Examining Predestination
I covered portions of this topic a few months back, but many discussions and questions on this subject have compelled me to revisit this topic. I believe that our understanding on predestination is important, for it directly affects how we view works, salvation, and the plan of God. Before we get into the meat of this discussion, look at 1 Corinthians 1:11-12
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
The apostle Paul begins his letter to the church at Corinth by addressing divisions in the church. He provides instruction to the church and then returns the focus back to the issue of division in 1 Corinthians 3:3-4
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
The problem of division is mentioned again in chapter eleven. This serious problem is the overarching theme of the entire book of 1 Corinthians. The problem is that this church was dividing into camps, labeling themselves and likely labeling each other. Rather than focusing on the scriptures, they divided the church based on who adopted names and titles that they agreed or disagreed with. Paul said that these practices that caused divisions was the evidence that men were carnal and acting in the flesh, even though they thought they were being spiritual.
In the church today, many, well learned men divide themselves and the church up into groups based on labels. Often the issue is a desire to force feed beliefs to others and if they don’t agree, a derogatory label is applied and the person is either called ignorant, unspiritual, or even a heretic. Is calling someone names an act of the spirit, or is it evidence of a carnal mind? Is it not carnal to say, “I am of John Calvin”, or “I am of Arminius”? If Paul said that people calling themselves after his name was an act of the flesh and forbade it, does that not hold true to calling ourselves after theologians as though we must view scripture through the lens of their beliefs?
I agree with many of the teachings that John Calvin wrote; however, his writings are not on par with scripture and I see no valid reason for Christians to be called after his name. While there is much to glean from his work, he is not infallible. In the remainder of this study, I am going to revisit the argument presented by both Calvinists and Arminianists (those who focus primarily on the free will of man) as we explore the scriptures that address these beliefs. It is important to remain consistent with scripture – even if this takes someone out of the Calvinist camp, Arminianist camp, or both.
Building Boxes
It is interesting to me how that so many spend countless hours debating and arguing over labels and forcing people into boxes in order to gain control. There are people who do not fit in either box, but are told that they must select one box or the other. People are forced to choose a box so that they can either be identified as friend or foe. This is especially true with hyper-Calvinism. By hyper-Calvinism, I am referring to individuals that take the extreme Calvinistic beliefs that often go beyond what Calvin taught. Extreme positions often only view people based on whether they are inside their box. Those who climb into the Calvinism box are friends, and those who refuse are put into the ‘other box’ to be tossed over the heretical cliff.
If this issue wasn’t divisive enough, we are also told that we must choose either synergism or monergism. Hopefully I won’t lose the reader in the theological terms, but these should be defined in order to show the flaw in these labels. Synergism is the belief that a person is born again by a combination of free human will and divine grace. It teaches that man chooses to become a Christian and Calvinism rightly rejects the notion that human will has the power to choose spiritual righteousness. We’ll look at the scriptures that testify that this belief cannot be reconciled to scripture.
Monergism is the belief that man is regenerated by the Holy Spirit before he has the capacity to receive the faith that gives man the power to receive grace unto salvation. Wikipedia defines monergism as follows:
Monergism describes the position in Christian theology of those who believe that God through the Holy Spirit works to effectually bring about the salvation of individuals through spiritual regeneration without cooperation from the individual.
In Calvinism, this 'forced' salvation is called irresistible grace. This definition agrees with the arguments presented by well studied Calvinists and is consistent with almost all teachings by hyper-Calvinists. There are many excellent teachers who hold to the Calvinist belief system and the above definition, but are not necessarily hyper-Calvinists. When I say hyper-Calvinist, I am referring to those individuals who deny that God has given man the capacity to choose. Some go as far as to say that God created individuals solely for the purpose of sending them to hell for His own pleasure. We will visit this later and compare it to scripture as well.
The problem with the ‘two box theory’ is that neither of the choices allow the individual to be completely consistent with scripture. The synergist has to explain away the passages that make it clear that man cannot choose to be redeemed by his own will, such as John 3:13. The monergist has to explain away passages where God said He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11) and does not desire that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). Some choose to ignore passages, some redefine the meaning of words, and some add to the word in order to make it fit.
