DOCTRINE OF PREDESTINATION

“17 And as for you, if you will walk before Me, as David your father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and shall observe My Statutes and My Judgments;

18 Then will I stablish the throne of your kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David your father, saying, There shall not fail you a man to be ruler in Israel.

19 But if you turn away, and forsake My Statutes and My Commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;

20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of My Land which I have given them; and this House, which I have sanctified for My Name, will I cast out of My Sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

21 And this House, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passes by it; so that he shall say, Why has the Lord done thus unto this land, and unto this House?

22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore has he brought all this evil upon them.” 2 Chronicles 7:17-22

Predestination as taught in the Bible is the determination of certain things. Those who enter into those things are not robbed of their free will…the Plan of God is still based on whosoever will.

God has a purpose and will for ALL. Before we are ever formed in the womb of our Mother’s belly, God’s purpose if foreordained. Whether we follow in His Will is completely up to us.

“Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

The Plan of Salvation was predestined before the foundation of the world. Jesus Christ Himself…God manifest in the flesh, Who came to die on Calvary’s Cross to Save WHOSOEVER will believe from eternal condemnation; born without spot or blemish…the Lamb of God Himself prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane for this cup of cruel death to pass before Him “…nevertheless not as I Will, but as You Will.” (Matt. 26:39).

Even those who crucified our Lord were not predestined by God to do so. They made this terrible choice of their own free will and if it were not them, sadly there would be others who would have taken their place.

“4 But what was the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5 Even so then at this present time also there is a Remnant according to the election of Grace.

6 And if by Grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise Grace is no more Grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more Grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Romans 11:4-6

God always has and will always have a “Remnant”; a peculiar people who are called by His Name. This Remnant, the ‘Elect’, is predestined…not those who are a part of the Remnant.

“9 God is Gaithful, by Whom you were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

10 Now I beseech you, Brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:9-10

The doctrine of predestination is Scriptural when understood correctly. It is the Will of God for each of our lives that is foreordained and predestined…whether we choose to follow His Will is dependent on us. Decide this day in Whom you believe.

“And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

Follow Jesus. Be determined to know nothing else among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

-Donna Clark Warren