What is meant by the term "predestination"?

Question

Are we predestined based on God's fore-knowledge of our choice to accept or reject Christ, or are we predestined based on something else? Back up your answer with scripture(s) from the Bible.

Answer 1

In order to understand predestination, we absolutely must let go of our own pride in being able to choose God. And it's a very difficult thing for some people to do. Perhaps they don't want to think that they are so sinful that they do not under any circumstances merit heaven on their own. But it's only when you look at man as being absolutely destitute before the Lord that you can start to see how awesome and wonderful the Lord is. All the way wonderful, not just part way with some glory given to us. And now I can answer your question.

In our clouded, blind, depraved state, there is no way that we would ever have the ability to choose God. No one seeks him, Romans 3:11. Salvation must then come from an external source, not an internal one. Since we don't do the choosing, the only answer left is that God must do the choosing for us. And, if he can do the choosing, the choice can be made at any time, and the Bible tells us when this has been done in Ephesians 1:4.

So, what about the unregenerate, the ones that do not seek him? Surprise surprise, if God loves the ones he has chosen, then by definition he has no love for & no relationship with the ones he has not chosen. Therefore Christ died for the chosen, John 17:9. Does it mean that God predestines the unregenerate to hell? No, that would make God the author of evil, and 2 Peter 3:9 says that the Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. So this means that the unregenerate are simply left in their sins, condemned already (John 3:18). Do the "chosen" have the right to any pride in their status as God's people? No, if not for God's intervention they would be in the same boat as the unregenerate, they have nothing to claim because it was nothing they did, no choice they made, or would have made to distinguish them from the unbeliever. It was simply God's grace that pulled them out of unbelief, the Holy Spirit's work in man's heart rather than man's action on his own heart, Ezekiel 36:26. THAT'S predestination, a supreme, saving love, salvation from eternity to eternity, comfort, not robotics.

Answer 2

The words translated “predestined” in the Scriptures referenced above are from the Greek word “proorizo,” which carries the meaning of “determine beforehand,” “ordain,” “to decide upon ahead of time.” So, predestination is God determining certain things to occur ahead of time. What did God determine ahead of time? According to Romans 8:29-30, God predetermined that certain individuals would be conformed to the likeness of His Son, be called, justified, and glorified. Essentially, God predetermines that certain individuals will be saved. Numerous Scriptures refer to believers in Christ being chosen (Matthew 24:22, 31; Mark 13:20, 27; Romans 8:33; 9:11; 11:5-7,28; Ephesians 1:11; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Timothy 5:21; 2 Timothy 2:10; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1-2; 2:9; 2 Peter 1:10). Predestination is the Biblical doctrine that God in His sovereignty chooses certain individuals to be saved.
If God is choosing who is saved, doesn’t that undermine our free will to chose and believe in Christ? The Bible says that we have the free will choice – all we have to do is believe in Jesus Christ and we will be saved (John 3:16; Romans 10:9-10). The Bible never describes God rejecting anyone who believes in Him or turning away anyone who was seeking Him (Deuteronomy 4:29). Somehow, in the mystery of God, predestination works hand in hand with a person being drawn by God (John 6:44) and believing unto salvation (Romans 1:16). God predestines who will be saved, and we must choose Christ in order to be saved. Both facts are equally true. Romans 11:33 proclaims, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!”

Answer 3

I believe that we are predestined based on God's foreknowledge (Romans 8:29). There is a reason God included the word foreknew in there!

We see in 2 Peter 3:9 as well as John 3:16 that God wants everybody to be saved, but not all will. That is because God, through His grace, gave us the ability to choose.

God commanded the Israelites to choose between life and death in Deut 30:19. We see in the New Testament how God ministers to some who resist Him (Acts 7:51, Luke 13:34). God could force us to choose him, but He wants us to want to love Him.

Answer 4

Ephesians 1:5 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. Romans 28: And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose,29: For whom he did forknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethern. 30: moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called, them he also justified, themhe also glorified. We are called of Christ because he already knew we would accept the call.

Answer 5

We Are not. Your destiny can be seen by a fortune teller purely based on your present situation which he can call your fate. What he does not see is your own will to make a detour and change your own destiny. It may be true that you have a picture of your life ahead but is just based on ephimereal researches, written in the sky among the stars because of the present condition when you were born (like a higher mathemathical calculations of the scientists who can see what will be earth situation in the next generation). Like you, the scientists are doing its best to find a way to divert an oncoming asteroid or comet that may destroy the earth and that is what is considered on the Free Will given to man. there is no need for Bible backups.

Answer 6

It means every thing happens according to God's will.He mapped out everything before He created the world.He has chosen a people unto Himself. they are the elect of God. Every preacher in the Bible taught predestination. Jesus taught election in the temple in His home town at it enraged the religious leaders so much the were going to kill Him. Read Sovereign Grace by A.W.Pink. I am at school and don't have a Bible to give scriptures but you can e-mail me.

Answer 7

Predestined means
From G4253 and G3724; to limit in advance, that is, (figuratively) predetermine: - determine before, ordain, predestinate.

Ephesians 1:4 - 5 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: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

&
Romans 8:29 - 30 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.

So where is your freewill if this God PREDESTINED you to be a certain way? You can't have the ability to make your own choices and been PREDESTINED to follow a certain path!

Face it freewill is a myth NOT supported in your bible!

WHY MUST A SATANIST BE THE ONE TO POINT THIS CRAP OUT! DON'T CHRISTIANS EVEN READ THEIR BIBLE?

Answer 8

Predestination means to be pre destined for a purpose before the time of the purpose has come.

Answer 9

I do not believe in the concept - - and neither did anyone in the Church for the first 1,500 years. John Calvin came up with the theory - and I believe he was totally wrong. I am not Roman Catholic, but my views on the matter are closer to theirs than anything:

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that Jesus Christ died for everybody and not just for some people. It calls predestination God's Plan and states that this plan also includes free will for mankind. Catechism of the Catholic Church #600 says - "To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of "predestination", he includes in it each person's free response to his grace: "In this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place." For the sake of accomplishing his plan of salvation, God permitted the acts that flowed from their blindness."

Answer 10

Has God given us the freedom to choose our future?
Does He has a plan for each of us? This last is predestination.