Predestination vs. Free-Will

One may not find a more controversial topic in the Christian Relationship than that of Predestination vs. Free-Will. Although, the “once saved, always saved”, theology of we Baptist, may give it a run for its money. Inside the Baptist denomination you may find people have a hang-up on this one topic more than any other.

So, let’s set the background and stage for the discussion of Predestination and Free-Will. (Hint, the use of “and”.)

Predestination speaks of God being…sovereign over all that happens. God predetermines who He will call and brings it to pass since what God wills cannot be changed by humans. The idea is that God, before the earth was created and any humans were ever born, preordained that some would be saved and some would be condemned to an eternal judgment. For those who are “lucky” enough to be called by God, God calls them effectually; that is He completes what He ordained by His sovereign direction of that believers life.  They cannot help but be saved since He effects what He wills.  Predestination is a common thread through the Old and New Testament.

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/what-does-the-bible-teach-about-free-will-and-predestination/#ixzz3MZTTV4pG

People who argue on the side of Free-Will challenge Predestination with…when presented with the facts of God’s plan for salvation that every individual person has a choice to make, to either accept or reject God’s gift of salvation. God desires that every person accept His gift. What was predestined was God’s plan for salvation through Jesus for those who accept it. Therefore if you accept that Jesus died for your sins and you have made Him Lord of your life then you are a part of the predetermined plan.

Predestined for Free Will © 2004 by David Bennett

Theologians on the side of Predestination are folks like John Calvin, Charles H. Spurgen and Huldrych Zwingli. Early church people such as Polycarp, Justin Martyr and Paul of Tarsus tended to lean toward the choice of Free-Will.

Many verses support both sides of the discussion. For Predestination we can site…

Jeremiah 1:5 I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations. 

Isaiah 43:7 everyone called by My name and created for My glory. I have formed him; indeed, I have made him.”

And much support is found in Ephesians Chapter 1, verses 4-11.

For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches 

of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him

for the administration of the days of fulfillment — to bring everything together in the Messiah, both things in heaven and things on earth in Him. We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will,

Also, Revelation 13:8,

All those who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.

For the Free-Will theology we can site verses such as:

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. 

1 Timothy 4:10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

And finally…

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

These verses prove that God has provided a way for all men to be saved through his Son, Jesus Christ. Surely He did not intend to provide a means of salvation for just a select few? But, on the other hand, He does ultimately know who will choose his “gift” of salvation. He knew, and knows how his plan will be received by everyone before time began. After all, He chose us. But, we are still implored “to seek him”.

Confusing isn’t it? Well maybe not, if viewed from another angle. You see some things are not as they seem if observed from another vantage point. Let’s travel down a rabbit trail that could help us see clearly how these two polarizing views can exist simultaneously. Now this will take a while so be patient as we demonstrate the process.

First we may ask the question, “on what qualifications is a person saved and let into Heaven?” As we examine the book of Revelation we find that believers whose names are written into The Lamb’s Book of Life are the inhabitants of Heaven.

Revelation 3:5 In the same way, the victor will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels.

In this verse we see a book which has names recorded in it. The names are of the saved who inhabit Heaven. As Jesus says to John, these will be known to God and his angels because of his testimony. As Jesus states, these names will not be erased, which leads us to conclude that they have been written there from the beginning.

I subscribe to the thought that all people have their names written in the Lambs Book of Life before the time of conception. As stated in many verses,"before the foundation of the world". Then, from the age of accountability until death, they have the opportunity to accept the gift of salvation provided by Jesus’s sacrifice. If not, their names are blotted out from the Book of Life. Two verses support this position. They are:

Psalms 69:28 Let them be erased from the book of life and not be recorded with the righteous.

Again, Revelation 3:5 states that Jesus, "will never erase his name from the book of life"...

As one can see in these verses, the names of all people have been recorded in The Book of Life from the beginning or, “before the foundation of the world”. That leads me to believe that God Predestined all of us to be saved. This can be illustrated with the following example.

In the days before and after Jesus’s birth, when a child was born, they had their name written in the census book of their home village. Everyone’s name was written in the ‘Village Registry” when they were born. If one did anything that would have embarrased, shamed or been against the village, their name would be strickened, or "erased" from the registry. The individual would then be sent out from the village, banished, never to return. God gives an example of this in Caine as he was banished from Eden and sent out into the land of Nod (Wandering).

So as we consider these verses:

Psalms 69:28 Let them be erased from the book of life and not be recorded with the righteous.

Philipians 4;3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.

Revelation 17:8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present again.

Revelation 20:12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.

Revelation 21:27 Nothing profane will ever enter it: no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb’s book of life.

We can surmise that God intended all to be saved while knowing everyone would not accept the free gift of salvation. Therefore, God has Predestined everyone to receive salvation. (Everyone having their name written in The Book of Life.) However, we must accept Jesus as our substitute. That is where our Free-Will is exercised. If we do not accept Jesus as our savior before we die our names are "blotted out", or erased from the Lamb's Book of Life. So, as you can see, both Predestination and Free-Will exist at the same time.

Study for yourself and prove me wrong. The question is this; is your name going to be erased from the Book of Life? If you're reading this, it's still your decision.