Predestination

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 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, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ." (Ephesians 1: 3-12 KJV)

"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. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8: 29-31 KJV)

What is the doctrine of "predestination"? The above verses affirm that Lord God predestined certain people to be saved. Other verses, as we shall see, also declare that not only PEOPLE are predestined but also EVENTS in history.

"Predestination," according to Strong is from the Greek word "proorizō" and is interpreted to mean:

"to predetermine, decide beforehandin the NT of God decreeing from eternity to foreordain, appoint beforehand."

Breaking down the word, we have “pro” = "before" and “orizo” = "to bound," or "to set a boundary." It is from "orizo" that we get our English word "horizon." The word means "to limit in advance."

"And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us." (Acts 17: 26, 27 KJV)

Though the word "predestine" ('proorizo') is not used in this passage, yet the idea is expressed. Lord God is the one who has predetermined the limits of man, his boundaries and horizons.

The word "foreknow" is from the Greek word "proginosko." It means to "know beforehand." In the above foreknew PRECEDES predestinated. Does this mean that God only predestines what he foresees? Does God foreknow what he predestines or does he predestine what he foreknows? Is one of these two terms totally dependent on the other? Must one always go before the other?

Other important questions concerning God's foreknowledge and predestination are these:

1) Are these acts (or 'decrees') of God eternal and unchangeable?

2) Is God's foreknowledge (or predestination) dependent or conditioned upon the free acts of creatures?

3) If what God foresees and predestines does NOT come to pass, then how could it be said to have been foreseen and predestined?

4) Does that which is foreknown and predestined, by Lord God, put a necessity and certainty upon the thing foreknown and predestined?

"For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before (presdestined) to be done." (Acts 4: 27, 28 KJV)

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." (Acts 2: 22-24 KJV)

When the above two passages of scripture are studied in combination with the two opening passages, they certainly throw much light on what it means for Lord God to both foreknow and to predestine.

God predestines and he predetermines events before they happen. Predestination is all the same as "determined before to be done," and as his "determinate counsel."

In the above passages in Acts the order is reversed from what was written in the Romans passage. In Romans the word "foreknow" is used first, then "predestinate," while in the Acts passage it is "predestine (determinate counsel)" and then foreknowledge. What does this show? It shows that there is no precise order to the two terms, that one decree does not necessarily depend upon the other.

The word "predestinated" is also translated by the word ordain as in this passage.

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained (predestined) before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (I Corinthians 2: 7,8 KJV)

Thus, to predestine is all the same as to predetermine, or to preordain, or to prearrange. The idea is one of determining destiny. The verses say that Lord God is the one who predetermines every man's destiny.

"Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world." (Acts 15: 18 KJV)

Although Lord God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions, yet he has not decreed anything BECAUSE He foresaw it as future. The above words of James show this to be the case. What works God foresees "from the beginning" are "all his works." This must be so too if God is the creator of all things. He certainly does not foresee things creating themselves.

"The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand...For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?" (Isaiah 14: 24, 27 KJV)

"I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it." (Isaiah 46: 11 KJV)

These verses demonstrate that when Lord God predetermines and predestines and foreknows events, they are certain to occur. When men predetermine things, they may or may not come to pass. In fact, man's predeterminations depend upon God's predeterminations, and not vice versa.

"According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3: 11 KJV)

In this verse Paul speaks of all the divine intentions in the singular, as forming one eternal purpose.

"And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!" (Luke 22: 22 KJV)

But this is not only true of Christ, but of every man. Every man has a destiny, in both time and eternity.

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (II Timothy 1: 9, 10 KJV)

Men are not saved by accident. They are saved on purpose. What takes place in time was predertmined in eternity. No wonder the prophet asked the great theological question - "Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?" (Lamentations 3: 37 KJV)

The doctrine of predestination is a bible doctrine. To understand and accept it requires divine enlightenment. It also requires deep humility. Surely Lord God is awesome and fearful in all his works!