Many people have a temperamental understanding of God’s sovereignty. At a New Year’s service, Christians are happy to declare that God has intervened and planned an amazing 12 months for them. Yet when we speak about God’s role in the salvation of sinners, the idea of any decisiveness or choosing is seen as “unfair” or a breach of our right to free will. Regardless of our logic and ideas of “What we would do if we were God”, we need to have a Biblical understanding of God’s role in salvation if we are to have a mature view of God and a greater love for His character.
God “predestines” those who will be saved
To predestine or “proorizō” in Greek, means to determine or decide beforehand. The word is used 5 times in the New Testament (Acts 4:28; Rom 8:29-30; Eph 1:5, 11). Predestination is clearly a Biblical doctrine and something that God does. The question is what does God decide beforehand?
Romans 8:29-30 tells us about the “Golden Chain”. That God has predetermined those who are to be called to him, justified by him (declared righteous), glorified, and conformed to the image of Jesus Christ – essentially salvation!
The beginning of Ephesians tells us that God “chose” us for a few things (being “saints/Christians” according to Eph 1:1).
1) To be holy and blameless before Him (another way of describing justification) – Ephesians 1:4.
2) To be adopted as God’s children – Ephesians 1:5.
3) Receive the inheritance of eternal life – Ephesians 1:11-14.
There are innumerable things we can talk about that a believer receives in salvation. The mind-blowing truth is that sinners who deserve God’s judgement, instead are chosen to receive the best that He has to give.
God’s “choosing” should be unsurprising to you. Many scriptures refer to believers in Christ being chosen (Matthew 24:22, 31; Mark 13:20, 27; Romans 8:33, 9:11, 11:5-7, 28; Ephesians 1:11; Colossians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:4; 1 Timothy 5:21; 2 Timothy 2:10; Titus 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1-2, 2:9; 2 Peter 1:10).
To quote Hillsong’s “What A Beautiful Name”, if you are a Christian, your sin is great, but his love for you is greater. Rejoice in that! Salvation is a work of God, not a work of persuasion and gimmicks. This is why we are called to preach the gospel honestly, even if it offends people. It’s the means that God has chosen to call his people to him (Romans 10:13-15).
God’s predestination is entirely just
This may prompt you to ask the question “How is that fair?”.
The assumption is that we deserve God to treat us all with favour. However, we must recognise that God does not owe anyone salvation. He is a sovereign God who does no wrong.
Romans 3:11-12 tells us that all have sinned against God. Because of this, we deserve God’s full punishment and judgement (Ephesians 2:1-2). We are not victims of an unjust God. We are criminals against a Holy God.
The fact that God has mercy on any of us to receive his forgiveness is all down to his undeserved grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). This is what Calvinists call “Unconditional Election”.
If I and a friend were caught stealing £1,000,000,000 each, we would be guilty by the law. Suppose the court ordered us to pay the money back or be sentenced to prison. If you, a stranger to me – no, in fact, the person I would spit at and disrespect day after day – came and paid my debt, but not my friend’s, the last thing I would do is call you unjust. I can only thank you for your mercy whilst my friend justly pays the price for his crime.
When thinking about predestination, Christians should have thankful and humble attitudes. Not accusations. God has mercy on whom he has mercy (Exodus 33:19, Romans 9:14). We should then urge our unbelieving friends to turn to Him and receive forgiveness.
God frees our will for us to choose him
One other question that you might have is “don’t we have free-will”. The answer is “it depends on what you mean by free-will”.
Our will is limited by our nature. For example, I can choose to run, but I can’t choose to fly. This is called compatibilism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compatibilism). Similarly, we are born with a sinful nature and fallen will, that rejects God’s laws and His salvation (Romans 5:12-14, Romans 8:7-8). The human heart, if left alone, will always reject God.
However, for those whom God predestined, He calls to himself people through regeneration to then choose him freely. This effectual call results in sinners turning to the living God by faith in Jesus (John 1:12)!
John 6:37-40 tells us that “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” Those whom God has predestined will freely choose to repent and confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10). This is the result of regeneration and new birth by the Spirit of God. (John 3:3-15; 2 Corinthians 4:6).
The Christian life is more than mere outward obedience. Rather it is inward desire and affections for God that overflow into obedience (John 14:15). What God does in salvation is truly marvellous, and is deserving of our entire praise, worship, and adoration.
The doctrine of predestination can be difficult to reconcile. However, we first must learn what the scriptures teach, understand this and then pray that God would conform our thinking to His thinking. Everything that God does is wonderful, and it is a blessing to be a recipient of His amazing saving grace!
Emmanuel Ayoola
Christian Hedonist