Consistency with the Whole of Scripture
I have wrestled over these things for years. The problem is that regardless of what we may want to be true, we must be consistent with scripture. Once someone has to exclude a passage (or passages) to make their doctrine fit, they have made the scripture subject to their beliefs rather than drawing understanding from the scripture. The same holds true for those who redefine words or add to the scriptures. Consider this passage from Proverbs 30:5-6
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
If you must add additional information to any passage in order to make it fit either Calvinism or Arminianism, you have placed yourself under God’s condemnation warned against in the above passage.
Our challenge is to draw our understanding from the word of God so that we are completely consistent without either adding to, or taking from the word of God. I believe that if you read this to its conclusion, you will see that it is indeed possible to have a firm grasp on this subject without having to rely on external sources. When false teachings are introduced into the church, it is always through a source outside of the Bible. Followers of false teachers always point back to their teachers as the missing key to understanding, and how the Bible is to be interpreted. We must ensure that we do not fall into this same trap. When it is an opinion, declare it to be an opinion. Do not confuse opinion with divine revelation. Let scripture be the teacher.
God so loved the World
If you are a hyper-Calvinist, you will likely be tempted to cast aside anything that challenges your belief; however, I am confident that if you are willing to consider the scriptures, you will see that your objections can be answered without rejecting free will. The problem is how we view free will. I will save this until I can address it with scripture, but I assure you that man can have free will without it being the source of our salvation.
Look at John 3:
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Does God only love the elect? I have heard debaters arguing about this verse many times, but I have yet to hear anyone explain how the word ‘world’ only applies to the elect. The word ‘world’ is mentioned 241 times in the New Testament and it never once identifies this as the church or the elect. In fact, the Bible consistently uses ‘world’ to describe those who are contrary to the truth. A good example of this is John 14:16-17
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
The world cannot receive the Spirit of truth, but the disciples, whom Jesus called out of the world are promised the Holy Spirit and the benefits He provides to the believer. Look also at John 15:
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Jesus testifies that the world is contrary to Him, hates the word and those who hold the truth, and affirms that His disciples are not of the world but are sent so that the world can believe. Look at John 17:14-24
14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
This passage affirms that the world and the elect are separate, the elect are called out of the world, and that we must be drawn (given) by the Father. All of these things will be addressed as this study moves forward. This is one of those areas where if we are to believe that God only loves the elect, we have to either push these verses aside, or interject our own words into the text in order to redefine the clear meaning of the word ‘world’. Let the Bible speak for itself. Or as Paul stated, let God be true, and every man a liar (Romans 3:4). Add to your examination 1 Timothy 4:
10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
The word ‘specially’ is the Greek word ‘malista’, which means: especially, chiefly, most of all, or above all. The Lemma form of this word is used twelve times in the New Testament and each time it brings special attention to someone or something above others. Here are two more examples:
Galatians 6: 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
1 Timothy 5: 17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Is there any other way to avoid the fact that Galatians 6 is making a distinction between all men and those who are in the house of faith (or the church)? Can it be argued that 1 Timothy 5 does not distinguish those who labor in the word from those who do not? If this is still unclear, look at 2 Timothy 4:
13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
Is there any other interpretation other than the fact that Paul wanted several books, but wanted to make a special emphasis on the parchments? It is like saying, “I want you to bring them all, but if something hinders you, take special care to ensure the parchments are your highest priority”.
Now are we to say that God meant to say ‘especially’ eleven times and have it mean exactly what it says, but in 1 Timothy 4:10, we are to redefine the word to mean something other than its clear definition? Jesus died for all men – especially to those who believe. Why are some men looked upon above the ‘all’? Because they have believed the word. Even though the world does not believe, it does not change the fact that Jesus died for all. In order to make ‘all’ only apply to the elect, you will have to remove from this passage the clear, intended meaning, and add words that are not given. Perhaps we should assume that God’s inspiration for this word is better than our desire to reword it. All are called through the sacrifice of Christ, but not all are chosen. Look at Matthew 22:11-14
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
This, in its final conclusion is affirmed in Revelation 17:
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
So, why are many called, and few chosen? I am going to delay that answer a short time so you as the reader will examine the rest of the scriptures discussed here. However, the passage in 1 Timothy agrees with what Jesus stated in Matthew 22, and what Jesus stated in John 3:16. God so loved the world that He gave His son and called them, but not all who have been called are chosen and elected to grace. Is the determining factor the will of man? No, the will of man is not how we receive grace. Let’s first examine the will of man as explained in scripture. I believe this will help clarify the answer.
