Election and Predestination

Fate, destiny, genetics, determinism, fatalism, bondage of the will.

Freedom, choice, liberty, libertarian free will.

A philosophical debate has been going on among us human beings for over 3000 years. The debate centers around this:

• Do human beings have the ability to freely make choices that effect the direction of their lives?
• OR
• Is everything that happens in our lives including the actions we take and the mental "decisions" we make pre-determined by a force or forces beyond our control?

There are not two clear "sides" to this debate and there are a whole range of views in between two extremes. The extreme view on one side is that human beings have no control or will at all and that every detail of their lives is controlled and determined by outside forces. In this view the external cause may be a "god", the universe, genetics, etc. The other extreme would be that human beings have absolute freedom to will or cause or control everything that happens to them.

Here are two quotes about this from the secular, non-religious perspective:

Somewhere around 400 BC the Greek Philosopher Leucippus said this:

“Nothing happens at random, but everything for a reason and by necessity.”¹ 

And as a more modern example, the well known physicist Stephen Hawking has said this:

“Free will is just an illusion.”²

And...

“This book is rooted in the concept of scientific determinism which implies...that there are no miracles or exceptions to the laws of nature.”³

Unfortunately, this debate has crept into Christian thought and beliefs as well. Here are some quotes from Christian theologians who have embraced a deterministic view of God, human existence, and salvation. John Piper says this:

"...God is the only being who is ultimately self-determining, and is himself ultimately the disposer of all things, including all choices — however many or diverse other intervening causes are...no human being has free will, at any time. Neither before or after the fall, or in heaven, are creatures ultimately self-determining."⁴

And he also says this:

“God...brings about all things in accordance with his will. In other words, it isn’t just that God manages to turn the evil aspects of our world to good for those who love him; it is rather that he himself brings about these evil aspects for his glory."⁵

Another Calvinist theologian, R.C. Sproul says this, referring to God:

“The reason why he knows everything that is going to come to pass is because he has ordained everything that is going to come to pass.”⁶

But what does God's word, the Bible, actually say about this?

Does God actually cause evil events?

First, I would like to present a Biblical response to John Piper's claim quoted above that God actually "brings about", that is, causes the evil events that occur. Please look at Jeremiah 19:3-7. Here Jeremiah is delivering God's message of coming judgement to the king and people of Israel:

Say, ‘Listen to the Lord’s message, you kings of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem! This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, has said, “Look here! I am about to bring a disaster on this place that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it ring. I will do so because these people have rejected me and have defiled this place. They have offered sacrifices in it to other gods that neither they nor their ancestors nor the kings of Judah knew anything about. They have filled it with the blood of innocent children. They have built places here for worship of the god Baal so that they could sacrifice their children as burnt offerings to him in the fire. Such sacrifices are something I never commanded them to make. They are something I never told them to do! Indeed, such a thing never even entered my mind."' (NET) (emphasis added)

Note the phrases that describe the actions of the people: "These people have rejected me"; "They have offered"; "they have filled"; "they have built". These phrases clearly indicate that the people, through their own choices, did these things. Also note that God clearly says that he had nothing to do with these evil actions.

• "Such sacrifices are something I never commanded them to make."
• "They are something I never told them to do!"
• "Indeed, such a thing never even entered my mind."

God is clearly saying here that he did not plan or force or decree or determine these human action.

Here are two quotes from the New Testament that also indicate that evil deeds and events come from the world and from human choice, not from God.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires. (James 1:13-14 NET)

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world. (1 John 2:16-17 NET)

 What about salvation?

The most disturbing claim made by those holding to the Calvinist deterministic view is that human beings have absolutely no choice in salvation. They say that, because of sin, human beings are totally unable to even respond to God. Therefore, God has arbitrarily chosen certain people to be regenerated and accepted into the kingdom of God, and he has left the others to eternal separation from Him.

The majority of Christians, however, do not accept this position. We believe that all people are sinners and are not capable of living up to God's standard without help from God, but we believe that people are able to hear the message of the gospel and then to freely choose whether to accept the message or to reject it.

What does God's word, the Bible have to say about this? I am going to quote some Bible passages and then explain why each one supports the concept of human freedom of choice.

