What is Predestination? Is Predestination Biblical?

Romans 8:29-30 tells us, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” The term predestination, as referenced to in the bible, originated from the Greek word proorizo. It means to have foreknowledge on a situation or a person’s life. One of today’s biggest controversies is determining whether or not God selectively chose those that he wanted to save, or did God offer salvation to everyone and people made their own individual decisions. One theory is known as Calvinism. It is the belief that God selects individuals to salvation entirely to his will without any consideration of that person. The theory in contrast is known as Arminianism. It’s beliefs are that God selects individuals to salvation based on his foreknowledge of that person. After examining both theories, most scholars found that there are valid points within both sides. There is usually only one determining factor that differentiate the two.

The theory of Calvinism originates from the beliefs of John Calvin, a French theologian. “God preordained, for his own glory and the display of His attributes of mercy and justice, a part of the human race, without any merit of their own, to eternal salvation, and another part, in just punishment of their sin, to eternal damnation.”  This belief states that Christ died only for selected Christians rather than for everyone. A natural man is continually committing evil acts that go against God. This process includes three people in order to be successful. It is thought that God first selects those that he know will sin and make mistakes. He is aware that they cannot please him. Secondly he, sends his Son, Jesus Christ, to seek them and to make them more aware of salvation for their sins. Lastly, the individual is completely powerless when it comes to the choice of salvation. God selected those who would receive his glory before he created the world.

In contrast, the theory of Arminianism originates from a guy by the name of Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch theologian. It is the belief that all individuals have the free will to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. God gave his only begotten Son for the sins of everyone, but he has ordained and decided ahead of time who will accept Him as their Lord and Savior. According to this theory, God promises grace, but individuals must choose to receive it through faith and the acts of righteousness. Similar to Calvinism, a natural man will commit sins, speak lies, and engage in unlawful acts. The difference that separates the two, is in Arminianism, after a natural man commits an evil act, he or she has the sole opportunity to seek and receive salvation. In Calvinism, Jesus Christ is sent to seek after those that God has elected. God has predetermined who will receive righteousness since the beginning. The theory of Arminianism allows the individual to take complete control over their spiritual fate.

The term predestination is within two of Paul’s epistles a total of four times. In the book of Romans, Paul is writing a letter to the Jews and the Gentiles of Rome. He is explaining to them the wonderful works of God and his ability to free them from the laws of sin. He informs them that God is aware that they aren’t perfect, and God is aware that they need him desperately in order to become righteous. One must accept the Holy Spirit in its totality in order to receive both life and peace. Paul teaches that the Spirit controls our mind and our actions. It is the Spirit that speaks to God when we are in tears, or when we are crying tears of joy. God, already aware of all individual’s cries, is responsible for making men and women more holy. Paul continues to instill within the people of Rome, the purpose of predestination. He gives certainty that God intended to seek special people as recipients of salvation before he created the world. He gives the chosen people hope, that no power can separate them from God’s love.

Throughout the book of Romans, the well-educated citizen of Rome, Paul, is declaring the authority of God and his overall purpose for those that believe in him. As he composes his letter differentiating Jews and Gentiles, he explains to them that they are children of God whose life has been predetermined. Paul specifically uses the term predestination, God’s foreknowledge and creation of individual’s fate, salvation, and soul. A synonym for the term predestination is Calvinism. This is the theory that God sacrificed his Son, Jesus Christ, on behalf of selected individuals. God is responsible for sending the resurrected Christ to seek those that He has chosen to make them aware of forgiveness and salvation for their sins. Opposing Calvinism, there is a theory that states, that God surrendered his son Jesus Christ for the benefit of all individuals. Those individuals must choose to seek the faith in God for the gift of salvation. Paul states in Roman chapter eight, that God is aware of all of man’s trials and tribulations. In his letter, he informs them that God has already planned the day to free them from all of their troubles. Paul speaks with certainty that God has meticulously ordained their lives, making them righteous and more identical to Christ.