The Will of Man
Look now at John 1:10-13
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
This is a passage leading up to John 3:16. Notice that the word ‘world’ refers to those who have not received Christ, yet the scripture follows this discussion into John 3:16 where we are told that Jesus died for the world. However, that sacrifice is not to those who remain in the world, but only to those who receive Him. To them (those who received Jesus), He gave the right to become the children of God.
So, is grace given to those who choose Christ by their own free will? No. The redeemed are born, not of flesh, nor of the will of man. New birth is only by the will and power of God. Confused? You may be – until we put it all together. The Bible tells us that we build precept upon precept, here a little, there a little and from this we grow into understanding. I believe this applies to the topic at hand. If we jump right to the conclusion, the gaps remain and wrong conclusions are drawn. We need to first lay the foundation before we can build upon it. Apply what we have just read to John 6:
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
This is one of the most important points we must understand in evangelism. Many evangelists give people a false sense of security by convincing them that all they have to do is say a prayer to be saved. Many follow the methods made popular by Charles Finney. He used excitement, music, and emotional preaching to stir the emotions of his followers into making professions of faith. At the end of his life, even Finney acknowledged the lack of evidence in people’s lives. He drew an emotional profession of faith, but without the drawing of the Spirit, no one can come to Christ and the profession means nothing. In fact, many drawn by emotions are more complacent because they think they have a ticket to heaven and see no need in their lives. Those are the people who sit in the pews their whole lives and show no interest in seeking the Lord, or those who say, “I tried religion, and it didn’t work”. Man’s will does not factor into salvation, but it does factor into rejection of the gospel. I’ll explain that statement shortly.
Irresistible Grace
I like John Calvin and I believe he was greatly used by God and his understanding of scripture reveals this. There are not a lot of areas that I have found so far where I disagree with Calvin, but this is one of those exceptions. I do not believe in conditional election as I will explain shortly and back it scripturally, and I do not believe grace is irresistible. Having said that, I also acknowledge that God does indeed have the right to force His will upon us if He so chooses. Knowing that God can do so does not mean that God has made salvation a robotic experience. Stay with me in this section for I am going to use a lot of scripture. First look at Acts 7:
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
In this passage, Stephen is testifying to the Jewish people. They eventually stopped their ears and then killed Stephen out of anger against the truth. But notice that the scripture testifies that they resisted the Holy Spirit just as their fathers did when they rebelled against Moses. This is testified again in 2 Timothy 3:
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
There is a resistance to the truth. Some will argue that they resisted because they had no power to accept it; however, it is the Holy Spirit that reveals truth and Acts 7 testifies that these men resisted the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We’ll tie this together shortly, but let’s first examine a few other passages. Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The subject of this entire section of scripture is the condemnation that leads to the revelation of the man of sin. The key point is described in verse 11, “For this reason…they all [will] be damned”. What is ‘the reason’? They refused to receive the love of the truth, for this reason they did not believe, and the motivation was the love of the pleasures of sin. There was a motivation to resist – the love of the pleasures of sin. We’ll compare this to Romans 1. It is a lengthy passage, but please read it in its entirety. There are some very critical points that aid us in our understanding of this topic. Romans 1:17-26
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Take notice of verse 19, “What may be known of God is manifest to them; for God has shown it to them”. Hold that verse in mind; we will come back to it shortly. When you read this entire passage along with the others we have examined, the scripture makes it clear that in each case, resistance precedes condemnation. This will also come back up when we look at God’s hardening of man’s heart. God makes the truth clear and understood, but when man resists the truth, he is given over to a corrupt mind and blinded into becoming delusional so that he or she believes the lie. Now let’s tie this to another passage that is often misunderstood and used to supposedly prove that God chooses to create certain people for the purpose of destruction. Look now at Romans 9:15-23
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
So why did God harden Pharaoh’s heart? Well, according to the passages we have just read, God hardens those whom He reveals truth to, but they have already willfully harden their own heart and rejected it. When a man or woman chooses to harden their heart to the gospel, God hardens their heart into a delusional state. It was foolish for Pharaoh to keep rejecting God’s command while his kingdom was being obliterated through plague after plague. God gave him over to a strong delusion, so that he believed the lie – that he was a god and had the power to overcome even though everyone around him could see the kingdom coming unglued.
