Predestination
Predestination is a concept which many people tend to misinterpret. Predestination is a true Baptist belief, but the predestination that most people talk about is different than what we believe [see Limited Atonement]. If we read the Bible carefully and study it we will come to the conclusion that predestination does not concern whether someone will be saved or not but rather the lives of those who choose to be saved
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. 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. (Romans 8:28-30)
It is obvious that God, who can see all time at once, knew who would receive His Son and who would not. That does not mean that He chose who would and who would not.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)
God said "whosoever." That means it is our choice. God left the choice up to us. How dumb would it be for Jesus Christ to die upon the cross if only the "elect" could go to Heaven. I can just see Jesus on the cross saying "I am dying for you, and you, and you, but not you, or you, or you." Jesus Christ died for everyone.
But what is this "predestination" that Paul is talking about in Romans 8? Let's look at the verses again:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. 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. (Romans 8:28-30)
God predestinated those that He foreknew to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. God knew before the creation of the world who would choose to be saved and who would choose not to. Those He knew who would trust Christ, He conformed their lives and circumstances so that He might be able to get the very most out of their lives for His purpose (remember verse 28?). God predestinated those whom He knew were going to get saved to be a part of His purpose (He called those whom he predestinated in verse 30). God, who can see all time at once, knows our choice of eternity; If we were to choose Christ, He would alter our lives and the lives of those around us so that we might have the best circumstances to choose Him. But, it a person is not interested in the things of God, God will not predestinate his life for the best circumstances of salvation. That does not mean he cannot be saved, he will only have less opportunities. All men are born with the knowledge of God, it is up to us to trust in him.
Let's look at one more passage:
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 1:4-12)
If you read just verse 4 and 5 it would seem that God did predestinate those to be saved, but we must read the entire sentence. Read to the second period and you will find at the end these words: Who first trusted in Christ. God only predestinated those who CHOSE to be his children. We must be saved in order to take part in predestination. We cannot just read a couple of verses and stop reading, we must read the entire section so as not to misconstrue the writer's words.
We must remember that God is not limited by time. God created time to limit us. God can see throughout all of time, therefore he can foreknow who would trust Christ and who would not, BUT this does not mean that He chose who would; this CONTRADICTS ALL SCRIPTURES. If God looks forward into your life and sees that you will choose His Son then He will predestinate your life for His purpose. God alters the life, of those that He knows will have the desire of Christ, to best fit God's purpose for him. This is the true form of predestination. Remember: Christ died for all and not just the "elect".
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