Predestination

Who Choose Who?

The issue of election of God's children has been a hotly debated and disputed for centuries past and this has led to split among God's children. Although seeking understanding of The Truth is of importance but nevertheless, members of God's family should not because of disagreement, on issues of understanding of The Truth, discredit anyone of his faith.

No matter which views one took to, it must be understood that the scriptures were given not for the purposes of splitting up God's family. The Word of God is complete and supports all that has been revealed.

So, if anyone believes that it is God who wills a man in accordance to His purpose and mercy, with understanding coming from the scriptures, even if we do not agree with him, the least we could do is to respect his understanding in the sight of God's love for him; that he has the faith in God. Likewise, if anyone believes that it is he who makes the decision to seek God, the same measure must be applied by others.

Whichever you may be inclined to believe, what is of importance is not just the ability to show it by verses that support your understanding but at the same time, those verses shown you by those who believe otherwise must be carefully examined and seek understanding to. For God Word never negate one another but fulfil.

Let me give an example:

Supposing you believe that it is God who wills and draw a man, you would probably be quoting verses like:

1. Galatians 1:15

2. Romans 9:16 (Probably the whole chapter of Romans 9)

3. 2 Thessalonians 2:13; and many more.

Most of these verses clearly indicate that it is God who gives of His mercy as He determines.

On the other hand, those who believe that God has given them the freewill to decide if they want Him or otherwise would come out with verses like:

1. John 3:16

2. John 3:18; and verses that show "whoever" in it meaning that it is for everyone.

So what's next? What we must do is to examine both sets of verses and seek understanding to "fit" them into one another as God Word fulfils one another.

Example:

The Bible read, "Whosoever acknowledges me before my Father, I will acknowledge him before my Father" and "that whosoever believes, will not perish but have eternal life". At the same time, the Bible also read, 'It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort but on God's mercy" and "from the beginning God chose you to be saved..'

Those who believe in God's election explained:

It is God who chooses a man to be saved before the man is even borned and such a man is being sent into the world same as all others. God did not create robot out of this man but that he lives as anyone would but that in accordance to God's predestination for his life in according to His purpose, at the right timing of God, He will draw this man to Him and he will hear the voice of the Lord reaching out to him and thus saved. Often chapter 9 of Romans is an indication that this is how it works.

The supporting verses would be that found in the Good Shepherd in John 10, where Jesus proclaimed that there were" lost-sheep" in this world and that He has come as the Gate. Anyone who passes through Him will be saved. So, does "anyone" here means all men? No. For Jesus added "You do not believe because you are not My sheep" when He pointed out to the Pharisees why they would not believe; believe even in His miracles!

This verse "You do not believe because you are not My sheep" clearly indicates that not all in this world are His. For in the English grammar used used, when two statements are joint by the conjunctional word "because", they could answer to the question "Why?"

So if you break up the two statements:

"You do not believe" and ask why? The answer would be that of the second statement by Jesus,

"because you do not believe." And if we ask why again here, it will lead to another statement.

But have Jesus proclaimed it in this manner "You are not My sheep because you do not believe" then it would have make a world of a difference! It would have meant that if anyone were to believe, he would become a sheep as well!

"You are not My sheep" Why?

"because you do not believe" If why is asked again, it will lead to another statement.

Now, for those who believe that it is the freewill given that leads to a man's choice in deciding, this is how they see it:

That God has given freewill to man to choose what they would do with their lives; even deciding if they would choose to believe in God. That God did not create robots but give man the rights to choose Him so that He would know of their faith. For the gift of salvation is now made available to all men and anyone who believes would be saved. It is fair play at works. That God is not biased to some and not others. That He is no respector of man.

Their explaination:

God, through His foreknowledge, would know if a man would come to Him or otherwise. That for those that He knew, due to what He has seen in their lives, He predestines them to be in the likeness of His Son Jesus. So understanding, God chooses man out of His good knowledge of his entire life and when the time comes where the man seek Him, He would save him. It thus fulfil both sets of verses as well.

But the only difference between these two divisions is that one party believes that all is the works of God in accordance to His riches in glory and purpose for man. It shows His sovereignty that He is in complete control of all things.

The other party sees it as the rights given them through the freewill to choose and that God is treating everyone fairly.

Now, if we merge both sides of argument into one picture, this is what we get:

Even if God based His predestination upon His foreknowledge of man's choice, it is still He who does the initial work of faith into the man. For He did that before the creation. In other words, even before the man is sent into the world and later in his life, he decides to choose God, God has already knew of this! So speaking, God created him to be one that will eventually be united with him when the time comes!

Based on this simple Truth, it is therefore spiritually true that there was already separation between those who will be saved and those who will be condemned, even before anyone is borned!

The only issue with man is that he will never come to know of who are those who would be saved and those that will be condemned as the secret is with the LORD. Only God knew; through His foreknowledge!

In ending, we, as Christians, should learn to look at the bigger picture that in both parties, it is FAITH which is at works. God knows those who are His through our faiths. So in whichever understanding that you choose to believe, do not let your understanding lead you to doubt the faith of those who believe not as you do. We are all called to Christ by grace and through faith, we are saved. Understanding is a life-time learning lesson to be taught by God. It is not through understanding that we are saved.

Just as apostle Paul wrote, "So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves." (Romans 14:22)