Predestination: Some thoughts

2Peter 3:7-9

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 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. 

Points to note:

• Hell is reserved for the ungodly
• God is not willing that any should perish

Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 

• Whosoever means just that. This verse it not restricted to a select and chosen few.
• While God is a loving and gracious God, he is also a holy and righteous God.

Hebrews 12:14  

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord

Outside of His righteousness which can only be obtained through Christ, no one will have access to God or His glory.

John 1:12 goes on to say, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" and Rom 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Once again their is no indication that this is for a select and pre-chosen group.

At what point was the thief on the cross received by God? He was a vile and murderous person. It was after he had confessed his sin and at the point that he said, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom" (Luke 23:42). He basically confessed with his mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in his heart that God would raised him from the dead and he was saved (Romans 10:9). At that moment he was chosen of God (Luke 23:43) 

Now for a difficult section of scripture.

Rom 8:28-30

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

What do I know?

1. My God is Just
2. My God is loving of a lost world
3. My God paid the ultimate price in order to redeem lost souls
4. My God is sovereign
5. My God IS God.
6. Scripture is absolute, not contradictory and God's personal, direct word through Christ to all mankind.

As God knows the beginning from the end, he knows who is going to serve Him and who is not. He knows who is going to walk the narrow path and who is going to stray from it. In fact because of His foreknowledge He knew that Adam would sin and that Christ would have to come and die for the sins of the world; the Just for the unjust (1 Peter 3:18). Does this mean that Adam had no free choice? Absolutely not! Rather in-spite of The Alpha and Omega's (Revelation 1:8) knowledge of all things (including the future) he let Adam make his own choices even though He knew what Adam would do. And the same goes for all who have, will and are living today. Its because of His foreknowledge that we are predestined, not because He has left us no choice. This is a difficult concept which can't be fully argued using our logic and understanding but then God's ways are not our ways (Isaisah 55:8-9). At the end of the day we will only fully grasp the truth of who He is when we are with Him in Glory.

1 John 3:2

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.