What Is Predestination? - Core Christianity

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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Here's another "teaching" on the Elect, i.e., those who are supposedly chosen by God to be saved. It's a tenet of Calvinism, and it's a false and pernicious doctrine. 

We do not write this flippantly. Calvinism distorts the Gospel, distorts salvation, distorts the nature of God, and distorts the Cross. It is very nearly cultic. 

We will discover the author is misinformed at times, and even lies. He quotes snippets of Scripture to disguise what the whole verse says, he lies about obvious things contained in the Bible, and he twists the Gospel into a farce.

We must deem this Bad Bible Teaching.

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The Bible teaches many wonderful things. In fact, it teaches the most beautiful news possible. It tells us that “God so loved the world, that he gave his Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

But is everything the Bible teaches good news? What about predestination—the biblical teaching that God chose, or elected, those he would save before he created the world?

For many people, predestination isn’t a wonderful teaching. Instead, it’s terrifying and sounds unjust. How can God choose to save some people and not others before anyone did anything right or wrong? (Good question. Let's see if the author answers it. Hint: He won't.)

Predestination is a difficult doctrine. (Why? Doctrines shouldn't be difficult. They should be plain and understandable by even a child. If not, they are probably not biblical doctrines.)

It confronts us with God’s almighty and sovereign power. It confronts us with his incomprehensibility. But predestination doesn’t contradict God’s justice. Instead, it magnifies his grace. It explains how a just God saves sinners who could never save themselves. (We hope the author will explain and document these assertions. Hint: He won't.)

In fact, predestination is a great comfort for Christians. It assures us that no matter what dangers we face from enemies, circumstances, or our own sinful hearts, Christ will never let us go. (Correction: Christ will never let the Elect go. The author presumes he is among the Elect, but he doesn't know. He might be a false convert. Just because he's doing the Christian faith right now doesn't mean he will continue to do so. 

Many, many people think they are Christians but are not. Perhaps the author is among them, he doesn't know. Only God does. Predestination cannot be a comfort for anyone.)

We belong to him forever because he chose us. (That is, the person belongs to God because he chose the person. That is very nearly a tautology.)

Is Predestination a Biblical Teaching? (Actually, the proper question is, "Is God choosing those who will go to hell a Biblical teaching?)

Before Adam and Eve sinned (Gen. 3:6), and even before God said “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3), God chose those he would save. The apostle Paul explains that this election happened before God created anything. God “chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). If we have trusted in Christ, it’s because God chose us as his own in eternity. (The author presumes that Ephesians 1:4 is about him. It's not.

A careful Bible student would ask, "who is the 'us'?" Perhaps surprisingly, Paul does identify "us:" 

Ep. 1:11-12 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

Those who were chosen are those who were the first to hope in Christ. This is not you and me, for we were not alive in the first century. 

In the very next verse Paul tells us when we were included:

Ep. 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.

Unless we were the first ones to hope in Christ, we are not predestined.)

Other passages in the Bible confirm that our salvation depends on God’s eternal choice. In Romans 8:30, Paul teaches that Christians believe the gospel because they were “predestined.” (Sigh. Let's quote: 

Ro. 8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Again, a careful Bible student would want to know who is being talked about. Is it you and me? We should not automatically insert ourselves into the Bible, particularly when it might be talking about someone else. 

Paul identifies who he is referring to: 

Ro. 8:23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly...

Do all Christians have the firstfruits of the Spirit? Of course not, only the first century earliest believers received the firstfruits of the Spirit. 

After Paul discusses those who are predestined, he expands his focus:

Ro. 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all...

"Us all." Notice how Paul's language switches back and forth between a specific group and the whole?

Contemporary Christians are not the firstfruits, therefore we are not predestined.)

He then explains God’s “purpose in election” (Rom. 9:6–24). (Sighhhh... Read the whole chapter. It shows how a chosen people [the Jews] are blessed and have all the wonderful things from God [verse 4 and 5]. Then because all of Israel is not Israel [verse 6], God preserved a remnant of Israel, "the children of the promise" [verse 8]. These predestined people descended from the chosen lineage [verse 7 - 13], contrasted with those God rejected [verse 13]. 

Then Paul shifts his focus from the "children of the promise" [verse 8], which are the "objects of His mercy" [verse 23] and contrasts them with the "objects of His wrath" [verse 22]. 

Paul was referring to how the gentiles became God's people [verse 25]. He was not talking about the predestination of anyone but the remnant of Israel.)

Jesus says that God the Father gives him those who believe in him: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). (Let's quote a bit more: 

Jn. 6:36-26 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

Jesus was talking to Jews about Jews. The Jews rejected Him, except for a remnant. The ones the Father gives Jesus are the firstfruits of the nation of Israel. This is not us.)

Elsewhere, Jesus tells his disciples, “I know whom I have chosen” (John 13:18). (Now the author flat out lies to us. This passage is an account of the Passover supper where Judas Iscariot purposed to betray Jesus. 

Let's quote the entire verse: 

Jn. 13:18 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfil the scripture: `He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’

The author is now disqualified as a Bible teacher.)

Predestination is different than God’s foreknowledge. In other words, God doesn’t just know ahead of time who will believe the gospel; he chooses who will believe. Some passages at first may sound like God predestines people because he foresees their faith: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29). (We have already explained Romans 8 above.)

