Predestination is the doctrine that God, in His sovereignty, has foreordained all that will happen, including the eternal destinies of individuals. It is closely associated with salvation, emphasizing God’s divine plan and purpose.

Key Aspects of Predestination

1. Definition: Predestination refers to God’s eternal decision to determine the fate of individuals or events according to His will and purpose.
2. Biblical Basis: “He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” (Ephesians 1:4-5).
3. Key Views on Predestination:

• Unconditional Predestination: Associated with Calvinism, this view teaches that God’s choice of who will be saved or not is based solely on His will and not on any foreseen merit, actions, or faith of individuals.
• Conditional Predestination: Associated with Arminianism, this view holds that God predestines individuals based on His foreknowledge of their faith and decisions.
• Corporate Predestination: Some see predestination as applying to groups rather than specific individuals.

1. Purpose of Predestination:

• To demonstrate God’s sovereignty, grace, and mercy.
• To fulfill His plan of redemption and conform believers to His will.

1. Predestination and Free Will:

• There is significant debate about how predestination interacts with human free will. Some believe God’s sovereign plan and human choice coexist, while others emphasize one over the other.

Implications of Predestination:

1. Assurance for Believers:

• Predestination provides confidence that salvation is part of God’s eternal plan and cannot be undone.

1. Responsibility:

• Even with predestination, believers are called to live holy lives and actively follow God’s will.

1. Humility:

• Recognizing that salvation is ultimately God’s work fosters humility and gratitude.

Key Scripture References:

• 2 Timothy 1:9: “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.”
• Romans 9:16: “It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”

Written by AI. A more correct, God given, explanation can be found here.