Biblical Predestination
“...He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.....having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself” (Eph. 1:4-5).
The term “predestination” basically means “to determine the outcome, destiny or fate of something or someone beforehand” (prior to its inception or birth). In the religious world, there are many theories, and much misunderstanding, about the idea of what predestination is and means when mentioned in the Bible.
One of the most popular misconceptions is the belief that God chooses a person to be saved in heaven or to be lost in hell before they are even born; and there is nothing that they can do about it. (In other words, if God predetermines that someone will be lost in an eternal hell, they cannot go to heaven – no matter how much they desire to; or how sincerely they dedicate their lives to Him; or believe, love and obey Him). However, this is not what the Word of God teaches on the matter of predestination. It is not individuals, but a particular group or class of people that God chose before the foundation of the world to be saved.
A schoolteacher told his students that some would pass their course, and some would fail. He then described what they would need to do to pass. Sure enough, at the end of the school year some passed and some failed. He predestinated the “outcome,” but he did not predestine the students. It was up to them whether they passed or failed.
I-71 runs north and south between Cleveland, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky. The outcome has been predetermined (predestined). If you travel north to its end you will end up in Cleveland. If you travel south to its end you will end up in Louisville. “You” are only predestined to go to Cleveland if you travel on and continue in the northbound lane. The same is true in reverse. It is the path, not the traveler, that is specifically predestined.
Likewise, salvation operates the same way. God predetermined before the creation that He would choose those "in Christ." In 1 Peter 3:20-21 the apostle wrote, “...in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us — baptism...” You see, it was the ark that was predestined for salvation – not the specific people. In this sense, those who got on the ark (Noah and his family) were predestined to be saved – only because they got in the vessel that God chose for salvation from destruction. Likewise, all who were in the water were predestined to death – but only because they did not choose to get in the ark where salvation is.
It is Christ (the ark of our salvation) that is predestined to eternal life, not you or I individually. So how do we get on this ark? Paul tells us in Galatians 3:26-27: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Also, see 1 Pet. 3:20-21 above). All who choose to be in Christ are predestined to be saved, but only because He is already predestined for salvation; and all who choose not to be in Him will be lost in the same way. It is the path, not the traveler, that is specifically predestined. So, friends, the CHOICE is yours!
Aaron Veyon
