Predestined and Election Doctrine: (A Refreshing Understanding)
If you’ve been following my posts, you’ll know that I first read the Bible in 2019 from cover to cover and have been studying it since then (for 4 years now). I continue learning from scripture, I’m not an expert, and what I learned was from reading scripture first, then seeking other’s explanations of aspects that weren’t immediately clear to me. I am seeking truth. I stopped trusting “religious” doctrines and churches after I read the bible and discovered contradictions to what I learned. I wanted to know: what does the Bible tell us?
It was just this past year in a Bible Study when this subject came up: Predestination and Election. When I heard the explanation, my initial reaction was: this doesn’t sound right or seem to reflect the God whom I came to know through scripture! The explanation was based on Calvinism, which states:
The principle, in Calvin’s words, is that “All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation; and, accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestinated to life or to death.”
John Calvin
The reaction from the Bible Study group was: this is in the bible, you can’t force what’s in the bible to conform to your beliefs! I agree with that statement, but wondered, Why did I not comprehend this while reading scripture? So I went back to read what Paul wrote and see that scripture says what it does. But still, it didn’t seem consistent with what I learned about God’s character. A member of the group shared a paper with me supporting this theory with scripture, but of course, I had to do my own research.
So I researched this topic and found (thankfully) there are various viewpoints regarding this subject, not solely the explanation I heard. This subject is one of those debated doctrines, which made me realize, people clearly don’t understand it, if this remains debated after hundreds of years. Most people initially have a negative reaction to it, but then they say God is sovereign and we don’t understand everything. Some will question, then why share the gospel, if God has predestined? The response is often: because the Bible told us to! All valid points, but to me, this is a horrible doctrine, contradicts scripture and does not the character of the God I’ve read about: God is love (1 John 4:8), He is patient, wants everyone to come to repentance and live in His future Kingdom. (2 Peter 3:9) God does not show favoritism. (Romans 2:11) God is just (2 Thessalonians1:6) and God is merciful. (Deuteronomy 4 and Daniel 9) None of these attributes align with John Calvin’s doctrine in my opinion, so there must be a viewpoint that doesn’t contradict God’s character. Additionally, this theory was arrived from reading Paul’s letters, but I know that scripture often has multiple “witnesses” attesting to truth. Clarification is found in scripture.
I also realized that many PhDs arrive at this theory because that is what they were taught in the seminary. But the fact is there are different beliefs, however, it seems the most often taught one appears to be based on the doctrine of John Calvin. The fact that there is debate on this topic is good because it shows people are using critical thinking, questioning the understanding of a doctrine that is more of a theory or interpretation rather than absolute truth. Humans are fallible; we don’t get everything right and it takes humility to accept this. It’s very likely that what I understand today (especially end times scripture) may change based on new information or revelation found in scripture later. In fact, people were so set in their preconceived ideas of who the Messiah would be that many missed that Jesus/Yeshua was/is the Messiah! I have a feeling that what we believe about end times events will also be that way; if it doesn’t happen the way our thoughts think it might, we’ll see it clearly in hindsight.
Getting back to other opinions on this topic, this is what I found in scripture after researching the topic:
Clarification of Predestined and Election (My notes based on scripture):
Foreknow/Foreknew: defined: be aware of (an event) before it happens.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 9:29 God foreknew ALL/EVERYONE– therefore God predestined ALL OF US TO CONFORM TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON- but not all mankind ACCEPTS this conformation!
And Jesus said: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:32
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Romans 8:30 – God does the work after someone accepts His calling, sanctification is by God, not us.
He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— Ephesians 1:5 God is adopting us (all who accept Jesus as Messiah)
In him (Jesus) we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:11– God’s will is for ALL to accept. First it was offered to the Jews, but then it was offered to the Gentiles- yes, God first chose the Jews, his chosen ones, but then expanded it to ALL. Again God does the work to conform people who accept Him – through the work of the Holy Spirit.
PREDESTINED
Predestined: God uses certain people for special purposes, not everyone is used for special purposes, some are for common purposes- “predestined” isn’t about salvation:
Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? Romans 9:21
For God does not show favoritism. Romans 2:11 – Opinion: to predestine one for salvation and one for destruction is contrary to what is stated here, we need to understand scripture. Scripture interprets scripture but does not contradict, if it contradicts, it is something we haven’t comprehended yet.
Special purpose: we see this stated in Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Special purpose: The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” Genesis 25:23
Special purpose: You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” Judges 13:5
Special purpose: (John the Baptist) Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. Luke 1:36
Special purpose: But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. Acts 9:15
Special purpose: “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you (referring to Paul/Saul) to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. Acts 22:14
Special purpose: Ezekiel: And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” Ezekiel 3:1 (Ezekiel’s vision’s purpose was to speak to ISRAEL)
Special purpose: John: I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” Rev 10:10-11 (John’s vision’s purpose was for Gentiles or many peoples, nations, etc)
Contrary to special purposes, God also uses people to accomplish His will. They have free will but He uses their free will and evil choices to accomplish His sovereign will. What is God’s will?
“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:40 (notice Jesus doesn’t say “for the predestined”- he says for “everyone”!)
“Hardened Heart” – search “hardened” in an electronic bible, and you will see that there are times when God hardens someone’s heart, but notice this is AFTER the person has repeatedly “hardened their own heart”- as I understand, we have multiple opportunities, but at some point God may say “enough” and then harden a person’s heart.
How is a heart “hardened” what does that mean? We find this in scripture:
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13 –It is the deceitfulness of sin that causes a person’s heart to be hardened.
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. Romans 1:28 (This appears to be consistent with other scripture, God give opportunities for repentance, reconciliation, belief but some people reject this and sometimes God turns them over to their sin- this is God’s decision, we don’t know when or if our “time is up” either while living or when our death occurs.)
ELECT- salvation isn’t imminent!
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 1Peter 1:1
An additional resource and explanation is found in this video by Dr. Doug Hamp:
Commonwealth of Israel Theology Summary by Dr. Doug Hamp is referenced in his video above and helpful in comprehending scripture about “the elect” which describes Israel and those grafted into Israel after becoming “born again”- born in the spirit as Jesus told Nicodemus in John Chapter 3; once this is “revealed” in scripture, it is clear regarding “the elect.”
This is important because understanding this truly gives us “hope” for all mankind having the opportunity to be in God’s kingdom because of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Comprehending this reflects the loving, merciful and just God we find throughout scripture. God also said: if you seek Him; He will be found. (Scriptural References).
S.A.I.L. 