“And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what you have said: “Our rebellious acts and our sins have caught up with us, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that the wicked change his behavior and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds! Why should you die, O house of Israel?’ (Ezekiel 33:10-11 NET)

Looking particularly at these two phrases...

•  but prefer that the wicked change his behavior
• Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds!

It is clear that people have the ability to turn to God for help, and indeed, the scripture indicates that God desires that they make the choice to turn to him.

Then those who respected the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord took notice. A scroll was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respected the Lord and honored his name. “They will belong to me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “in the day when I prepare my own special property. I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.  (Malachi 3:16-17 NET)

Again, the clear indication of the language here is that people have a choice to respect God or to reject God; and those who respect God of their own free choice will be treated like sons by him.

Confusing words

I now want to look at some words or concepts used in the Bible that have caused confusion and debate among Christians regarding free will and salvation. The words are chosen or elect, and predestination.

Chosen, Elect

The Greek word eklektoi is used a number of times in the New Testament and it means to choose, to select, or to set apart. Jesus uses the word several times in his teaching and I want to look at one of those times now. In Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus tells this parable:

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look! The feast I have prepared for you is ready. My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.”’ 5 But they were indifferent and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death and set their city on fire. 8 Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy. 9 So go into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 10 And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to see the wedding guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he had nothing to say. 13 Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.” (NET)

First, I will explain what I think is the meaning of this parable and then I will explain what I think it has to do with free will vs determinism.

The meaning is as follows:

• The king is God and the son is Jesus.
• The wedding banquet is salvation.
• The first group invited were the people of Israel, the majority of whom rejected Jesus as the Messiah.
• The second group invited were the Gentiles, that is, everybody else.

Here is what I believe are the significant conclusions we can gain from this parable regarding free will and salvation:

• In both cases the people were "invited" but were not forced to come.
• The fact that the king invited them indicated that he wanted, desired them to come.
• The first group chose NOT to come of their own free will.
• The second group chose to come of their own free will.
• Everyone was invited, whether they were "bad" or "good".
• You don't have to be "good" before you come in, but once you are in God will help you become good.
• I am not absolutely certain about the person who was kicked out because he wasn't dressed properly, but I think it is because he came without humility and respect for the king and his son.

Jesus concludes the parable with this statement: "For many are called, but few are chosen." The word "chosen" could have been translated "elect". What did he mean by that? Who are the "called" and who are the "chosen"?

• The called are those who are invited; the gospel is the invitation.
• The language Jesus uses makes it clear that they have a free choice to come or not. 
• The chosen are the ones who freely choose to come.

I think Mark Moore put it very well in his Core 52 book:

Jesus' parable explains the basic process of election: they were invited and they came. It's that simple. Many prominent people were invited but refused to come. They were not elected. Others never deserved an invitation but received one and came gladly.They were elected. One guy came for the wrong reason and without the dress of respect. he was rejected.

Predestined

Calvinists use the word predestined to describe those people whom God supposedly chose arbitrarily for salvation before creation. But let me say clearly that predestine is NOT the same as predetermine. A destination is a place or a condition and it has nothing to do with fate or determinism. Lets look at one scripture in this regard, Ephesians 1:11-14:

In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory. And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory. (NET)

I highlighted several phrases - lets look at them:

In Christ - Salvation is all about our relationship with Jesus Christ.
...predestined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will.
Here is a question: What is God's will regarding our relationship to him and salvation?
And here is the answer:

• When you heard the word of truth, the gospel
• When you believed in Christ
• You were marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit - that is salvation

The answer is that you play a part and God plays a part:

You realize your need for help, you humble yourself, You believe in and trust Jesus.

God saves you and helps you.

Resources

If you want to pursue this subject further, here are some resources you may find helpful.

The website Soteriology101 has various resources that deal with this subjetc from a free will prespective.

This book by a Christian pastor, teacher, and theologian who was a Calvinist for 10 years but changed to a free will perspective.

Leighton C. Flowers, D.Min, The Potter's Promise, A Biblical Defence of Traditional Soteriology

Copyright 2017 Trinity Academic Press

ISBN-10:0-692-56184-6

ISBN-13:978-0-692-56184-3

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1. Leucippus, On the Mind
2. Stephen Hawking, The Grand Design, p.32
3. Ibid, p.34
4. John Piper at DesiringGod.org. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/a-beginners-guide-to-free-will
5. John Piper at DesiringGod.org. https://document.desiringgod.org/suffering-and-the-sovereignty-of-god-en.pdf?ts=1439242069
6. R.C. Sproul in a question and answer session in a YouTube video.