For this reason God raised Pharaoh up – to show His power through the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart so that Israel and her enemies would know that God could break the will of even the most hardened enemy. Did God create Pharaoh for the purpose of hardening him? Or did God foreknow Pharaoh and raise him to become the one on the throne of Egypt for the purpose of showing His power?
We often read into this passage, but notice that the Bible does not say that God forced Pharaoh to become rebellious or sinful. Look at James 1:13-14
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
We cannot violate scripture to make something fit our belief system. The Bible expressly states that God does not force anyone into evil; therefore, we must carry this understanding into the passages that speak of God’s foreknowledge and passages like Romans above. Pharaoh lifted his own heart up with pride and his own will rejected God; therefore, God gave him up to a strong delusion that he should believe a lie. God did not force Esau to reject his birthright, but God foreknew Esau. God chose Jacob because of His own sovereign will, but that does not mean that God forced Esau to sin. Esau sinned by his own will, not God’s.
Concrete points
So then, to understand the predestination teachings of scripture, we must take what is concretely taught in scripture, and build upon it so that we understand the things the scripture builds on top of that foundation.
Scripture expressly states that God loves the whole world and that the world does not love God. The Bible tells us that while we were still enemies, Jesus died for us to reconcile us to Himself. We know that God rejects those of whom He has made Himself manifest, but they chose the lie and pleasures of sin over the truth. We know that the natural man cannot receive the things of God for they are foolishness to the mind rooted in the flesh. The Bible also says that we were born into sin. Look at Psalm 51:
5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Proverbs tells us that foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, so from birth, we have the capacity to sin and the incapacity to choose righteousness. The Bible also says that there is none who does good and none who seek God (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, and Romans 3:10-12). Isaiah 64:6 tells us that even our righteous acts are filthy in God’s eyes. Jesus explains the reason in John 3:5-7
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Since the Bible teaches that the heart of man is sinful and of the flesh until after we are born again by the Spirit, it is clear that no one can choose faith by mere intellectual assent. This is why no one can come to the Son unless he is first drawn by the Father. We also know that many are called, but few are chosen.
Why are Some Elected?
So do we choose God? The Bible has already told us, no. Does God work with the will of man and make salvation a joint effort? Absolutely not, for it is not the will of man, but of God.
Here is where we have to bring it all together while taking great care not to lose consistency with scripture – all scripture. I have never heard this taught, but it seems so clear when you examine the scriptures.
God draws man to salvation and makes the truth manifest to him. The Calvinist doctrine teaches that man is first regenerated and then given the capacity to receive grace; however, there is not one scripture by which we can draw this conclusion. It is an overstatement of how God reveals Himself. It is also built on the assumption that grace is irresistible. If man was regenerated already, we would have an odd problem unless we throw in irresistible grace. Calvinism teaches that faith comes by the regeneration of the Spirit and by this regeneration, God manifests Himself to those who are elected to grace. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing the word of God. Calvinism states that man cannot resist the grace that is manifested by God, yet the Bible says that those who are committed to damnation reach that state because God has already manifested Himself and the truth to them, but they have resisted and chosen the love of sin.
When you examine all things, the only way to remain consistent with scripture is to realize that man’s will only comes into play when we are resisting the will of God. Never does the Bible tell us to conform our will to God; the Bible always tells us to die to ourselves and our will, and submit to the will of God. Consider this passage where Jesus died to His own will in order to receive strength from heaven. Look at Luke 22:41-43
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
As Jesus was tormented over the coming trial, scourging, and crucifixion, He provided an example for us to follow. He did not say, 'align my will to Yours', but rather, 'not my will but Yours'. We are not choosing to do God’s will; we are laying down our will so that God will complete His work in us. Man’s will is always in opposition to God. When we are called by the Spirit toward salvation, God pulls the veil away, calls us to die to ourselves, lay down our will, and receive the life He offers through Christ. We cannot have both; we must let go of the old before we can receive the new. Death comes before life.
