Predestination: God versus Man

Introduction: It is true that there are many nuances and various types of predestination taught by man. However, this study should focus on the key issues of predestination. Our Portuguese "predestinate" is from the Greek "proorizo". "Pro beforehand," and "Honzo" denotes "score beforehand" Actually, predestination is a biblical theme: "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son ..." (Rom. 8, 29). Again, "according as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will ... "(Ephesians 1: 4, 5).

I. Many accuse God of making sense of people based on their understanding of predestination.

A. However, the Bible clearly affirms and confirms that God is no respecter of persons. "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth, that God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34, see also Rom. 2:6-11, Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 3:25 .) Any doctrine, then that puts God in the position to make an arbitrary meaning people is obviously false. Peter not only declares that God is no respecter of persons, but he continues to show unequivocally that God accepts those. "But in every nation who fear him, and practice righteousness, is accepted with him."

B. Some confuse and equate divine foreknowledge and predestination:

a. Definition of Calvin. Disapproval was, for Calvin, involved in the election, and divine foreknowledge and predestination were identical. The way to define Calvin predestination: "The eternal counsel of God by which he determined what he should do with every human being. Because he created all in the same condition, but ordered some to everlasting life and others to eternal damnation. Thus, according to the purpose for which man was created, say it was predestined to life or to death. " Calvin admits that this is a "horrible decree ..." (The International Standard Bible Enclyclopaedia, vol. 4, p. 2,436).

b. However, God can know a subject beforehand without predetermining the issue to the point that people (in this case) are excluded, to the extent that his will and participation are concerned (see below). Some religions, however, maintains this radical view of predestination, that by insisting on the sovereignty of God, and will totally eliminate the role of man.

II. Predestination as taught in the Bible.

A. The scriptures teach God's foreknowledge. God is able to "declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things not yet done ..." (Isaiah 46: 10). Since God's scheme of redemption was planned from the original creation, it is obvious that God knew that Adam and Eve would sin, etc.. (I Peter 1: 20, Ephesians 1: 4.5, cf. Matthew 25: 34, Revelation 13: 8, 17: 8).

B. Although God knew that Adam and Eve would sin, he does not force or program them to sin. As free moral agents, Adam and Eve chose to commit the sin (Genesis 3). The will of man is involved in their salvation, not coercion compelling of God (John 3:16, Matthew 11:28-30). However, God knew that some would accept, even before they accept (Acts 18:9-11). So some were "ordained to eternal life" because God knew that they would obey the gospel when they heard (Acts 13:48, Romans 10:16).

III. Predestination as taught by man.

A. "From all eternity, God, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass ..." writes the man (Philadelphia Confession of Faith Ch. 6, para. 2-4) . Calvinism teaches that man is so depraved that he can not accept the grace of God without an irresistible special work of the Holy Spirit, independent of man's will.

B. Often, that is what the man teaches that God decided who would be saved and would be lost before the creation, and that this was arbitrary decree of God (that do not involve the man). Listen John Calvin: "As that Scripture clearly shows, saying that the Lord established once and for all, in his eternal and unchangeable counsel, who wanted to make it to salvation, and those who wish to leave it abandoned. When he calls to for salvation, we say that he receives for his free mercy, without regard for their dignity, that, on the contrary, access to life is off limits to all those who wanted to leave it delivered to condemnation; and this is done by your wits hidden and incomprehensible, though fair and impartial. Taught, moreover, that the vocation of the elect is as a demonstration and a testimony to his election. Similarly we say that their justification is another symbol and sign of her, even when they come to glory, in which it will give its fulfillment and its consummation. "

a. There are many religious discussions about the role of God and man for man's salvation. It seems that the man is determined to pervert the simple plan of God for the salvation of men in the teaching man earns his salvation (God's grace is not required) or the fact that salvation is all of God (not man's obedience is involved). As the man is not without sin, God gives the grace necessary obedience by which man can be saved. However, God's grace is not "Sola Gratia" as Calvinists hold.

b. An initial discussion involving the question of predestination was conducted between Pelagius and Augustine of Hippo. In fact, Augustine originally taught the system of five points of predestination of Calvin.

1. Augustine taught that man has nothing to do with his own salvation. The man totally depraved nature inherited from Adam and Eve to the point that they are spiritually unable to take advantage of the grace of God, he still maintained. As a result of the Adamic nature depraved be inherited, babies are born in sin and sinful nature. Augustine argues that the only way to save is God intervene and choose some whom he calls his chosen ones to be saved. This choice is completely arbitrary and independent of the chosen. Those thus chosen, can never be lost or fall from grace. Conversely, those who were not arbitrarily chosen before the foundation of the world to eternal life is irrevocably condemned to hell, with absolutely no hope of salvation, regardless of what they do or do not do. This doctrine, formulated by St. Augustine is the true "Calvinism today."

2. Pelagius, on the other hand, taught that every man is set free as Adam and that each man must choose whether he will serve God or the devil. All men, Pelagius argued, are not sinners because Adam sinned, but because every man violated God's law. Pelagius argued that when God put forth his plan of salvation for all who obey, not just a few whom God has chosen arbitrarily, completely independently of himself. Every man can cooperate with God and be saved by their faith and obedience to God's will. It is tragic that most of those who commented on the results of the discussion in the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus (431 AD), favored the opinions of Augustine. It is also unfortunate that many continue to embrace the atheistic doctrine of Augustine today under the name of Calvinism.

IV. God is a God of love and justice end.

A. The grace of God that brings salvation is available to all (Titus 2:11-14). The elect of God are those who apropiaram the grace of God in simple submission to his will.

B. The election is initiated, continued, and culminated in man exercising his free moral agency and choosing to accept the extension of the grace of God (I Peter 1:2, I Thessalonians 1:4-8, II Peter 1:5-11) .

Conclusion: To conclude, biblical predestination is a proof of God's omniscience. Moreover, the prophecy is based on God's foreknowledge and predestination (check beforehand). Furthermore, the fact that God knew that few would accept his Son is also indicative of the love of God in sending his Son. "The few" who will be saved, are not a group to whom God totally arbitrary, without any involvement on his part, chose to be saved, but those who "enter by the narrow gate" and follow the "narrow way" (Mt 7:13-14).