Bible Students

In this passage, Paul’s focus is not predestination vs. free will. His focus is the adoption of Christians into the family of God. I do not think it is wise to pick apart the specific words each biblical author uses apart from their message’s context. However, that being said, I think there are some important notes to be made about the interchange between predestination and free will.

I believe we are responsible for choosing God or not choosing God in the very real way of choosing Him. I believe we do have the power to choose Him or reject Him, and I believe that is necessary to the creation. I believe God, who needs nothing, created the world for the purpose of loving His creation. I believe an integral part of love, and therefore the purpose of creation, is the participation of free agents. Apart from this, I do not believe the purpose of creation makes sense. Due to this, I do believe individuals have the ability and responsibility to choose God. However, I also believe God has “chosen” everyone before creation.

God is both temporal and atemporal. He exists outside of time (before time began, He was) and in time (He can interact inside of time and is personal). He knows the end from the beginning. Therefore, He knows who will be saved and who will not before He creates them. However, He still chose to create all people who He did, for His glory.

All those who are “predestined” to be saved really have to make the decision. God knows what decision they will make, and knows the result, but they still must make it. God created them knowing their salvation would bring Him glory.

All those who are “predestined” to be condemned really have to make the decision. God knows what decision they will make, and knows the result, but they still must make it. God created them knowing their condemnation would bring Him glory. How condemnation brings God glory, I am not sure. It may be that His attributes are expressed, and it may be that hell is less of a conscious torment after realizing their wrong and more of a conscious torment while continuing to hate God more and more, and so His justice and, in some sense, mercy are shown. I say mercy since it seems hell is different for each person, depending on their actions (parable of the punished servants who are punished differently when condemned by the master), and so the punishment of hell is not infinite in magnitude, only in time, which may be as long as the individuals continue to hate God. Scripture is not clear on what hell exactly is.

The short story is, I believe God knows from the beginning what choices will be made, and this is what is meant by predestined, as He has mercy on us to allow us to be saved. However, all people have a real decision to be made as to whether they will accept or reject God.