Think back to your own testimony or the testimony of others. I had someone tell me once that he felt God calling, but he gripped the pew so tightly that his fingers turned white. That is the will of man resisting the call of God, but relief came – not by choosing salvation, but by letting go. Is it work to let go? No. Think about holding on to a heavy weight. Gravity pulls hard and we have the power to resist. The work is our effort to hold on, but the work ends when we let go and let the weight fall free. The same is true for salvation. The effort is holding on to our old life while God’s Spirit is pulling it to the cross. All the work is in the resistance to God’s draw and it is the will of man that chooses to cling tightly to what God is trying to take away. There is no merit in letting go for we have not worked for anything. Letting go is not an act of the will, but releasing our will so we can submit to the drawing of God.
Many feel that call when the word of God is preached, but no one can be elected to grace if they fight against God because they love their own lives. We are dead spiritually and cannot choose life. We can only let go of the flesh as God pulls us to the cross, or resist His call.
Reconciling all Scriptures
As we study the scriptures we must keep one overarching idea in mind. The Bible is one complete revelation. If we always keep this in mind, supposed contradictions are easily dispelled. When we view two or more passages and cannot see how they fit together, rather than casting one aside or ignoring it, we must drop back and look at the whole. The natural mind cannot receive the things of God; therefore, when human intellect falls short, we must look to the Author of the scriptures. We never have to choose one or the other – and we must never pit one scripture against another. We must ask ourselves, how do two difficult passages fit consistently into the whole?
We know that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. In the same region of scripture, the Bible first declares that the world did not receive their Creator; however, He still gave Himself for them and called as many as would believe out of the world. This is indisputable for it is clearly taught in scripture. The only way this can be confusing is to add or take away from the scripture. The scripture also teaches that we were foreordained for eternal life. Consider these passages:
Ephesians 1:3-6
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
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:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
1 Peter 1:2
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, yet we who are in Christ were foreordained to salvation. An argument that you will likely hear is that if Jesus died for the sins of those who reject Him, then God's will would have failed and this is not possible. This is human reasoning being imposed upon the word of God. As Roman's states, “Who are you to reply against God?” This is applied to those who question God's plan and foreordained will. It is God who declared that man must repent; however, repentance is not the work of man, but man submitting to the work of God.
Each time we see man's choice, it is a choice to either surrender his will to God, or disobey and choose evil. Jesus stated that anyone who desired to come after Him, must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Christ. God's word calls us into holiness; however, the flesh calls us into temptation. Our natural response is to hold on to the flesh, but we deny the flesh by letting go and surrendering to the will of God. Our will is put to death and God's will reigns in our hearts. Consider this passage from Romans 8:28-31
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Take note of verse 29, “Whom He did foreknow, He predestinated to be conformed to the image of His son”. This is a very significant passage for our discussion. Romans 8 clearly states that everyone who is part of the election of grace has been predestined to come into full spiritual maturity. We all should accomplish our mission to become complete images of Christ in our walk of faith. Do we see this? Obviously we do not. We will never reach perfection and if we look around, we see various levels of spiritual maturity in the church. Some grow in maturity, some flounder, and we all struggle to overcome sin.
If the Bible declares that we have been predestined to conform to the image of Christ, why do we all fall short? Let's bring Ephesians 2:8-10 into the discussion:
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Also look at Hebrews 4:
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
We see that we are predestined to conform to Christ, God has foreordained good works that we should walk in them, and these works were finished before the foundation of the world. So what is man's role in all of this? Our role is to submit to the will of God and walk in His foreordained path. Our maturity is hindered because temptation lures us away from that path. The same passage that promises that we have the power to conform to Christ also states that if God is for us, nothing can be against us.
