PREDESTINATION - LESSON 12

The subject of predestination is one that has confused many people through the years concerning the plan of salvation. Calvinists (many Baptists, Presbyterians and Reformed Protestant Churches) teach that, “God hath decreed all things whatsoever come to pass.”

With respect to salvation the doctrine declares: “God, before the foundation of the world, chose certain individuals from among the fallen members of Adam’s race to be the object of His undeserved favor. These and these only He purposed to save. God could have chosen to save all men, or He could have chosen to save none– –but He did neither. Instead He chose to save some and exclude others. His eternal choice of particular sinners unto salvation was not based upon any foreseen act or response on the part of those selected, but was based solely on His own good pleasure and sovereign will. Thus, election was not determined by, or conditioned upon, anything that men would do, but resulted entirely from God’s self-determined purpose” (The Five Points of Calvinism by Steele and Thomas, p. 30).

However, the Word of God presents a very different picture of predestination and election. God chose Christ as the Savior and purposed that all who would believe in Him should be saved (Ephesians 1:3-14). It is the desire of God that all be saved (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9), but only those that believe on Christ will be saved (Mark 16:15–16).

1 TIMOTHY 2:3-6

3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man[a] Christ Jesus,6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

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COMMENTARY

We begin the route with an affirmation of the very thing that “Calvinistic” predestination denies, namely, that God wants ALL men to be saved and that He has provided a sacrifice sufficient in Jesus’ death to accomplish that salvation.

1/12

2 PETER 3:9-11

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

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COMMENTARY

God does not want any man to be lost––destroyed in the judgment–– therefore, He is longsuffering with mankind giving EVERYONE an opportunity to come to repentance.

2/12

TITUS 2:11-14

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

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COMMENTARY

God’s grace which brings salvation is extended to ALL MEN, not just those particular individuals whom God chose before the foundation of the world.

3/12

EZEKIEL 33:11

11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

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COMMENTARY

How could the prophet make such a statement as this if only those whom God has chosen before the foundation of the world are to be saved? The prophet calls to the wicked and says, “Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?” [It will not do to say, “This passage is about Jews and all the Jews will be saved.” All the Jews will not be saved (Romans 10:1-3; 11:1-8).]

4/12

HEBREWS 2:9

9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

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COMMENTARY

Jesus died so that every man could have the forgiveness of sins. Where is justice and mercy if the efficacy in Jesus’ death is denied to those for whom it was offered?

5/12

1 JOHN 2:1-4

2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

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COMMENTARY

The death of Jesus is not only for those that are saved presently, but also for those that are yet in their sins. This text clearly shows that God does not choose some and reject others arbitrarily, but on the condition of obedient faith.

6/12

REVELATION 22:17

17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

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COMMENTARY

The invitation of the Gospel is universal. There are none that are not invited, and all that are invited may drink the water of life. Whether or not one is saved is not determined by God’s particular and individual choice, but rather by the will of him who is called.

7/12

MATTHEW 11:28–30

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

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COMMENTARY

Whether or not we are saved, depends upon our “coming” and “taking” the Christ’s yoke. There is a universal call to salvation, but a conditional reception of it.

8/12

1 PETER 1:18-20

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

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COMMENTARY

[Having affirmed that God wants all men to be saved, that He has made provision for all men to be saved and that He has invited all men to be saved, we want to take up the passages that affirm God did predestine, that is, choose and determine certain things from before the foundation of the world.] The only individual that God chose from before the foundation of the world in connection with salvation is Jesus Christ. God chose Him to be the Saviour. However, even God’s choice of Jesus did not violate His free will. Jesus volunteered (Philippians 2:1-11).

9/12

REVELATION 13:8

8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

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COMMENTARY

It was determined before the world that Jesus should die for our sins. This was one element of God’s plan.

10/12

EPHESIANS 1:4-13

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

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COMMENTARY

The emphasis of this context is not on individuals who will be saved but upon Christ through whom redemption is made possible. Notice that it is “us” in Christ (vv. 3,10,12), in Him (vv. 4,10), by Jesus Christ (v. 5), in the beloved (v. 6), in whom (vv. 7,11,13), through His blood (v.7). Christ is the individual predestined as the Saviour, all spiritual blessings are what the Father predestined to bestow, in Christ is the relationship where He predestined they would be given and to all who believe is the condition upon which He predestined to give these blessings that are in Christ.

11/12

ROMANS 8:28-30

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

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COMMENTARY

This passage begins with God’s purpose and plan. We have already learned that this plan involved the choice of the Saviour and the placing of all blessings in Him for those who believe. Now, those whom God foreknew and predestinated are those who would conform to His plan. These are they that are called (2 Thessalonians 2:14) and justified (Romans 3:23-26). These and these alone have the hope of eternal glory (Romans 2:6-11).

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Completed!

CLICK TO BEGIN LESSON 13 - THE SALVATION OF A GOOD MORAL MAN

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