Predestination

Are some souls destined for heaven and others for hell? That is a question that has puzzled biblical scholars and theologians for centuries. Here are some quotes from Scripture that deal with the issue:

"As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed." Acts 13:48

"Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love; having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved." Eph 1:4-6

"We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen, and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance." 1 Thess 1:4-5

"God... who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal." 2 Tim 1:9

"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia." 1 Peter 1:1

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9

"Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present." Rev 17:8

"All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. Rev 13:8

"Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones’ sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." 2 Tim 2:10

In the following quote Paul tackles the matter head on:

"For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Rom 8: 29-30.

What is Paul saying? First, we have to define some words. 

Predestination = God's destiny for his people is their salvation. Predestination signifies that he determined our destiny before he created the world.

Foreknow = to know in advance; God, since he is all-knowing, knew us before he created us. God exists outside time and space so He can see past, present and future all at once.

Conform to his Son's image = to be Christ-like

Foreordain = to officially set aside in advance; God chose certain souls (the elect) before the world began to be saved by opening their hearts.

Justify = to forgive one's sins and guilt; to make righteous

Glorify = to grant entrance into heaven

Grace = spiritual assistance from God; in this case, to open our hearts to be receptive to his message

So what is Paul saying? God chose in advance those whom he would help to achieve salvation (and those he would leave to their own devices). Christ is our role model and the saved will become Christ-like. God called them and they responded; he justified them by forgiving their sins; and glorified them by bringing them into heaven.

Does this mean that God's plan deliberately condemns certain souls to hell?  No. God does not wish that any soul perish, so he offers salvation to everyone. 

"The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

Yet before time began, God chose to give more grace to certain souls to help them achieve salvation. The parable of the talents (Matt: 25: 14-30) may help us understand this situation better. The master gave 5 talents to one of his servants and one talent to another. The one who received 5 talents multiplied his talents a hundred fold; the servant who received one talent hid it rather than investing it, thus adding no value to it. We all have the opportunity to increase our value, or in this case, attain salvation. Granted we can make more gains if we have more grace (5 talents), but even those with less grace (1 talent) can achieve success, but they will have to work harder to achieve it. 

"A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul." Acts 16:14

So the big question is: Why did God give more grace to Lydia? Obviously so she could understand his message better. Therefore, we must conclude that God shows preferential treatment to some to ensure the success of his plan of salvation. But what about the people who do not receive an abundance of God's grace? That brings us to perhaps the most difficult teaching in the Bible: 

Reprobation

According to several readings in the Bible, we may conclude that God has eternally predestined certain souls, on account of their foreseen sins, to hell. Although God wants all souls to be saved, he does not wish to save those who reject his message of salvation.

"For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 4

"For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires." Rom 9: 17-18

"What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened." Rom 11:7

"For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed." 1 Peter 2:8

So are we like pieces on a chess board that God moves in certain directions to accomplish his will? Or do we have a say in the matter? Perhaps the answer to both questions is "yes." God nudges us in certain directions, but we can always accept the move or reject it. Peter in 2:8 says that some of the Jews were "destined" to reject Christ. but didn't those who ignored Christ have the option to accept him? I humbly proffer that the answer must be "yes" because we have free will. We are not doomed to destruction. 

Fate signifies that we must act a certain way. Destiny indicates a final outcome that is possible, but requires effort to attain it. We were fated to be born in a certain family, in a certain city. We had no say in the matter. Yet we use the expression, "He was "destined" to be a doctor (priest, lawyer, etc.), but failed to become one because, for example, he did not study hard enough. We are not fated to become a doctor, but we are destined to fail if we don't make the effort. The dictionary defines "fate" and "destiny" in a similar fashion. Yet in literature, their meanings are quite different. "Fate" is imposed on us; "destiny" involves our consent. 

So perhaps the understanding of reprobation relies on semantics. Some will see God as the Almighty condemning certain souls to hell - that is their fate. Others will see God as our Heavenly Father who in his love for his creatures sometimes works his will in ways that can lead some to their destruction. But we have a choice. We can choose our destiny. We can either accept the grace he offers and gain our salvation, or harden our hearts and reject him, thus condemning ourselves. Even Egypt's Pharaoh agreed to let the Israelites go. Perhaps that act could have saved his soul. But he had a change of heart and decided to pursue them through the Red Sea, leading to the destruction of his army and his soul. 

Ultimately, the reader will have to ponder this mystery - even paradox - of a God who in his mercy wants to save everyone, but in his justice must sacrifice some souls to achieve that goal. We must accept that God sometimes places some people in situations where the chances of losing their soul are almost certain. Yet all is not lost. God still offers his love and mercy even to the reprobate who is dangling over the precipice of hell. All he has to do is reach for God's hand to pull him to safety. 

Let us as Christians be grateful to God for counting us among his elect, but let us also continue to pray for our fallen brothers and sisters whose destiny we hope can still be changed. Amen.

God Bless!