It is clear, however, that many have refused Gods efforts to win their hearts, and their refusal was not just an appearance; it was real. God controls all things but He does not cause all things, Keathley said. That last phrase is the connection to verse 1 Tim. -Zach Breitenbach,Director of the Worldview Center at Connection Pointe in Brownsburg, IN and the former Associate Director of Room For Doubt, Another pointto consider is that scripture very clearly and undeniably presents the idea that Godpredestinespeople who are His elect. Buta major question is whether this predestination appliesto each INDIVIDUALor whether it applies to theENTIRE GROUPof those whom God predestined.God could havepredestined that agroupwould be the elect. And individuals can become part of the elect group byindividuallyresponding to Gods necessary grace by theirpersonal response in faith. Pauls doctrine of election reflects on how God has chosen in the past.. Ultimately, then, whether or not they receive or finally reject Christ is up to them. He and his wife Ysabel live in San Diego with their five children. Thus Scripture can refer to Gods will in one of two ways, depending on the context. Carlas questions are difficult and raise various issues upon which Christians disagree. My views changed on this issue as a result of my studying this text and other passages. Why does God choose some and not others? Keathley proposed Molinism as a solution to the divide between Calvinism and Arminianism, arguing that Molinism, like Calvinism, affirms the absolute sovereignty of God, while also affirming Gods permissive will, which establishes the free choices of men. Can also be used by individuals for daily devotional time. The basis of this choice is the mystery of his will (v. 9). Every day, many human beingseven innocent babiesdie without having had the opportunity to know God or His way of life. Weekly themes for families to discuss. 5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. Gods offer of salvation goes out to all people, Jesus died for all people, and God loves the whole world and desires the salvation of all people; nevertheless, only some will choose to respond to Gods saving grace and be saved. But I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior. 9, 11) and the counsel of his will (v. 11). However, ultimately, the individual chooses to accept or reject Jesus Christ as his personal Savior because God does not strip those He calls of their free will. As God commands in Deuteronomy 30:19, "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.". Whereas it is true that Christ is himself the Elect One, and whereas it is true that the Church is the chosen or elect people of God, individuals are themselves chosen by God to believe in Christ in order that they might become members of the church. This article is part of ourFrequently Asked Questionsseries. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. We must be willing to suffer, to give our all for Christ, to persevere until the end in order to obtain the final reward. So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. We only know that it wasnt because of anything in one that was not in another. Have questions, doubts, or want to learn more? This chapter, and this topic, is a challenge to many of us. This is the first resurrection [meaning it is not the only resurrection]. Apart from his grace, mercy, and love, we would have been lost. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon . 1:4; Titus 1:2). At that point, Paul launches into a discussion about Gods sovereign choice that lasts the rest of the chapter. This grace is irresistible by the recipients, or so says the doctrine. As Carla mentioned, there areverses that seem to indicate predestination. God divinely chose great men of the Old Testament: such as Isaac (Gen. 21:12 NASB), Abraham (Neh. Thus God orders the world the way He does for good reasons. W 10 Things You Should Know about Election | Crossway Articles Your faith is not the basis of God's choosing you, but the result of it. According to this view, we do not have a will that is free. I am speaking the truth in ChristI am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead in order to heal the breach between a holy God and sinful man. So let us ask whether predestination is true and let the Scriptures determine our answer. For example, inEphesians 1:4-5Paul says God chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. The key to understanding this text is to see that the Bible speaks of Gods will/desire in two different ways. The author of Hebrews refers to "a better resurrection," probably referring to the first resurrection: "Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection" (Hebrews 11:35). Nobody can merit or earn being chosen by God. Article by Matt Perman Guest Contributor In What We Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism, John Piper writes: If all of us are so depraved that we cannot come to God without being born again by the irresistible grace of God, then it is clear that the salvation of any of us is owing to God's election. God saved us, said Paul, and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began (2 Tim. 10 Things You Should Know about Demons and Satan. It is not revealed in the Bible; it unfolds in history. But many years before this test, God was able to look into the future and to know the results of Abraham's obedience and many fine details of his life and those of his descendants. For who can resist his will? But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Romans 9:1-33 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful I am speaking the truth in ChristI am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Acknowledging this sovereign grace of God should lead us to rejoice in the Lord and worship him. It seems like Gods word must have failed. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. predestination - Are some people created to go to Hell? - Christianity God is a God who chooses throughout the Bible. God has given his people the gospel to take to all nations. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. For example, Abraham was chosen, or elected, by God, as were his son and grandson, Isaac and Jacob. Q Thats the issue. It was Gods providential will and plan that his Son should die for sinners. If salvation depends on our free choice, how are we saved totally by But the eternal salvation of those individuals is another question altogether. Neither text speaks of foreseen faith, he added. By his resurrection, he offers eternal life. Contemporary adherents to Molinism include apologist William Lane Craig and philosopher Alvin Plantinga. This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. Paul tells Timothy not only that the congregation needs to pray; he also tells him for whom they should pray: for all people. Included in the all people would be those spreading error within the church. But getting into such details is beyond the scope of this question. 1. See related articles: Why are there times in the Bible where it seems like God seems to regret certain outcomes?, What is Faith?, Why The Forbidden Fruit?, If God is loving, how could He condemn people to an eternity of suffering in hell?, A Child LostPhysically and Spiritually. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. That person was not created to go to hell, they still have agency to choose for themselves, and could have chosen to do good. He is referring to Gods moral purpose that all men everywhere should repent and be saved. Sin deserves judgment, and Jesus took that judgment upon himself when he died on the cross. The basic situation of mankind is summed up in Pauls heartfelt exhortation to his brethren in Corinth in which he said, We appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1). God does not choose people to be saved based on their efforts. What Does It Mean That Women Should Remain Quiet in Church? God knows everything and He knows which people will choose to accept Christ. K (1 Timothy 2). That means on all matters of doctrine, the Bible only teaches one position. God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9) and He has chosen those who will be saved. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought; Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Dr. So does this mean that God is cruel or capricious in His selectiveness? Copyright 2023 Core Christianity. No, of course not. Yes, there certainly are, but lets try to think clearly about what God has elected and what He hasnot. And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. Scripture makes it clear that God chooses us for salvation. We dont get chosen by God because he foresees that we choose him. Predestination is a doctrine which emphasizes the sovereignty of God; that is, it stresses the supremacy of Gods will: whatever God wills must come to pass, and no human being has the power to sayno. The doctrine of predestination is sometimes referred to as "election," in the sense that God chooses people for his own purposes. We must pray so that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.. S Rather we choose him because in eternity past he graciously chose us. The apostle Paul addresses Gods sovereign choice in salvation here because many of his kinsmen, the Jews, did not come to Christ. With contributions from a team of pastors and scholars, this commentary through 9 of Pauls letters helps students of the Bible to understand how each epistle fits in with the storyline of Scripture and applies today. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. So God blessed Israel in all these magnificent ways and yet now Jesus, Israels king and Savior, has come, and many of Gods people havent believed in him. Chosen by God: a look at the doctrine of predestination God: Predestination: Does God Choose Your Fate? No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. And this isnt one of those issues where we need to draw the line and say that if you dont agree with us, then youre not a Christian. 2:1-3 said that prayers for "all people" were good and pleasing in the sight of "God our Savior.". 1:9). Gods will for every person on the planet is for him or her to repent and believe in the gospel. Can He look into the future to see what our decision will be? We must embrace Gods permission to avoid having God causing evil.. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 . And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. C This means that Jesus Christ is the primary elect one, and believers are chosen, or elect, because of our . Jesus, while praying to his Father, rejoiced that God had hidden spiritual things from the wise and understanding and had sovereignly revealed them to little children (Matt. Election is a pre-temporal decision by God, a choice he made before any of us ever existed. Does God Want Everyone to Be Saved? (1 Timothy 2) A key to Molinisms ability to better explain Gods choosing some men for salvation without violating their free will is its doctrine of middle knowledge, Keathley said. After the Gentiles heard the gospel preached, as many as were appointed to eternal life believed (Acts 13:48). If so, how does that work with the verses that suggest man has a choice/can seek out God and expect His grace/mercy/acceptance? "Some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained to everlasting death." 1 God's choice to save certain sinners by grace is called election, and his choice to leave certain sinners to the damnation they deserve is reprobation. I don't know. From the very beginning, Eden was not meant to be static; it was headed somewhere. G The doctrine of election is taught throughout the entire Bible. 1:5). First Tim. Many in the battle against lust try to shut off the imagination, but what if God means for you to win the battle through imagination. In brief, however,I will suggest that God purposefully orders the world so that, by the end of human history, as many people as possible are placed into circumstances in which they will freely choose to be saved.