God's will stands unchallenged and will remain firm even if we fall into temptation. So, if God's will cannot be challenged, why don't we fully accomplish everything according to His will. After all, the works of God were completed before the world was founded. I believe the answer stands in how God has revealed His work in our lives. Without the capacity to rebel, it is not possible to fulfill the greatest commandment given in scripture. We are told the primary purpose in every person's life is to love God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength.
It is not possible to love without the option to choose. Man cannot choose good because sin has corrupted man's nature. The Bible tells us that in Adam, many die, but in Christ, many are made alive through grace (Romans 5:15). A dead sinful nature of the flesh cannot produce anything spiritually good. Man submits himself to the work of God that is performed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit and God produces good and it is His works that we walk in. However, God has given man the power to choose the flesh and either resist grace to remain in sin, or step outside of our spiritual walk to depart from the good works He has foreordained us to walk in.
Man does not choose God; he merely submits to God. Man can, however, choose evil because sin remains in our flesh. The Bible states the following:
Romans 7:21-25
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
So the inward man, that which was born after the Spirit when we were made alive in Christ, is the eternal gift of God; however, sin remains in our flesh and will seek to draw us back into its captivity. Also look at Romans 6:12-14
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
So we can see that sin remains in the flesh, but we have the choice to submit to God or allow the flesh to reign. Our command is to not allow it to reign, nor to yield the members of our bodies to sinful desires. We can reject this command and yield to sin and step outside of the path God has called us to walk in, or we can put off the old nature by submitting ourselves to God so He can do His work in our lives. This is the critical issue at hand. Your works forged out of human effort cannot produce spiritual fruit – for Jesus said, “That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”.
It is God who performs the works, we submit to His will. Or as Philippians 2 states:
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
The principles of grace do not change after salvation. Paul even scolded the church by asking, “Are you so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). The same principles that apply to our walk of faith also apply to our understanding of salvation. Human will must be removed so God's will reigns.
Some will argue that this puts God's will subject to man; however, the Bible disagrees. It is God who determined to subdue the flesh in order to show His power in the Spirit. We see the same thing in how God dealt with Pharaoh as we examined earlier. God could have just squashed Pharaoh and set His people free, but He didn't. Was God's will hindered because of Pharaoh's rebellion? No. God showed His power by first bringing Pharaoh into submission and then He accomplished His will by leading His people to the promise.
God could squash your will and force you into submission. He could also eliminate your capacity to have a free will, but He has chosen not to do this. In stead, God follows the same pattern He gave as an example in the Old Testament. He shows His power in our lives by defeating sin and even plaguing our lives through His chastisement so that we submit to His will and then He accomplishes His work in our lives.
Look around. The Kingdom of God has been established through Christ, but it will not reign until all His enemies have been subdued. Just as Pharaoh appeared to have the upper hand, the world appears to be subduing the church; however, God will break the will of the whole world and then He will set up His throne. The Bible says that Jesus must reign until all enemies are made to be His footstool. Allowing human will to challenge the work of God does not threaten God. His works were completed before the foundation of the world and in the end, all will see and glorify the power of God. We as believers fight this battle in our own lives, but we must bring our bodies under subjection so that we can experience the promises of God. He will reign, but if we submit, we will be rewarded for faithfulness.
Why did God Choose Some and not all?
The Bible does not specifically answer this question, but I do believe there are many passages that point us in the right direction. I said in an earlier study that if we try to answer this question, we will most likely be wrong. I realize that this is still a possibility, but I think we can have a reasonable answer that is consistent with scripture. Along with this statement, I also quoted Deuteronomy 29:29 which tells us that the secret things belong to God, but what has been revealed belongs to us and our children to know and do the will of God. After examining all the scriptural evidence, I believe we can reasonably conclude that God has revealed as much about this topic as we need to do His will and understand faith.
The Bible does not say why some are chosen, but the Bible does tell us that it is not God's will that any should perish but that all should come to eternal life. It does not say, 'only the elect will be called', it says all. Adding alternate meanings to the word does not qualify as evidence to eliminate all but the elect. We know that God loved the whole world, and the Bible says that He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. The Bible does say that we were foreordained to eternal life and that some are elected to grace. The problem I see is that the Arminianist camp avoids answering the question of election, and the hyper-Calvinist camp ignores or explains away passages like 1 John 2:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
And John 12:
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Did Jesus only die for the elect, or did He die for the whole world? Do we side with the passages that tell us that some were found in Christ before the foundation of the world, or do we side with passages that tell us that God loved and died for the whole world? Or perhaps, do we take a step back and ask, how do these passages agree together and paint a clearer picture of God's work?