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® 
copyright ©1996-2016 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

This post is the result of my studies based on the book by Mark E. Moore, Core 52: A Fifteen-Minute Daily Guide to Building your Bible IQ in a Year, published by WaterBook (Penguin Random House)
Trade Paperback ISBN 978-0-525-65325-7
ebook isbn 978-0-525-65326-4

The Gospel

What is the Gospel?

The Greek word that is translated as “gospel” in the Bible means “good news”. It was first used in a secular political way to describe messages of good news sent out from the government in Rome such as the birth of a child to a Roman Emperor or a victory of a Roman general. Christians picked up the word and used it to describe the “good news” about their leader and ruler Jesus. In fact, Jesus himself used the word to describe the “good news” of the work he was going to do and of the kingdom he was going to establish.

The Apostle Paul was in Corinth, Greece in 57 AD. He knew some Christian believers in Rome and he wanted to go there to preach and teach, but he had not been able to do so at this point. Because he was not going to be able to go there immediately, he wrote a letter to them explaining the gospel mesage that he preached and taught. I am going to highlight some quotes from Paul's letter to berifly answer the question, "What is the Gospel?"

The solution, the way out of trouble - Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.” (NET)

Man is without excuse - Romans 1:18-20

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness, because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. (NET)

Because they have a choice to acknowledge God or not, to do good or to do evil, people are responsible for their own behavior - Romans 1:28,32;2:1

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done... Although they fully know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them. Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else. For on whatever grounds you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things. (NET)

Trying to obeying the law is not the answer; trying to “follow rules” is not the answer - Romans 3:19-20

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. (NET)

Faith in Jesus is the answer - Romans 3:21-26

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (although it is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed— namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness. (NET)


Humility and faith - Romans 3:27-28

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith! For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law. (NET)

To Summarize:

• God has revealed himself in several different ways:
• Through the creation of the universe.
• Through the written words in the Bible.
• Most importantly, through his son Jesus.
• Human beings have a choice to believe in God or not, to do good or to do evil.
• Therefore, human beings are responsible for their behavior and their choices and are without excuse.
• Trying to follow the rules is not the answer.
• God has offered you a gift, a way out of this predicament.
• He has offered to “pay your fine”, to “commute your sentence”.
• You accept this gift by humbling yourself, admitting your failure, believing in and trusting in Jesus.
• Faith is not about boasting.
• “I’m a good person; I’m certainly better than that guy.”
• Faith is about humility.
• “I know I am not perfect and I need help.”

We will talk more about faith in the next blog.

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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® 
copyright ©1996-2016 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

This post is the result of my studies based on the book by Mark E. Moore, Core 52: A Fifteen-Minute Daily Guide to Building your Bible IQ in a Year, published by WaterBook (Penguin Random House)
Trade Paperback ISBN 978-0-525-65325-7
ebook isbn 978-0-525-65326-4

The Supernatural

There was a popular Music group in the 60s and 70s named “The Fifth Dimension”. I’m not sure why they chose that name but it reminds me of a way to explain the existence of God and the “spirit world”.
In physics there are three dimensions of physical structure: height, width, and depth. Albert Einstein said time was a fourth dimension. Christians as well as those who practice other religions believe there is a fifth dimension beyond these four physical dimensions that we call the spiritual dimension. God, angels, the devil, and demons are all part of this dimension. We human beings can’t see it or touch it, but we are also part of it. We are unique in the creation because we have both a physical nature and a spiritual nature. We are both body and spirit.

Before we get into a description of the “spiritual dimension”, I want to define some terms that I use below.

• Believer - One who realizes he has fallen short of God’s standard, believes that God exists, believes that Jesus is the Son of God, believes that Jesus rose from the dead, has accepted God’s gift of salvation, and has chosen to serve in God’s kingdom.
• Unbeliever - One who may or may not believe in God, but does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, does not believe that Jesus rose from the dead, and has basically chosen not to have anything to do with God.

