The Case of Biblical Predestination: Whose Choice Is It? – Part 1.

We read in John 3:16 that “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. The Scriptures again say that: “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). “Whoever” and “everyone” do not refer to a select group of people. They mean exactly what they mean: everyone or whosoever. This is an all-inclusive affair. Therefore to assume God has preordained some humans unto salvation and others to eternal damnation contradicts the very foundation of Christianity. Such reasoning actually opposes the reason God gave for sending His Son. The Scriptures teach that “…there is no partiality with God (Romans 2:11’). Therefore, “…let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).

We learn from the history of mankind that God’s dealings with humans has always involved men making choices concerning their own destinies. God gave  the first humans, Adam and Eve, the freedom to obey or disobey Him by what they chose to do with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2 and 3). The Lord did not put the tree in the middle of the garden to trip them up. Rather, the presence of the tree illustrates the truth that there is no true obedience without the freedom to disobey (cf. Rick Joyner). Under the Old Covenant, God affirmed His respect for human choice when He said, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Even, for those who were without the law, God did not leave them without a choice. He gave them a conscience, which bore witness to the work of the Law written on their hearts, with their thoughts alternately accusing or defending them in the choices they made, and upon this their judgement will be based (see Romans 2:12-16). In  the New Covenant, God calls all to repent and turn to Jesus (see Acts 17:30-31). For “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” – except the name Jesus (see Acts 4:10-12).

The Scriptures is abundantly clear that the choice is ours. We ultimately decide what we do with our destinies. There is a narrow path, with its characteristics and destination already determined, which leads to life, and a broader one, also with its characteristics and destination already determined, that leads to destruction (see Matthew 7:13-14). The happenings in our lives are therefore not some random bits of events that happen to cross our paths. They follow in accordance with the decision we make, either for God or against Him. For those who make a decision for God, this is what God says about them: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). That is, there is a blueprint God has already laid for their lives so that the very events of their lives are supposed to happen according to what God has already planned for each day (See also Psalm 139:16). This is not a random life. It is a life with its events already planned and determined. Even so, the choice is ours to continue daily in God’s good plan or choose otherwise. For those who choose to neglect God, the path they choose has already been deemed “hard” by God (Proverbs 15:1). It is a path with fleeting pleasures, which leads to destruction (Hebrews 11:25b; Matthew 7:13-14; 1 Timothy 6:9, Galatians 5:19-21). Even the specific evils that befall each of those who choose such a path have already been determined, as the Scriptures teach, whatever exists (or is going to happen) has already been named (see Ecclesiastes 6:10).

Since we have the ultimate say in what happens to us, there is nothing better for us to do than to take hold of God’s plan and let the events of our lives flow in accordance with the good God has already determined for us.  This is how the Christian life ought to be lived.

To be continued.

Kwadwo Omari
© 2016

A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.