Eenie Meenie Minee NO

“And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,” (Colossians 1:21 ESV)

We are made righteous through Christ. In this, there is no doubt. But Christ told us, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44 ESV). The word predestination brings much controversy in Christian circles. Many say. “no one believes in predestination anymore; it is outdated thinking.” This statement is a logical fallacy because, at least, I believe in predestination. I also know many more Christians who believe in predestination. Predestination or unconditional election is the thinking of scholars like Calvin, Luther, and Augustine of Hippo. Predestination is a concept Luther touched on during the Reformation.

The second argument I often hear is that predestination is not in the Bible. First, I would say that most denominations with a creed believe in predestination in some form. They may not all agree on what it means, but to some degree, they agree that it comes from God’s will. Secondly, scripture does identify predestination. We have already seen John 6:44, but there are many others:

Ps 65:4 ​"Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!"

Mt 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Acts 2:39 "For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Rom 8:29-30 "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."

Rom 11:5-7 "So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,"

Eph 1:3-6 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."

From the Old Testament to Revelation, predestination is a doctrine God has given us. Paul often writes of election in his epistles. Use your favorite search engine to see many more texts that note predestination. We never know who makes up the elect, so our evangelism must go out to everyone.

Calvin wrote, “God preordained, for His own glory and the display of His attributes of mercy and justice, a part of the human race, without any other merit of their own, to eternal salvation, and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation.”

We were chosen by God, not deemed the elect by merit, the foresight of God, or coercion. I thank God we were.

Peace and Grace!