First off, an introduction. I'm immensely grateful to God for his saving Grace - The idea of Predestination is an explanation and outworking of what Grace means. Personally, I'm very aware of the reality of Predestination - and the accompanying doctrines of Grace. Academically, it's directly related to the Sovereignty of God - so I'm actually writing about Predestination for around 35% of my Dissertation. It's also something that marks me as different from some Christians - and something I've blogged about. I honestly strive to be someone who loves Jesus - hence the first part of the Title - and to be faithful to what I believe the Bible says, even on the tough stuff.
Calvinism (you may use words like; Doctrines of Grace, Predestination, Election etc) is a contentious subject - in the Christian understanding, I've often used the analogy of a Car in relation to the Gospel. Its something I've blogged - these posts may help: Calvin's Car - written in response to some other blogs (specifically a post from blogger/Worship leader Vicky Beeching), specifically looking at the analogy as a useful expression: Calvin's Car (This post looks at some of the texts that Vicky used to 'disprove' Calvinism, very briefly - http://admiralcreedy.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/oil-for-calvins-car.html)
Guest Post: Loving Election - this is a post from a friend of mine in Nottingham, Phil Whitehead - he talks about how God's love is directly a part of Sovereignty/Election/Predestination - might be worth looking at - Guest Post: Loving Election
Those three Posts will hopefully be useful - and will be good ones to share with people. The tag 'predestination' will link to a variety of things on my blog - feel free to read and use them.
Basically, Predestination is the Biblical doctrine that all events have been willed by God. In terms of salvation, it is the doctrine that God has chosen/willed eternal damnation for some and eternal salvation for others. The practical outworking of Predestination is what we boring theologians call 'Election'. God predestines us for salvation, then uses his sovereignty to elect us - before the beginning of time (Though God is of course outside and beyond time), for his own Glory, and his own purposes.
Obviously, this is a hard doctrine to swallow.
The basis of it is the biblical understanding that everyone is fallen - we know this from Genesis, but a good text to show it would be Romans - read chapters 2 and 3. Romans 3v11-18 is clear that no=one deserves God's love - Paul quotes various OT verses to make his point. From this - and Jesus would emphasise it - we know that the only way to be saved is through Jesus. John 3:16 is a famous verse - but its worth reading verses 16-18 - where 18 shows us clearly that no-one is going to be saved: if you haven't believed, you need to believe in God.
I think there are three questions that one needs to ask on this topic:
Where do we get the idea of predestination from, biblically speaking?
Whole books have been written on this! I'd encourage you to look at Romans 9 - its a tough chapter, really tough, but it shows that God is in control of events. Its very easy to go back and look at Pharoah, for example, to see an example of God's heart hardening. The other great proof-text for predestination is Ephesians 1 - which makes it clear that predestination - in Christ - is a good thing. A great thing. In Christ. It's a Jesus thing.
What about the Gospel/Evangelism?
We need to read everything about Predestination as being SECONDARY to the Gospel. Its NOT the same. Its crucial, and explanatory, but its different. For example, Paul in Romans (obviously inspired by the Holy Spirit) follows up the predestinarian/hard Romans 9 with the radical Romans 10 - where we read in verse 9 that you WILL be saved if you "believe in your heart/confess with your mouth" (ESV). It's a radical juxtaposition - because we (And indeed paul!) do not know who is saved - we have to follow Jesus and get on with the explanation of the Gospel in accordance with the Great Commission (Matt 28...)
Did Jesus believe in Predestination?
Jesus is often (in academic, and also liberal/universalist/lame popular theology pitched against Paul on doctrinal issues. This is of course a nonsense. Paul LOVED Jesus, and Jesus died to save Paul, and rose again in order to speak to him and commission him. Jesus spoke often of two kinds of people (see sheep and goats in John 10 etc) and we can see the pattern of Jesus choosing his first followers. I would say Jesus believed in, and preached with an understanding of, a Predestination/Sovereignty of God understanding of reality.
Ultimately, it IS all about Jesus. We need to point people to him - because those of us who believe God chooses don't know who, and everyone else knows its all about Jesus. Predestination is being certain of our faith - because God says so, in Jesus. If you have confessed and believe in Jesus - you ARE saved. Its just a fact.
John 3 is about as 'calvinistic' as it gets..
ReplyDeleteI also think that we too often pull the doctrine out of the pastoral context in which it normally taught in scripture: http://www.thingsfindothinks.com/2011/12/calvinism-vs-arminianism-and-the-need-for-context/
ReplyDeleteGod wills all events. It is the will of God that all men be saved. These two statements are incompatible, but you argue they are both biblical.
ReplyDeleteI also struggle to see the possibility of God who predestines all events, including sin. If we are to blame for sin (which the bible suggests), then it is compatible to believe that God 'chooses' who is saved. If God prescribed our sin, then moral accountability is difficult to justify.
It is safer to conclude that, biblically speaking, predestination refers only to salvation, and should not be confused with biblical text that suggests God knows every event before it has happened.
As it happens, I believe salvation is an opportunity for all humans everywhere, but that, ultimately, it is a secondary issue and should have little impact as to how we function in day to day Christian living.
I believe predestination has to do with the fact that God is sovereign above all. Who can tell Him what to do? And who can ask Him, what are You doing? The fact that we are alive now means we were elected do live, and it's up to us to choose wether we want to continue to live or not by believing in Christ. If you choose to believe in Christ, then you are predestined. And if you choose not to believe in Christ, then that means you are not. It's your choice! Salvation is literally in your own hands. (See Job 40:14 Then I will also confess to you That your own right hand can save you.)
ReplyDeleteOur humility towards the Father allows us to accept predestination. We must allow God to be God and submit to whatever it is that He does without question.
Findo - thanks for the comments. much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteGeorge - Thanks for the comment. I think I dealt with that 'paradox' in the second post, "Oil for Calvin's Car"? I may not have done. I believe there is a distinction between God's providence, and predestination, but they both come under the banner of God's Sovereignty.
Anonymous - thanks for the comment. Not quite sure what you are getting at, but I THINK I agree - vaguely!