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Does the Bible teach predestination?


Introduction. The simple answer is yes. Our English word predestinate is from the Greek proonzo. "Pro, beforehand, "W.E. Vine comments, "and honzo, denotes to mark out beforehand..., foreordain...." Indeed, predestination is a Biblical subject: "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son..." (Rom. 8: 29).

Predestination as taught by man. Calvinism teaches that man is so depraved that he cannot accept without a special, irresistible working of the Holy Spirit, independent of man's will. Man often teaches that God decided who would be saved and who would be lost before creation and that this decree was arbitrary on God's part (not involving man).

Predestination as taught in the Bible. The scriptures teach the foreknowledge of God. God is able to "declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things are not yet done..." (Isa. 46: 10). Since God's scheme of redemption was planned from the original creation, it is obvious that God knew Adam and Eve would sin, etc. (1 Pet. 1: 20, Eph. 1: 4,5, cf. Matt. 25: 34, Rev. 13: 8, 17: 8). Even though God knew Adam and Eve would sin, he did not force or program them to sin. As free moral agents, they elected to sin (Gen. 3). Man's will is involved in his salvation, not God's irresistible coercion (John 3: 16, Matt. II: 28-30). Nonetheless, God knew some would accept before they accepted (Acts 18: 9-11). Hence, some were "ordained to eternal life" because God knew they would obey the gospel when they heard it (Acts 13: 48).

Biblical predestination is proof of God's omniscience. The fact that God knew that only a few would accept his Son is also indicative of God's love in sending his Son.
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