Predestination Explained in Simple Terms

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Ephesians 1:5).

The destiny of God’s elect was planned by God before creation, without the input or counsel of others. Our infinitely wise Creator needs no help, let alone from finite creatures whose wisdom is woefully limited and often wrong. This is why we pray, Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…..

A common dictionary definition states destiny is “a preordained path of your life.”

The prefix “pre” in predestination indicates our destiny was determined by God before we were born, before we had done good or evil. This truth is exemplified in Romans 9 where we find the case of Jacob’s election examined.

Sadly, there is a false teaching which reverses the biblical meaning of this noun. Simply stated, it teaches post-destination, meaning God determines your destiny after foreseeing your positive good acceptance of the Gospel.

Predestination includes all aspects of one’s life. Nothing is too miniscule or unimportant to be ignored or left to ‘chance.’ If the very hairs on our head are numbered – meaning we lose or gain hairs only according to God’s eternal decree – how much more is He involved with the spiritual direction our lives take on a daily basis?

DOUBLE PREDESTINATION

God’s predestination of the elect results in a most excellent outcome, thanks to His gracious loving mercy.

Those who are non-elect (called reprobate) have a much different outcome, however.

They are the objects of our holy God’s righteous judgment and infinite wrath.

Their destiny is the Lake of Fire, eternal torment without any relief whatsoever.

“The Lord knoweth them that are His.” Ergo, He also knoweth them that are not His.

We, however, do not have such divine knowledge.

Nor do we have an understanding as to how and why God chooses some for salvation, while passing by others, choosing instead to judge them for their sin, since all men have the same corrupt, fallen nature inherited from Adam.

Rather than attempt to guess the destiny of all men, we are commissioned to preach the Gospel to every creature, knowing God’s word will not return void, but will accomplish His every purpose.

ALL MEN HAVE THE SAME RECOGNIZED DESTINY: DEATH

Even Hollywood films recognize death as man’s destiny; from which none can escape. The film series, Final Destination, centers its narrative around this theme.

However, it neglects to tell the whole truth. For death is only the beginning of one’s eternal destiny. Death is a door which either opens to unimaginable everlasting glory or unspeakable unrelenting horror.

Scripture warns of many who sincerely believe they are on the Stairway to Heaven, when in reality they are on the Road to Perdition.

Unless these deceived are regenerated by the Spirit, having been given eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to believe, they will not heed the warnings, preaching and pleading of God’s people. Nor will they believe the Gospel.

THE NECESSITY OF THE NEW BIRTH

Without first being regenerated – born again – it is impossible to see or enter the Kingdom of God.

This is yet another truth which, sadly, has been turned on its head by those refusing to accept the clear teaching of God’s Word. There are many who teach we are born again after we believe, thereby positing the ability to believe possible to those who are spiritually incapacitated.

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).

The verb cannot denotes inability.

Before one can believe, he must first be healed of the inability which prevents him from believing. Since we are all born spiritually blind by nature, we must first be healed of our blindness before we can see and discern the truth of God’s kingdom.

Thus, we must first be born of the Spirit before we can see and believe spiritual truths.

As a baby is passive in its fleshly birth, contributing nothing to the process, the elect sinner is equally passive.

The new birth is the mysterious miraculous work of the Holy Spirit alone, upon those predestinated to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to God.

 

Thank you, Silverhair, for having the courage to enter into this conversation. It is my firm belief that many Bible controversies are due to a misapprehension concerning the natures of both God and man. My authoritative source is the whole counsel of God. This requires time and effort to digest. It requires studying the arguments from both sides.

To answer your first point concisely, ‘chance’ has no place in God’s creation. Nothing is left up to ‘chance.’ If it were, then ‘chance’ would be a greater and more powerful entity than our infinitely omnipotent, all-wise God. It would mean our true God gave the reins to another god under certain circumstances. This is, of course, pure fiction.

The underlying premise of your argument centers around one of the many revealed divine attributes of our holy God’s nature: LOVE. Scriptures plainly state His love is manifested in His sending His only begotten Son as a propitiation for the sins of the Elect (John 3:16; Ephesians 1).

However, there is another divine attribute which our holy God is pleased to reveal: JUSTICE. This divine attribute will be revealed for all to see at the Great White Throne Judgment. In the meantime, the deaths of all men, young and old, are the punishments for having sinned in Adam, our representative (Romans 5:12).

Scripture is quite clear God has the legal right and authority to grant mercy and compassion to whom He wills (Romans 9:15). He also has the legal right and authority to harden whom He wills (Romans 9:18).

Paul then uses the metaphor of the potter and clay to further solidify this truth.

Silverhair, God owes no sinner saving grace. He does, however, owe all sinners justice.

Moreover, Scriptures are clear:

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Men by nature are quite happy serving their false gods. The true God is under no constraint to change their minds. Besides, Scripture explains the creation itself leaves them without excuse as to the true nature of their Creator (Romans 1).

 

Preterition is the negative decree by which He will not grant saving grace when He passes over the reprobate. Hardening is the positive decree by which He punishes sin with sin, as He did with Pharoah, ensuring their ultimate condemnation. The Roman Catholic Church passed into the hardening phase centuries ago.