Predistination is also Biblical since it is found in the Bible.
The issue is not whether the word "predestination" is found in the bible.
The issue is the proper understanding of the word "predestination" in the bible.
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As I previously said, there are only two chapters where the word predestination appears: Romans 8:29-30, and Ephesians 1:5, 11.
Since sir dpogs started with Ephesians, I will also start with Ephesians.
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Eph. 1:4-6 KJV
"chosen before the foundation of the world" and "predestined us unto the adoption of children... according to the good pleasure of His will"
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Eph.1:9-14 KJV
You combined two different topics.
The first topic is for the Jewish Christians. The second topic is for Gentile Christians.
Huwag gamitin ang first topic para sa sarili kung ikaw ay Pilipino, hindi Hudyo.
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1. The first topic, for Jewish Christians. These are verses 4-12:
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 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 put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:4-12)Saul of Tarsus was a Jew who persecuted the early Christians. Saul referred to himself as "of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee. Then Saul was converted to Chritianity; his name became "Paul;" and he became the apostle to the Gentiles.
In these verses,
Paul said "us" and "we," because he was referring to himself and others like him --- the Jewish Christians:
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.(Eph. 1:4) - The Israelite nation was chosen by God to be holy. The plan for the Israelite nation existed before the creation of the world. It does not mean that all Israelites were guaranteed salvation, because what existed before the foundation of the world was only the plan for the nation, not the guarantee of individual salvation.
What was the plan?
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Rom. 1:16)Salvation to all who have faith. Not to those who were predestined to indivdual salvation from the beginning of time, but salvation to all who freely have faith. First to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (Eph. 1:4-6) - The Jews as a nation were in God's plan that existed since the beginning of time.
What was predestined was just the plan of salvation, not individual eternal salvation.
Predestined the Jewish nation to what? For adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ.
If the Jews have faith in Christ, they become adopted sons of the Father. This plan of salvation is an act of God's grace. This faith in Christ on the part of the believing Jews is an act of free will. If they do not have faith in Christ, then they do not become adopted sons of the Father.
What was predestined? The plan of the Father.
What requires free will? The Jews' act of faith in the Son. That's free will, not predestination.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (Eph. 1:7-10) - Here, Paul says the Father made known to the Jews
the mystery of His will.
And what is the mystery of the will of the Father which He purposed in Christ? To bring unity to all things under Christ.
Paul further clarifies the meaning of the mystery:
4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 3:4-6)The mystery of the will of the Father is
the mystery of Christ. Meaning, the
mystery that faith in Christ will bring
salvation not only to the
Jews but also to the
Gentiles.
11 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 put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:11-12) - So, the Jews were chosen as part of God's plan of salvation --- "first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." (Rom. 1:16)
Through the Jewish nation will come Jesus the Savior, the faithful Jews will believe, then the faithful Gentiles will also believe, so that all can be saved provided they have faith in Christ.
That is the plan of God, and that plan was predestined by God. However, the faith of those who will believe in Christ arises from free will, not predestination.
Therefore, all have a chance to be saved. It is no longer limited to the Jews. But the condition is that they must have faith in Christ. That is free will, not predestination.
In predestination, only the exclusive club of the elect were chosen from the beginning of time to be saved. But in the bible, God wants all to be saved:
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved (1 Tim. 2:3-4)If God already chose before the foundation of the world who will go to heaven and who will go to hell, why would God still say that He wants all people to repent so that they can be saved?
God wants everyone to repent, including those who are predestined to go to hell, even if it's impossible for them to go to heaven?
Ano yon, umaarte lang ang Diyos? O mali lang talaga ang doctrine of predestination?
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2. The second topic, for Gentile Christians. These are verses 13-14:
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:13-14)Now you see the shift from "us" to "you."
"You" refers to the Gentile Christians. ---
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. (Eph. 1:13)When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, (Eph. 1:13) - When were you, the Gentile Christian, marked with a seal? When you believed, not before.
Therefore, for the Gentile Christian, his faith in Christ is required before he can have the seal.
Which means he did not have the seal even before he was born, even before the foundation of the world. He only gets the seal after he believes.
This is free will, not predestination.
The Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Eph. 1:14) - The Holy Spirit is the seal that marks us as belonging to God, until we are redeemed to eternal life.
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Now for Romans 8:
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom.8:28-30 KJV
What is the meaning of the word "predestined"?
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Rom. 8:29) Before the foundation of the world, God had a predestined plan of salvation. God
foreknew that some would freely receive Him; some would freely reject Him. But God did not know who were the specific individuals who would accept or reject Him.
As part of the plan, God decrees from everlasting to everlasting that those who will receive God will also receive Christ; and all who receive Christ will freely become "Christ-like." The predestination does not refer to the specific individuals; it only refers to the
predestined plan of salvation.
30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Rom. 8:30)When the word predestine is used, it does not mean that God predetermines the specific individuals who will go to heaven or hell. Predestination simply refers to God's plan of salvation for all.
God knew that some will receive Him, and He also knew that some will not. Therefore, since God knew this beforehand, then God's
predestined plan also included what will happen to those who will receive Him and to those who will not.
In Rom. 8:30, Paul illustrates a step-by-step process:
- God foreknew that some would receive Him.
- Those who received God, they used free will in accepting God.
- Those who received God, God called. That's after they already used free will in receiving God.
- Those whom God called, He justified. They are declared righteous because they followed God.
- Those whom God justified, He glorified. The end result is the glorification of those who freely chose to receive God.
Therefore, what is predestined is the process or the plan of salvation. Paul is not saying that from the foundation of the world, specific individuals are destined to heaven, while other specific individuals are doomed to hell.
Still in the book of Romans, all we have to do is to move 2 chapters forward and we will see how Paul explains how all can be justified:
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9-13)How can all be justified? By faith in Christ.
He does not say justification is brought about by predestination. He says profess your faith with your mouth; believe with your heart; and you are justified; then you will be saved. That's everyone --- Jew and Gentile --- not an elect group chosen from the foundation of the world.
That's free will, not predestination.
