Bonnie's Opinion // Predestination

This morning I would like to chat a bit about my opinion on the popular topic of 'predestination'. I'm sure you've heard of it. It originates from Scriptures such as the following:

Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

That section at the end there (among a few other Bible verses), "but few chosen" is what people who believe in predestination base their theology on. In it's essence, predestination means that God picked some people that He would save, and others he did not pick.

Since this is an opinion post, I am going to state my opinion here. If you don't like the idea of hearing my opinion, perhaps don't read this post. :P I'm all for sharing opinions in a loving way. If you agree with me, that's cool. If you don't agree with me, that's also cool. I'm quite happy for people to disagree with me. The fact is, there is a bit of a grey area around a lot of these theology disagreements. If there wasn't a grey area there wouldn't be any need to discuss it! :) So I'm going to share my opinion - and please feel free to share yours in the comments section. :) 

You ready? *here we go*

I believe with all my heart, as it says in Psalm 7:11 (and in many other places throughout Scripture), that God is a righteous judge. He is a perfect and just judge. He will judge each human being according to his or her sin. 

Romans 2:6 God will repay each person according to what they have done.

For those who have been sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ who died on the cross as payment for the sins of anyone who would believe in him, however, it's different. God looks at us in the light of his Son. Jesus's blood has washed away our sin and we are therefore perfect. God sees our perfection and that makes us 'eligible' if you like for Heaven. Jesus's death and resurrection on the cross has made a way for us to go to Heaven to be with him.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him will not die but have everlasting life.

That says clearly that God loved the world. Now, I don't know about you, but when I see that, I think of 'the world'. The world includes everyone in it. All of it's inhabitants.

You see, many of those who believe in predestination believe that Jesus only died for those whom God pre-picked. Well, John 3:16 seems to say pretty clearly that Jesus died for the entire world. Not only John 3:16 either, but many others, including these three:

1 Tim 4:10 (emphasis mine) 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.

1 John 2:2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

1 John 4:14 And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

I believe that Jesus died for all men, as the Scriptures state clearly.
Have a look at this verse:

Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

God is no respecter of persons. People who believe in predestination believe that God has pre-picked some people for eternity with him. However, God is no respecter of individual people and he loves all of us the same. His love and grace is available to anyone!

We now come to my main point.

In order for God to be a righteous and absolutely just judge, predestination cannot possibly happen.

You see, I believe as I said above that God is an absolutely just judge. However, how is it just and fair to pick some people to save and to pick some others to cast into damnation? Because by not choosing the rest, in a roundabout way he would be effectively choosing them for damnation.

We are judged on our own merits. I believe that each individual has the right to choose whether to accept Jesus's payment for our sins and the free gift of eternal life... or whether to reject that gift.

Bear in mind that there is a difference between foreknowledge and predestination.

I believe that God knows everything. He is in charge of everything. He knows what's happened, what's happening and what's going to happen.

However, knowing something is different to predestining something.

I believe that God knows what's going to happen in the future and knows who will accept him and who will reject him. However, that does not stop him offering his grace, mercy and forgiveness freely to all. In order for him to judge everyone fairly, everyone must have the option of accepting or rejecting him. So each human must choose between death and life. There is no middle ground.

God loves everyone equally and wants all of mankind to be restored to him.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

He wants everyone to come to repentance. Just because he knows someone will never come to repentance does not mean he loves them any less! He still offers them the free gift of eternal life.

He respects our decision. And the decision is ours to make.

So anyway, there's my opinion on predestination! Do feel free to state your opinion in the comments... this should be an interesting comments section!

The other opinion post I'm thinking about at the moment is 'Once Saved, Always Saved'. Keep a look out for that one to pop up sometime.

Have a lovely day!

PS. My family is moving house this weekend! We would appreciate your prayers that everything goes smoothly. :) Thank you and bless you guys!