As we read the Bible we are introduced to several terms that describe the spiritual dimension and the living beings that are part of it. Here is a brief summary.

Heaven 

The English word “heaven” has come to have several different meanings, some of which are supported by Biblical statements, and some of which are just popular beliefs. It can refer to the place ”somewhere out there” where God lives. It can refer to the sky or the universe around us.
“Heaven” is also used to describe two aspects of continued life after the physical death of the human body:

• Where the believer’s spirit goes when their body dies.
• Where the believer will reside after their body is resurrected and joined with their spirit again.

Key truth: God is present there; Jesus is there. Those believers who have passed on are in the presence of God.

“Hell”

The English word “hell” also has a wide variety of uses in our culture, but in the context of continuing human life after death of the body, it also has two different aspects:

• Where the UN-believer’s spirit goes when their body dies.
• Where the UN-believer will reside after their body is resurrected and joined with their spirit again.

Key truth: God is not there. Those who reject God and any relationship with him get what they want - separation from God. God does not “send” anyone to hell. Everyone who ends up there will be there as a result of their own choice.

Demons

If you believe the Bible, and I do, then demons are real. Their most prolific interaction with people was during the time that Jesus was here on earth carrying out his mission. It seems that Satan made an extra effort to derail God’s plan during that time. Here are several scriptures that describe demonic activity during Jesus time here: Mark chapter 1, chapter 9; Matthew chapter 11, chapter 12, chapter 17. While not all christians would agree, I believe that demons are still active among people today, although not to the extent they were at the time of Jesus. I believe that demon possession (the demon takes control of the person mentally and physically) is possible but only if the person invites the demon in by engaging in certain activities related to Satan worship, witchcraft, or related activities. I do not believe that a Christian who is living under the influence of the Holy Spirit can be possessed.

Angels

The word “Angel” comes from the Latin angelus and the Greek angelos both of which mean “messenger”. Thus, angels are spirit beings who serve God and, in so doing, sometimes interact with people. Here are just a few biblical examples:

In Genesis chapters 18 and 19 God and two angels appear to Abraham as three “men”. During this meeting God informs Abraham that he will have a child in his old age and he informs Abraham that he is going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. God then sends the two angels to rescue Abraham’s nephew Lot and his family who were living in Sodom at the time before they destroy the two cities.

The Old Testament prophets often received messages from God through angels. The book of Daniel is a good example.

After his baptism Jesus went to a deserted wilderness area where Satan came to him and tried to tempt him to betray God’s plan. At the end of that time angels came to  serve him and take care of his physical needs. “Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs.” (Matthew 4:11 NET)

Angels appeared to the disciples on the days following Jesus’ resurrection including the day he ascended up to heaven to the presence of God.

Are angels actively interacting with the physical world and with people today? We seem to have less evidence of that, or perhaps we are less inclined to believe it when we see it. I will say this though; I think there is evidence in God’s word, the Bible, that God’s plan entered a new phase with the resurrection of Jesus. Look at Hebrews 1:1-4:

After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world. The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 Thus he became so far better than the angels as he has inherited a name superior to theirs. (NET)

Then in the rest of chapter one the writer makes a strong case that Jesus is far greater than the angels. Then in chapter two he says this:

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken through angels proved to be so firm that every violation or disobedience received its just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first communicated through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him, while God confirmed their witness with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:1-4 NET)

It seems to me that God is emphasizing to us that his primary message to us now comes through the life and teaching of Jesus, preserved and explained by the apostles, that is, what we call the New Testament. As the book of Hebrews says, Jesus is greater than the angels so his words are greater than the messages of angels.

I conclude with one thought about the supernatural. Sometimes we may think of “heaven” as someplace else, or of God as dwelling or living someplace far away. We should, instead, think of the supernatural as being all around us and engulfing us; that is the Biblical view. The Bible teaches that God is close to us; that he is “omnipresent”, that is, everywhere at once. And for those of us who have chosen to believe, God is IN us in the form of the Holy Spirit.

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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®
copyright ©1996-2016 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

This post is the result of my studies based on the book by Mark E. Moore, Core 52: A Fifteen-Minute Daily Guide to Building your Bible IQ in a Year, published by WaterBook (Penguin Random House)

Trade Paperback ISBN 978-0-525-65325-7

ebook isbn 978-0-525-65326-4