But God’s knowledge in this passage doesn’t refer to information. It’s personal knowledge. When the Bible talks about God knowing someone, it means he has a relationship with that person (Gen. 18–19; Jer. 1:5). It means he loves them. What Paul means here is that those God chose to love are predestined to become like Jesus, his Son. ("Chose to love?" What? Choosing to love does not appear in this verse, or the rest of the Bible either. Besides, God choosing to love those he chose is once again very nearly a tautology.)

Predestination and the Gospel

Paul links God’s eternal election with God’s grace: “In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace” (Eph. 1:4–5). (We discussed this above.)

God chooses to save people, adopting them as his children, as an act of love. This election leads to “the praise of his glorious grace.” Predestination and grace are linked because no one can earn God’s favor. (The author doesn't explain grace. He simply makes a claim that predestination and grace are linked, but doesn't explain how.)

No one can trust in the gospel without God’s grace enabling a person to believe (Eph. 2:8–9). (ho-boy. This is testing our patience. Let's quote: 

Ep. 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — 9 not by works, so that no-one can boast.

There is no mention being enabled to believe. Grace doesn't enable anything, it is simply God's desire to lean toward and bless.

The author's false statements are starting to mount up.)

Without predestination, salvation wouldn’t be “the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). (Yes, it would.)

It wouldn’t be by grace alone. (Yes, it would.)

It wouldn’t be to God’s glory alone. (Yes, it would. This author makes undocumented statements, so we will simply make undocumented contradictions.)

Elsewhere, Paul says that “God’s purpose of election” (Rom. 9:11) is to show that salvation “depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy” (Rom. 9:16). What is God’s purpose in election? To reveal his mercy. (Oh, man... We are losing our patience. The author is combining two separate concepts, God's election of the "children of the promise" with the mercy He shows because of His nature.)

God chose us in Christ (The author has swerved back to Ephesians 1:4, in case the reader is trying to keep track.)

because he wanted us to know him as the God of grace and mercy.

Does Predestination Make God Unjust?

If predestination and grace are inseparably linked, (The author simply asserted it in the previous section, but now represents it as an established fact.)

why do people so often object to the doctrine of election? (Perhaps because the author wrote, "Predestination is a difficult doctrine?" 

More likely, people reject it because it is a misinterpretation of the Bible and God's nature.)

At first, predestination may seem to make God unjust. (No, not really. It actually seems to make God into a puppet master who plays games with human reality.)

Those who don’t believe the gospel and therefore face God’s eternal wrath seem to have been given no chance. (Well, yeah. If God chose those who would be saved, then by necessity those who weren't chosen won't be saved. Seems simple.)

Paul expects this objection: “What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part?” (Rom. 9:14). Paul knows that we expect consequences to correspond with actions. If we choose what’s right, we deserve God’s reward.  If we don’t, we deserve punishment. (????? What choice is involved here? Predestination means we have no choice. How do we deserve God's reward or punishment for a choice we didn't make?)

That’s how God set up the world (Gen. 3:16–17). Adam and Eve could have obeyed God. If they had, they would have received an eternal reward. (On what basis does the author make such an astounding claim? If Adam and Eve were predestined, they had no choice to obey or not obey. There is no way anyone makes choices if predestination is true.)

But after Adam and Eve sinned, all people inherited their sinful nature. All of us are sinners. Therefore, Paul says, “All, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one’” (Rom. 3:9–10). Election doesn’t mean that God keeps good people out of heaven. (Well, it doesn't matter if they're good or not. The only thing that is important is election. No choice, behavior, or desire matters. If you're elect or not elect, there isn't a single thing you can do or say that will change that.)

It means that out of a world of sinners—all of whom deserve eternal death—God chooses some to believe. (And chooses the rest for hell...)

The gospel tells us that, for Christians, God’s justice was served on the cross. Our sins were punished there. (No, they were not. There is no Bible verse that tells us this. Go ahead, dear reader, look it up.

We shall not tolerate another lie from the author.)

Through Christ’s blood, God showed himself to be both “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26). The cross shows us how God is both just and gracious at once.

Why Is Predestination Comforting?

While predestination can be deeply troubling at first, (Hmmm, "deeply troubling." Why might that be? Perhaps because the author wrote, "Predestination is a difficult doctrine?")

it’s actually the foundation of our assurance that we belong to God. (No, it's about the Elect. The author doesn't know if he belongs to God.)

When we face dangers, temptations, and doubts, the knowledge that God has chosen us brings comfort. (Actually, uncertainty. There is no comfort.

Perhaps the author is a false convert? False converts think they're part of the Elect.)

Paul writes:

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Romans 8:33–35)

If we’re elected by God, we know we’re justified in his sight. If we’re elected by God, we know that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. And, if we’re elected by God, we know we’ll persevere in faith and, on the last day, rise from the dead. Jesus said, “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day” (John. 6:39). (The author lifts another verse from the previously discussed passage. Again, who saw Jesus and rejected him? Jesus was talking to Jews about Jews. The Jews rejected Him, except for a remnant. The ones the Father gives Jesus are the firstfruits of the nation of Israel. This is not us.)

But we don’t find this extraordinary comfort by asking God to tell us if we’re elect. We find it by looking to Christ. Who are God’s elect people? Who has God predestined to eternal life? All those who have trusted in the Son of God: “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40).

If we have believed the gospel, we can be assured that God chose us. (No, we can't. This is absolutely foolish.)

What Does the Bible Say? John 6:37–40; 13:18; Rom. 8:29–39; 9:6–24; Eph. 1:4–5; 2:8–9
Recommended Resource Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, by J. I. Packer