Predestination
Doesn't the Bible indicate that God has already chosen those He will save, we just do not know who they are, because we do not have the "foreknowledge" spoken about in the Bible?
You seem to be quite familiar with the subject, so your mind may be made up. However, I will gladly take a bit of time to give you my position on predestination. The actual word is found four times in the Bible (twice as predestinate and twice as predestinated). These references are in Romans 8:29-30 [29] 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.
[30] 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.
See All...; Ephesians 1:5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
See All..., 11. I understand that other scriptures can be brought to bear on the larger topic but for the sake of space I will keep this huge topic fairly limited. Here are some biblical truths I see from these passages.
GROUNDS OF PREDESTINATION:
First, the Bible clearly states that predestination is based on the foreknowledge of God. In Romans 8:29For 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.
See All..., God predestinated those "whom he did foreknow." This matches with 1 Peter 1:2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
See All..., which begins, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father." That is, God predetermined our destination (predestinated us) on the basis on what He knew about us ahead of time (His foreknowledge). What did God foreknow about us? In His omniscience, He foreknew who would accept Him and who would reject Him. The Bible does not teach that God chose those individuals whom He would save ahead of time. No, he predestinated those whom He foreknew. That is a different thing. This brings us to the results of predestination.
RESULTS OF PREDESTINATION:
Second, the biblical results of predestination have often been misstated. According to the verses referring specifically to predestination, here are the results of predestination:
- We are predestinated to be conformed to the image of God's Son (Romans 8:29For 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.
See All...). In other words, those foreknown by God (that they would accept Christ as Saviour) have had their lives custom-made so that all things are working together (Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
See All...) for the good effect of them being made more like Jesus. Their life circumstances are prearranged in order to conform them to the image of Christ. What a wonderful blessing! - We are predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself (Ephesians 1:5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
See All...). That is, God has predestined that those who are going to accept Him will be adopted into the family of God by Christ Himself. Adoption, though concurrent with salvation, is not a cause of salvation (like justification or propitiation). Rather, it is one of the blessings of being saved. Again, the individual is not predestined to trust in Jesus Christ, but to receive the blessings of salvation. - We are predestinated to receive the inheritance of the believer (Ephesians 1:11In 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:
See All...). In the eyes of God and in accordance with the knowledge He has beforehand (foreknowledge), we have already obtained the inheritance (just as in His eyes we have already been glorified - Romans 8:29-30 [29] 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. [30] 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.
See All...). However, this does not translate into an irresistible call that results in an unstoppable compulsion to believe in Jesus Christ. No, predestination is based entirely on God's foreknowledge.
CONCLUSION:
The doctrine of predestination is the blessed truth that God knew us before we accepted His call. He knew that we would accept His wondrous offer of salvation and, because of this, would receive the power to become the sons of God (John 1:12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
See All...). Then because of His place outside of and above time (He inhabits eternity - Isaiah 57:15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
See All...), He pre-determined that we would have all the blessings and benefits of His great salvation. When we got saved, they were already waiting for us. This predestination goes to the extent of God planning and preparing the very circumstances of our life even before we were saved so that we would have a life especially designed to conform us to the image of Christ.
If I read your letter correctly, I assume that you will disagree with this. Certainly, God has given you the ability to do this. However, I will not get into involved arguments. You asked what I believed and I have told you. I hope it is a help to you. I am also glad that we agree that we need to take the message of salvation to a lost and dying world.