What Is Predestination
Predestination is a concept derived from the Protestant Christian faith which holds the view that God has already decided the destiny of the individuals who make up His creation. This involves the belief that God has chosen to save certain people, and by extension, to foreordain or predestine others to go their own way. Predestination is closely related to the doctrine of election, which holds that God has predetermined which individuals will receive salvation, as well as His infinite divine plan for human history.
The Bible’s Perspective
The Bible is the primary source for understanding the concept of predestination. In Romans 8:29-30, Paul affirms that God has predestined certain people to become conformed to the image of His Son. Ephesians 1:4-5 and verses from Revelation 13:8 also support the doctrine of predestination. Paul also teaches that God has pre-chosen some to salvation, as well as electing believers to carry out special tasks and ministries in life.
What Some Christians Believe
Christians who believe in predestination regard it as being an expression of God’s sovereignty. They view it as a divinely decreed will or plan, by which God means to save some of humanity and reject others. To many, predestination implies that the individual has no choice in terms of salvation, since God’s plan is already set in motion and those chosen cannot be changed. Calvinists, who are believers in predestination, propose a view in which God has predetermined which people will be saved, and that His grace has also planned for their damnation if they do not choose to accept His free offer of salvation
What Other Christians Believe
However, other Christians reject the Calvinist interpretation of predestination, viewing it as impossible to conceive a being who would exercise such authority over the destinies of its creation. These Christians interpret predestination as working in tandem with free will, giving individuals the freedom to choose for themselves their destiny in life. In the end, each individual is held accountable for the choices he or she has made, and God only exercises His sovereign power to save those who chose to accept His gift of salvation.
Are Humans Predestined?
The Christian faith recognizes that since all humans are sinners, no one can earn their own salvation, and that it must be offered by God freely. Predestination is not a declaration that humans are predetermined to be saved or not, but is, instead, an expression of God’s power and grace and the ultimate good that He has planned for His people and His ultimate purpose in creation.
Does This Mean That People Have No Choice?
No, it does not. According to Christian beliefs, predestination does not mean that people have no real choice. The Bible tells us that salvation and redemption are available to all who accept them and choose to follow God’s will. That does not mean that everyone will automatically accept God’s grace and be saved, but rather, that for those who do accept God’s grace, it is predestined that they will be saved and will experience salvation in the afterlife.
Can You Change Your destiny?
Predestination does not mean that individuals cannot change their destiny. The Bible teaches that individuals can choose to accept God’s grace and follow His will, and that those who do so can expect to receive His bounty and forgiveness. Predestination does not require one to be perfect or to have led an extraordinary life in order to be saved, but does mean that those who seek salvation must acknowledge their sins and humbly ask for God’s grace.
The Impact of Predestination Belief on Christianity
The debate over the validity of predestination within the Christian faith has caused significant disagreement among believers. Calvinists and other supporters of predestination point to the many biblical passages which support the view, while detractors claim that such a view demeans human dignity and is contrary to the idea of free will. Whatever their opinion, believers who hold to predestination as a core belief point to the reality that the ultimate fate of mankind is ultimately in God’s hands.
The Relationship Between God’s Sovereignty and Man’s Free Will
Perhaps the deepest divide between supporters and detractors is the interpretation of the relationship between God’s sovereignty and that of man’s free will. Many Christians, including reformed Calvinists, view these two as not mutually exclusive, where predestination is described as being God’s plan for the salvation of some persons, coexisting alongside the individual’s free will. On the other hand, non-Calvinist Christians usually reject the idea of predestination, rejecting the notion that God’s plan of salvation must conflict with man’s own choices and decisions.
What Is God’s Role in Predestination?
At the heart of the debate lies the question of God’s role in predestination. Do believers view predestination as a divine plan that is already set in stone, or one that allows for free will? Various interpretations exist on the matter, but what remains clear is that the idea of predestination is deeply rooted in the Christian faith, and believers possess widely differing views on how this concept should be understood.
