The Bible Doctrine of
Predestination
Introduction:
Some believe
that God must unconditionally elect individuals to be saved, all others are hopelessly and helplessly lost. Did God arbitrarily choose to
save some and destroy others before the foundation of the world? Is it true
that nothing can be done to change God’s sovereign decree?
I. Objections to this doctrine:
A. It makes God
a respecter of persons.
1.
God is
impartial. See Rom. 2:11; Col. 3:25; Eph. 6:9; Acts 10:34
B.
It makes God
responsible for the damnation of the world.
1.
This makes God
responsible for leaving helpless man in a damned condition. What about Ezek.
33:11; 18:21-23; 26-30; 32
C.
It nullifies
the great commission.
1.
Scriptures say
to teach the gospel to the world. See Mk. 16:15-16; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9;
Titus 2:11-14
2.
If nothing can
change anybody’s status before God, why preach the gospel? Why warn people to
flee the wrath to come?
D.
It refuses to
accept that Christ died for all.
1.
Christ died
for every man – Heb. 2:9. See also 1 Tim. 2:6; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:14.
E.
It rejects the
free will choice of man.
1.
The Scriptures
teach man is responsible for his actions. See Rom. 6:16; 14:12; Josh. 24:15;
Deut. 30:19; Isa. 7:15-16
F.
It makes every
call to repentance hypocritical.
1.
God has
commanded all men everywhere to repent – Acts 17:30.
II. What the Scriptures Teach About Predestination
A.
Ephesians
1:3-14
B.
God chose the
plan of salvation to be in Christ.
1.
Note the emphasis on Jesus in 1:3-13:
C.
Note 1:12-13
– salvation is described as being conditioned upon having "heard"
and "believed."
D.
Read Romans
8:28-30
E.
God is able to
look out across a great vista and foresee things that shall be brought into
being.
F.
He is able to
speak of things which do not exist as though they were already completed.
Concluding Thoughts
A.
God is in
sovereign control.
B.
Man has the
responsibility to either accept or reject God’s plan of salvation. What will
your decision be?
C.
I N V I T A T I O N