This is a complicated issue, but only because we are being made to climb into boxes and explain away everything that doesn't fit into the box. I believe we can understand – if we let the scriptures reveal the mind of God. The scriptures tell us that we cannot know the reasons behind God's ways, but we can have the mind of Christ to understand (1 Corinthians 2:6). I want to lay the foundation of answering the above question by looking at the reason for authority and our call to submit to it. Look at 1 Corinthians 15:23-28
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
This passage disturbs people because it can be hard to understand why Jesus relinquishes His authority. Let's first look at why authority exists in the first place. Why is authority necessary? Authority is necessary to maintain order. Authority does not determine value or worth of an individual. Look at marriage. God determined that the man would be the head (or authority) of the home, but He also stated that men and women are joint heirs, together with Christ. Human nature usurps power from authority, so we naturally put worth on someone based on their status or class. When I served in the military, we were taught to salute the rank, regardless of the worthiness of the individual.
Why did God determine to create an authority structure for Himself before creating the world? Since the Bible states that we were found in Christ before the world began, we should keep in mind that all authority and our place in God's plan was established at the time of creation. Consider 2 Timothy 1:8-10
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
This passage is telling us that salvation was built into creation. Before the world was formed, God had already planned for man's fall by including redemption into creation. This is how Hebrews can state that the work was already finished before the world was created. So as God planned His creation, He also established all authority and power for the purpose of integrating redemption into creation. Once all things are finished and God is all in all, there is no longer any need of authority for disorder has been removed. There is no longer rebellion but complete, willing submission to God's perfect will. This does not in any way diminish the power of the Son, rather, it shows the removal of the need to govern creation by exercising authority.
Once we understand foreknowledge, we have a basis for understanding fore-ordination. So we can see that God foreknew all things, planned for all things, and the world was established by a loving God for the purpose of glorifying His name. This is a principle key to understanding the plan of God. Look at Revelation 4:
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
So, as we examine this question, keep this in mind. All things were created for God's pleasure and to reveal His power and honor. Let's now take a moment to do a little speculation. We know the scriptures and we can put them together to grow in our understanding on this topic. Speculation is not a certainty, but it can serve as a tool. When a man decides to start a business, what does he do? A successful business usually begins with a successful business plan. A project begins with analyzing all the facts and coming up with the plan that will be the most effective based on what we can foresee. It would be unwise to invest large quantities of money and resources into a blind gamble with no planning. A business man will look at every possible scenario within his scope of understanding and will plan accordingly.
The Bible says that God sees the end from the beginning and knows all things. His infinite knowledge is built into creation. Is it unreasonable to assume that God examined His work to determine the perfect plan of salvation? God could have chosen any number of options as He planned redemption and creation, but He chose the cross. Ultimately, the work of creation must declare the glory of the Lord, not the will of man. We can speculate that as God followed each course of action, He determined which plan would be the most effective in redeeming mankind while revealing His love, power, and glory.
This is why God can foreknow and foreordain the elect to salvation, without creating someone for the sole purpose of tormenting them in hell. Salvation truly belongs to all who will receive it, but God foreknew that many would not receive it. This is why, I believe, John can say that Jesus died as a propitiation (someone who dies in the place of another) not only for our sins (the elect), but also for the sins of the whole world. A world that will not receive it, yet it is still offered. The Bible is filled with God's declaration of His love for His creation – including the world who refused to receive Him. He loved the world so much that He gave the cross to redeem as many as would receive Him.
God's glory is not nullified by a rejecting world, rather it is exalted. Some would die for their friends, but how great a love to bear the sins of those Jesus foreknew would reject Him.
Understanding these things eliminates the boxes of division and reveals the magnificent glory of God.
PS. A special thanks to a friend named Ray who originated the business analogy which helped find the words to illustrate this conclusion.
Eddie Snipes
Exchanged Life Outreach
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