I am having trouble understanding two theological beliefs. Can Christians answer what they believe.?

Question

The first is once saved always saved. If God is loving and I choose to disregard Him then He will not allow me to turn from Him. The other is pre-destination, my view is that God already knows who will be saved, so it comes as know surprise to Him. But some people say that if you are chosen(pre-destined), then you will be saved no matter what you do.What about freewill? I feel Jesus died for all as long as they accept Him, not just a select few.

Answer 1

"Once saved, always saved" is a Protestant theological error, as is their definition of predestination. Free will is always in effect. We have the free will choice to accept God's calling, and after, we still have free will to continue in it or not. God doesn't FORCE anyone to do anything. Out of love, he will do all he can to persuade a person to continue in their calling towards eternal life, but he will not force them; nor will he save someone who will turn back to living a life of sin.

God has predestined some people to be called at various times, but not to salvation. God does NOT know who will accept his calling or who will "finish the race." Otherwise there would be no purpose to the judgment.

Answer 2

Time and again Paul likens the Christian’s course to a “race” that must be run to the finish. “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” he urged the Hebrews. (12:1, AV) To enter the race, sinners must take the steps necessary for salvation: hearing and accepting the Word of God, believing in Jesus Christ and his ransom sacrifice, repenting of their sins and being baptized. In this way, they get saved “from this crooked generation,” as Peter exhorted those gathered at Pentecost. Unbelievers are outside the race, having failed to enter by getting “saved.”Acts 2:37-40.

Once entered in the race by being “saved,” a Christian takes “hold of the life which is life indeed.” But is it possible to lose that grip on life? Paul answers with this question: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize?” In the Christian race, Paul indicates the “one” who receives the prize is anyone who finishes the race. Therefore, Paul urges, “So run that you may obtain it.” Then, using himself as an example to make the point of his illustration, he continues: “I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” 1 Tim. 6:19.

Evidently the apostle, who surely was a “saved” Christian, believed that even he could be “disqualified” from the race. Yet as long as he continued to ‘run that he might obtain’ the prize, thus remaining in the race, salvation was assured. This is why Christians who remain in the race can be said to ‘have everlasting life.’ But if they should ever quit the race, they are “disqualified,” losing their hold on everlasting life.

Why is the doctrine of predestination unreasonable?

If God foreknew and decreed Adam’s fall into sin, then Jehovah became the author of sin when he made man and he would be responsible for all human wickedness and suffering. This cannot be reconciled with the fact that Jehovah is a God of love who hates wickedness.

To Protestant reformer John Calvin, God must have seemed that way. Calvin claimed that God has an “eternal and unchangeable plan” regarding each individual, preordaining for each one whether he will live forever in happiness or be tormented eternally in hellfire. Imagine: If this were true, nothing you could ever do, no matter how hard you tried, would change God’s long-standing, rigid plan about you and your future. Would you be drawn to such an unreasonable God?

Answer 3

Once saved, always saved - yes.
God knows the future - yes.
("The other is pre-destination, my view is that God already knows who will be saved, so it comes as know surprise to Him." - you are correct)
Predestination meaning you are saved no matter what - no.
Jesus did die for everyone and they were given the freewill to choose whether or not to accept his gift of salvation.

Answer 4

The fore-knowledge of God (that He knows all things before they happen) is sometimes misinterpreted as predestination (that all things must be done as God has known they would be with no opportunity for change). The basic idea is that if God already knows and does not intervene then He must be forcing things to happen by not changing them. When you consider that we have free will to decide our fate for ourselves, you can begin to understand that His knowledge without intervention is not actually force. He simply knew what our choices would be before we made them and is letting our choices play out.
Once saved always saved infers that if you do anything to lose your salvation you were never saved from the start. It is difficult for me to justify this with all the exhortations to run the good race and make sure my salvation is secure. We are taught that there is a reward for diligence that would be nullified if this doctrine were true.
For what it is worth, I believe God's foreknowledge in no way predestined us. And I believe it is possible for us to throw away our salvation: ie, salvation in Christ is perfect and our continued free will can be used to deny it.

