A Case for Predestination

Predestination is a touchy subject among Christians. The basic understanding is that predestination means that God chooses to send some people to Heaven and some people to Hell. This is a disconcerting concept at best, outrageous at worst. Is there a valid case for the doctrine of predestination or is this a fabrication of some confused people? I would like to suggest that the doctrine of predestination is biblical and, therefore, true.

Now, before we begin, it is necessary to define the term. A common understanding of the word being used is necessary for a common understanding of the doctrine. When the Bible talks about predestination, it does not use it in terms of God choosing who will or will not be saved. Here are the passages in which the word is used:

"For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur” (Acts 4:27-28).

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified (Rom. 8:29-30)

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Eph. 1:5-6).

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory (Eph. 1:10-12).

None of these uses refer to “God choosing who will be saved”. All of these uses refer to “God choosing what will occur.” Thus, by the term “predestination”, we mean that God determines in advance what will occur. To the staunch Calvinist, I should point out that who is or is not saved is included in “what will occur”. However, to limit predestination to the doctrine of election is to limit the scope of the biblical concept. Predestination, then, is the doctrine that God chooses from all eternity according to His own free will whatever comes to pass. I must also point out that this does not require that God cause all that comes to pass. The doctrine merely states that God determines what will come to pass. The “actors” in any given event may cause the events that God has ordained. The point in predestination is merely that God decided that those particular events would occur and others (that do not occur) will not occur.

Now let’s turn to the doctrine itself. Why would anyone assume that such a concept is true? I would think the answer would be obvious; I have listed four passages in which the term is used. Since the term is biblical, the doctrine must be biblical. The question now arises, “But is your understanding of the doctrine correct, or does the Bible mean something different?” Why, then, would I conclude that “God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass” (Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch. III, Para. 1)?

The premise for the doctrine is found in the passage quoted above. It is the biblical premise. We do not need to work to some human logic or convoluted reading of Scripture. Look again at Eph. 1:11. Here Paul links “our inheritance” to God’s predestination. On what does he predicate predestination? His basis for such a belief is the character of God “who works all things after the counsel of His will”. Plain and simple, if God is sovereign, then He must ordain all that comes to pass. Conversely, if He does not ordain all that comes to pass, He cannot rightly be called “sovereign” in any real sense.

We need more term definition here. The term “sovereign” means “One that exercises supreme, permanent authority.” In human terms, the best we can achieve is limited sovereignty, since no human can actually exercise “supreme, permanent authority”. So we bring it down a little and base human sovereignty on human standards. A human sovereign would be a human who exercises more authority than other humans. He might be a “lord” or a “king”. But no human can be said to “work all things after the counsel of his will.” Thus no human can be absolutely sovereign. God, on the other hand, is termed “the King of kings and Lord of lords”. God alone is the “one that exercises supreme, permanent authority”.

Scriptures are full of this fact:

"For the LORD your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe (Deut. 10:17).

He rules by His might forever (Psa. 66:7).

The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The LORD has clothed and girded Himself with strength;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting (Psa. 93:1-2).

He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Tim. 6:15).

"We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign” (Rev. 11:17).

Thus, we have this starting point: God is sovereign. Oh, and the ending point, as well.