estey]

God does,

But when is it completed?

Is it ever completed?

 

[Bob Estey]

Is every single person on earth going to Heaven?

To answer that question I believe one must understand what heaven is. Matthew 4:17 gives us a clue, I believe:

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17 RSV

Heaven would be the peace that descends on us when we repent of our sin (the New Jerusalem).

Now we return to your question. What do YOU think?

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

I'm now considered an expert in biblical data

 

[BlessedPeace]

To answer that question I believe one must understand what heaven is. Matthew 4:17 gives us a clue, I believe:

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:17 RSV

Heaven would be the peace that descends on us when we repent of our sin (the New Jerusalem).

Now we return to your question. What do YOU think?

It was actually,given the precepts of the prior salvific points,a yes or no answer.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Is it ever completed?

Yes,

The bible says I have been saved, I have eternal life. I have been redeemed, I have been bought with a price, I have been justified, I have been washed. I have been given every spiritual blessing.

What kind of Hope could i have if it was not completed?

 

[Bob Estey]

It was actually,given the precepts of the prior salvific points,a yes or no answer.

I think anyone who repents of their sin will find the gate to heaven open. That could be everybody. That could be nobody.

 

[Bob Estey]

Yes,

The bible says I have been saved, I have eternal life. I have been redeemed, I have been bought with a price, I have been justified, I have been washed. I have been given every spiritual blessing.

What kind of Hope could i have if it was not completed?

So is being born again the same as being saved?

 

[BlessedPeace]

I think anyone who repents of their sin will find the gate to heaven open. That could be everybody. That could be nobody.

That's your opinion. ("I think...) It is not scripture.

 

[GracePeace]

Regarding "predestination": Since John's Gospel says, "In the beginning was the Word..." and "... you have been with Me from the beginning", did John intend to allude to the idea that we were "with Him", in some sense, "before the world was founded"?

 

[Bob Estey]

That's your opinion. ("I think...) It is not scripture.

Well, Matthew 4:17 says to repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. I would suggest we repent and walk in.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

So is being born again the same as being saved?

Let’s put it this way. If you are not saved from your sin, your not born again, your still dead in your sin.

Does this make sense

 

[Bob Estey]

Let’s put it this way. If you are not saved from your sin, your not born again, your still dead in your sin.

Does this make sense

Jesus is the one who saves us from our sin, so it would appear, according to what you said, that Jesus decides when, and if, we are born again.

 

[BlessedPeace]

Let’s put it this way. If you are not saved from your sin, your not born again, your still dead in your sin.

Since the criticism of total depravity has also arisen in this discussion let's consider a question.

Why do we need to be born again after God's plan made us born damned to die as sinners first?

And how are we sinners? By God's rules and creation of his laws, and sin.

Genesis 6:5
The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?