Election and Predestination

"[God] who has saved us and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because of his purpose and grace." 2 Timothy 1:9 (NIV)


What is election and predestination? Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines predestination as the biblical teaching that declares the sovereignty of God over human beings in such a way that the freedom of the human will is also preserved.

Christians and the Church are appointed by God according to the Scripture. Acts 13 says "when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the Word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed" (48). Does this mean that God chooses some for salvation and condemns the others for death? Paul writes "this is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim 2:3-4). And Romans 9 says "What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For He says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy" (14-16). So the only way that I can understand election is that there is no way for me to comprehend it in my humanity. Ephesians says "for he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the one he loves" (1:4-6). I believe that everyone is given the opportunity to come to know God, but many refuse the offer. This doesn't mean that God doesn't want them to be saved, it just means that He ultimately knows they will refuse because He is omnipotent and knows everything from beginning to end. I think it breaks His heart to know that so many will be judged in the end, but in His holiness and perfection, He is a just God who will do what is necessary to fulfill the plan.

So what does this mean for His disciples? We are given the Great Commission in the gospels of the New Testament. Jesus said "therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20). Our purpose here on Earth is the spread the good news of Jesus' love and sacrifice for all the world. We should not be confused by election or predestination, saying that "whoever will be saved will be saved" for we never know when we are the one persons who is supposed to reach out and succeed at bringing someone into the family of God.