The Adventist Way of Life

So many Christians who are being mislead regarding the term “predestination” teach “false doctrines”. It saddens me so very much that I am led to speak out on this very issue with deep passion for the lost souls who are looking for honest answers.

First off, one of the mistakes that the Jewish people as a whole made was the fact that they thought that because they were a chosen nation, chosen of God, they could never be lost or rejected by God. They were wrong, so very wrong!

Today some Christians make this same mistake. The apostle Paul warns Christians that they should not make this same mistake. [see Romans 11:11-24] Let us look at the term “predestination” as it is properly used in Scripture.

Romans 8:29-30 reads: “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. 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.”

Paul was not referring to particular individuals or a select number whom God willed to be eternally saved as the Calvinists teach, nor was he speaking of particular persons whom God foresaw would respond to the gospel as the Arminians teach. Paul was simply teaching that God knew long before the gospel was proclaimed to the nations of the world, that he was going to have a group of people (the Elect or the Church), who would be conformed to the image of his Son, that is he would have a people who were Christ-like in character.

We need to understand that “Pre” simply means an earlier or prior time. Let us look at Ephesians 1:9-14. I will insert contextual notes so you can see what Paul is saying. Remember, context controls the meaning of any passage:

“9)- Having made clear to us [the Jews, the Jewish people] the secret of his purpose, in agreement with the design which he had in mind, to put into his hands 10)- The ordering of the times when they are complete, so that all things might come to a head in Christ, the things in heaven and the things on the earth; in him, I say, 11)- In whom we have a heritage, being marked out [pre-chosen; pre-destined] from the first in his purpose who does all things in agreement with his designs; 12)- So that his glory might have praise through us who first had hope in Christ: [Jewish people]  13)- In whom you also, [Gentiles; non-Jews] having been given the true word, the good news of your salvation, and through your faith in him, were given the sign of the Holy Spirit of hope, 14)- Which is the first-fruit of our heritage, till God gets back that which is his, to the praise of his glory.”

Here we see that the apostle Paul is not refereing to pre-chosen individuals but a pre-chosen race of people through whom the plan of redemption would be known, even to the Gentiles [the rest of the world]. Biblically the term ”predestiniation” is primarily associated with the call of the Jews and Gentiles to join together, “to make in himself of twain one new man (the Church), so making peace,” between these two estranged people. [Eph 2:15]

 To correctly understand the term predestination we must appreciate the historical context in which Paul wrote his epistles and also God’s original purpose in Creation. The Bible teaches that God takes pleasure in the death of no person! [Ezekiel 18:32] Every person who has ever been born is in need of salvation. Nobody is more “special” than his brother or sister. Some believe that they have to earn their salvation while others teach that they are “special” and that it is all given to them on a “silver platter”. So they live like the rest of the world and say things like; “Ha, ha! I am saved because God prechose little o’l me and not you!” Well, these are the two extremes that the Bible warns against.

The Bible decalares that God is not a “respector of people”. Acts 10:34 & 35 reads; “Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” We also read that;

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering  toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. [2 Peter 3:9]

I have read so many long thick books by Christians trying to justify that God chose them because they and their sect are more “special” and nobody else has a chance. Look! The Bible is simple! God wants to save people, all who come to Him! It’s really that simple folks. It should be plain that it is at least God’s desire that none should perish. Psalm 74:12 says that God is “working salvation in the midst of the earth.” II Timothy 2:4 likewise says that our Saviour “desires [will[s] (KJV); wishes (Amplified)] all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

God does not abuse His sovereignty. He has given man a choice. Will you not choose Him this day and be saved?

Written by, Eric W. King [May 25,2007]

For another article regarding the same topic please click the following link:

Did God create some children to burn in hell?

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