Predestination

Predestination depends on God’s sovereignty

He is the Creator of all things

Jeremiah 32:17–19 KJV 1900

Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name, Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

See also Ge 1:1; Job 38:1–4; Is 44:24–28; Is 45:12–13; Is 48:12–14

He rules over nature and history

Proverbs 16:4 KJV 1900

The Lord hath made all things for himself: Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

See also Ge 18:10–14; Ps 67:4; Pr 16:9; Pr 16:33; Pr 21:1; Mt 8:23–27; Mt 10:29–30; Ac 17:26

His will is perfect

Genesis 18:25 KJV 1900

That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

See also Ex 33:19; Dt 32:4; Job 8:3; Ps 119:137; Da 4:37

God’s predestined purposes cannot be thwarted

Human beings cannot stand against his will

Romans 9:19–21 KJV 1900

Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

See also Ps 2:1–4; Pr 19:21; Pr 21:30; Is 14:24–27; Is 46:10–12; Da 4:35

False gods are impotent before him

Psalm 115:3–8 KJV 1900

But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: Eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: Noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: Feet have they, but they walk not: Neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; So is every one that trusteth in them.

See also Is 44:8–20; Is 45:20; Is 48:14

He brings good out of evil

Genesis 50:20 KJV 1900

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

See also Ge 15:13–16; Ge 45:4–8

Predestination undergirds biblical prophecy

It explains the prophets’ confidence

1 Kings 22:17–28 KJV 1900

And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And the Lord said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said, I will persuade him. And the Lord said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee. But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak unto thee? And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son; And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.

See also 1 Pe 1:10–12

It is demonstrated in the fulfilment of prophecy

1 Kings 22:29–38 KJV 1900

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot. And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country. So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the Lord which he spake.

See also Mt 1:22; Mt 2:15; Mt 2:23; Mt 4:14; Mt 8:17; Mt 12:17–19; Ac 2:17–25; Ac 3:22–25; Ac 13:27–30; Ac 15:15–18

The life and ministry of Jesus Christ was predestined

In that it was predicted by the prophets

Isaiah 9:6–7 KJV 1900

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

See also Is 11:1–10; Is 52:13–53:12; Je 23:5–6; Ac 3:18; Ga 4:4–5

In his sufferings and death

Acts 2:23 KJV 1900

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

See also Mt 16:21; Lk 18:31–32; Lk 22:22; Lk 24:25–27; Lk 24:44–45; Jn 13:1; Ac 4:27–30

In the outcome it achieved

Genesis 3:15 KJV 1900

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

God’s purpose in predestination is to bless his people

In the path their lives follow

Romans 8:28 KJV 1900

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.

See also Ps 139:14–16; Je 29:11; Mt 10:29–31

In their salvation

Romans 8:29–30 KJV 1900

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.

See also Ge 12:1–3; Mt 11:25–27; Mk 4:11; Jn 6:37–44; Ac 13:48; 1 Th 5:9

In their assurance of salvation

Romans 8:31–39 KJV 1900

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

See also Jn 10:27–29; Jn 17:2; Eph 1:3–14 Predestination is basic to Christian certainty.

Regarding final perseverance

Philippians 1:6 KJV 1900

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

See also Ps 138:8; Jn 6:37–40; Php 2:12–13; Jas 5:11

Regarding God’s call to righteousness

Ephesians 2:10 KJV 1900

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

See also Je 1:4–5; Ac 22:10; Ga 1:15–17

Regarding future inheritance

John 14:2–3 KJV 1900

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

See also Mt 25:34; Ro 8:30

God predestines judgment

Isaiah 65:11–12 KJV 1900

But ye are they that forsake the Lord, That forget my holy mountain, That prepare a table for that troop, And that furnish the drink offering unto that number. Therefore will I number you to the sword, And ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: Because when I called, ye did not answer; When I spake, ye did not hear; But did evil before mine eyes, And did choose that wherein I delighted not.

See also Ge 6:17 the flood; Ex 7:13; Ex 9:13–18; Jos 11:20; 2 Ki 19:25–26; Is 14:24–27 judgment on Assyria; Is 19:12–14; Is 23:9 judgment on Tyre; Je 49:20; Je 50:45 judgment on Babylon; 1 Pe 2:6–8; Is 8:14–15

Predestination does not set aside human responsibility

Philippians 2:12–13 KJV 1900

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

See also Jn 6:37; Jn 6:40; Ac 13:48