Predestination?

Question

Do you believe that God chooses ahead of time whether you go to Heaven or Hell, or do you believe that that's up to us?
I don't believe in predestination because I believe God gives us freedom to choose whether or not to accept him.
What do you think?

Answer 1

The bible says this Romans 8:29-30:"Whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

So if this is the case then the definition of predestination given in the dictionary is different then the meaning given here in scripture. It is clear from this passage that foreknowlege and predestined are not the same thing. Paul says God knew us first, then he predestined us for something. This tends to conflict with the idea that predestination means that God already knows what our ultimate decision will be.

Also you find the predestination and calling are not the same thing either.Once God knew us, and assigned us this destiny, He then began to work with us, opening our minds a little at a time, showing us things in the Bible we hadn't seen before, and causing us to ask questions we had never asked before.

There is also this We know the verse that says, "Many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). This strongly implies that we have the freedom of choice. If we dont choose that Way of life, God won't choose us to be in the resurrection.


Another point is even if God knows everything we do, that doesn't imply that we do not make the decision. For instance you know the sun will come up tommorow, however you did not force it to do so, it did on its own. This is similar to how it might be for God.

Answer 2

You're looking at this way wrong, the verses that mention predestination show God choosing his elect among an entire human race of people that have a sin nature and are guilty before the Lord. He would be completely righteous in condemning us all to hell. Therefore "freedom to choose" is nothing to be proud of since the only choice we would be able to make would result in our own damnation. No one seeks out God, and there is no way that it can or should be up to us in our sin nature. God must do the work, changing our hearts. Salvation is completely of the LORD, not perceived human ability.

Answer 3

If the doctrine of predestination were true, then there would be no free choice, no free will and no true praise. God might as well have made a tape recording of voices praising him.

But God wants us to worship him in TRUTH! That is, from a true heart, not an empty recording of empty praise.

God created the sun, moon and stars. They obey his commands exactly, without question, without deviation. They show forth his great glory, but they do not praise him for it.

God does, however, predetermine who he will call and when, but not how they will respond.

Answer 4

"To suppose that whatever God requireth of us that we have power of ourselves to do, is to make the cross and grace of Jesus Christ of none effect."

We have free choice, but our freedom will end in our demise. God doesn't choose who goes to hell, from our birth we are going to hell. God rescues us from hell for his own purpose. One way or another a form of predestination has to be believed. Either God looked down time and saw who was going to choose him and predestined us or he decided to choose us w/o looking into time and we chose him because he first choose us.

Answer 5

The word "predestinated" is a pretty squishy way of translating the Greek word which would better be translated with the idea of God seeing beforhand.

Answer 6

We choose our own paths, "God" has nothing to do with it.

Heaven and Hell are made up so, no one goes there.

But if you feel your life is bad, it's never too late to start turning it around. Do it for yourself, not for some imaginary being in the sky

Answer 7

Everyone has freedom, still you always know how some will react in certain circumstances.

Answer 8

We have been given free will, and that's why we can love. If He had already made our choices for us, that's not free will. In this case, we wouldn't be capable of love.