What is Predestination?

There’s much confusion about “predestination”; that’s the biblical term meaning “to determine before, to foreknow, to elect.”

Modern World Comparison

From time to time, we all get calls from people trying to sell us something over the phone. The telemarketing companies decide beforehand what numbers to call. Those who are called can either hang up or listen. What the telemarketing companies don’t foreknow is, who will listen? God, who knows all of our numbers, predetermined before the foundation of the world, not only who He would call, but He also who would listen.

The Bible says GOD determined beforehand…

  • to offer us His Son; John 3:16closeJohn 3:16 For God So Loved the World 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV) closeJohn 3:16closeJohn 3:16 For God So Loved the World 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV) For God So Loved the World 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV) “For God so loved the wold, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
  • how we would be adopted; Ephesians 1:5closeEphesians 1:5 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (ESV) closeEphesians 1:5closeEphesians 1:5 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (ESV) 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (ESV) “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.”
  • who would be called to receive salvation; Romans 8:30closeRomans 8:30 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (ESV) closeRomans 8:30closeRomans 8:30 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (ESV) 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (ESV) says, “and those He predestined, He also called; those; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.”

The proper balance in understanding predestination is this, while it involves God’s divine choice, predestination never eliminated human will. Romans 10:13closeRomans 10:13 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (ESV) closeRomans 10:13closeRomans 10:13 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (ESV) 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (ESV) says “For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” John 1:12closeJohn 1:12 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (ESV) closeJohn 1:12closeJohn 1:12 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (ESV) 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (ESV) says, “…As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of god, even to those who believe in His name.”