Beth-El Baptist Church

06/03/2012

Greg Tomlinson


What does predestination mean?


The concept of predestination and the extent of the sovereignty of God has been debated for hundreds of years. On one extreme is the view that man is predestined to act in a certain way for all circumstances of life – God controls every aspect of a person's life. On the other extreme is the view that man's predestination is the result of God's seeing into the future what decisions you will make and thus wills for you to make those decisions. One emphasizes God's sovereignty (essentially eliminating any concept of man's freewill) and the other emphasizes man's freewill (essentially eliminating God's ability to “force” certain choices).


  1. How much force does God use to bring someone to Himself?

Acts 9:1-6 Acts 16:13-14

Acts 18:7-8 Acts 26:26-28

Jeremiah 17:9


Based upon what we read in the book of Acts, God appears to use different amounts of pressure on different people in different circumstances. Paul was essentially cornered into a position of knowing who Jesus Christ is. Lydia believed because the Lord opened his heart which is a direct work of God upon her. Crispus and many people of Corinth heard and believed which says nothing about the amount of effort God used upon the people. Finally, King Agrippa heard the word and did not believe.


  1. Does God's sovereign control cover every aspect of life?

Acts 9:1-6 Jonah 1:1-4; 3:1-3

Galatians 1:5-11 James 4:5-7

1 Peter 5:5 1 Corinthians 14:31-33


If every decision that a man makes is directly controlled by God then it would mean that God made sure that Paul and Jonah rejected the call of God then God changed His mind and later decided that Paul and Jonah when become obedient to Him. But God is not one who changes His mind but He does accomplish what He intends to accomplish. It is easy to recognize that much that takes place in the church is confused but as we see God is not the author of confusion.


  1. Is man's freewill eliminated due to God's sovereignty?

Amos 4:6-12 Jeremiah 44:15-22

Ezekiel 11:17-21


The scriptures very clearly identity that man still maintains his own freewill. Men choose to disobey God despite God's desire for them to obey Him. But there is a limit to that man is capable of doing. Man cannot accomplish anything that is contrary to God's sovereign or intended will. What God truly desires to take place will take place. What man desires to pursue after, he is free to pursue it as long as it is not in direct conflict with God's sovereign will. While man is powerless to enter into a saving relationship with God apart from God's work to accomplish the relationship, he is also powerless to refuse a saving relationship with God if God's desire is for such a relationship to exist. God will use various means to see to it that a specific person enters into the Kingdom of God.


  1. What are some ramifications of an over emphasis on God's sovereignty?

Romans 5:20-6:3 Jude 1:4

James 1:13-15 Ezekiel 3:17-19


One of the ramifications of over emphasizing God's sovereignty is that people will justify sinful behavior and associate their behavior to God's sovereignty. Over emphasizing God's sovereignty will also lead some to refuse to evangelize for they think that it is worthless since God WILL ensure the salvation of the elect.


  1. What are some ramifications of an over emphasis on man's freewill?

Romans 4:1-4 John 10:27-29


One of the ramifications of over emphasizing man's freewill is that in a real sense, an individuals salvation is dependent on their own actions which will in a sense place God in a position of owing that man a debt. God owes them salvation. Over emphasizing man's freewill will also lead to the idea that a man is able to thwart the will of God and overpower God in order to escape out of the saving grasp of God.


  1. How does our view of predestination affect our interaction with others?

2 Timothy 4:1-4 Matthew 28:18-20

Galatians 6:1-2


Regardless of a person's view of how predestination works and to what extent God's sovereignty goes, the job of the believer is no different. We all all called to obey the commands of God which includes the command to “Preach the word” of God to everyone, to make disciples of all people, and to help carry one another's burdens.


While the doctrine of predestination is an important doctrine it must not be used to justify ungodly behavior in our own lives (lasciviousness) nor justify condemning another to the eternal lake of fire that burns for ever and ever (judging).