Answer 5

Boy, this is a complicated question!

As for the first one, it's like this: Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God won't take it back. It doesn't matter what we do, as long as we were sincere, we're saved. This, of course, doesn't give us the right to keep sinning. It simply means that if a person is a Christian, and they sin in the final moments before they die and aren't able to repent, they'll still go to heaven.

As far as predestination goes, that's a VERY hot debate. I think all it means is that God knows who will be saved, and who won't be. Of course salvation is there for anyone who asks for it! But God already knows who will accept it, and who won't.

Answer 6

as with anything under the sun, it must be cared for. faith is a gift, a very precious one. A flower will die without three things: water sun and soil. (Soil is made up of 1/4 bullcrap)

As for God predestining someone, I guess I believe that, although I've also believed that anyone can fall into a pit. It takes time and trouble to develop a relationship, any relationship, including a religious one.

God knows everything. It is useless to try and understand His mind. Does a butterfly understand a benevolent encounter with a human?

Answer 7

One can not lose his salvation but he can lose the joy of it.David said restore unto me Lord the joy of my salvation. Jesus came to save all mankind,some still will reject him.God knows everything before a man or woman was formed in their mothers womb,just because one is called that does not mean they will stick with it,you do have a choice,you know.God gives everyone time and opportunity. Some people die before their time,but God does what ever he wants to with his. No, you will not go to heaven no matter what you do sin is sin. If that was the case then why did Jesus make a sacrifice? Free will comes in when one except the word of God and except Jesus as savior,and confess that he is Lord of their life.Nothing is a surprise to God he knows us,he knows are attitude,he knows our thoughts,are weakness,he knows how to comfort us,how to love us,what makes us angry or sad,all that we need,all that we desire,he knows us.If one choose to disregard God you leave a choice,you do not need him ,so it is you that sends yourself to hell. Obedience is mandated by God to save you from that point of hell death and the grave. If you do not love anyone back,when they show so much love for you will do you expect it to last long I mean the relationship. Gods spirit will not last in a rebellious body,God does not condone sin. Light can not stand long with darkness. If not feed with a source of energy,the light will go out. Satan is angry and he goes like a lion seeking whom he can devour and he wants to eat you and me.God protects us from that but only if you except him. Sure there will be times you feel differently about God when storms come, that is telling you that the battle is in effect because Satan wants to cut you down and God is fighting for you,hang in there !!!!!

Answer 8

The 2 beliefs you mention are false. A person can accept Christ and then fall from grace by disobeying Christ's teachings without repentance.

There is no such thing as predestination, although some people accepted assignments. The foreknowledge of God doesn't violate freewill.

There are some blessings from what Jesus did that apply to all regardless of what they do. He basically overcame the effects to mankind of the fall of Adam. For example, all will be resurrected.

There are other blessings that can only be obtained by faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to his teachings.

Answer 9

.Bad God is an anti--theist--he has a personal issue with God and takes it out on everyone.

Here is your answer. Romans 8:38-39 the writer is persuaded that neither life nor death--nor things below, nor things above, nor angels nor demons nor things that were or that will be nor any living creature will be able to separate you from the love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Predestination must come from fore--knowledge.
Without foreknowledge there can be no logical predestination. Whom God forknew He predestined.
God knows the endings from the beginnings. He knows how you would choose to use your freewill choices. God did not design your choices, but knew how you would design your own choices. When you would choose for or against HIm. "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." Just as the cross is once and for all---so is your salvation. You do not become saved based on who or what you are---or what you do or do not accomplish. You are saved based on Who and What Jesus is and on what He has accomplished on your behalf.
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Answer 10

Salvation is a gift.If God would think that your heart would not return to Him He never would of allowed you to have that gift.He will never take it away because than it would not be a gift.Jesus said I have not lost one.That statement Jesus made lasts forever.I have studied this same question for years only until deep prayer with Jesus did I understand what our choice is.We can obey the Holy Spirit and glide through this learning experience called life or as my grandmother told my father almost 100years ago.If you dont listen you have to suffer.I learned by experience also.It is much better to listen and obey than to learn by suffering,AMEN