The word “predestination” comes from the Greek word; proorizo, which means that a specific outcome has been predetermined.  In the human arena, predestination means that a person has no choice but to conform to a predetermined model or template, to perform a predetermined act(s), or to become a predetermined type of person.  Predetermination is applied to people both positively and negatively.  It is often used as an excuse to behave in a particular, usually negative, manner.  A popular song from the distant past that reflected such a mind-set was titled: “Born to be Wild.”  Another expression used to explain one’s anti-social behavior is “The Devil made me do it.”  “We are what we are” is sometime uttered when a person considered bad does yet another bad thing.  Saying that one is the product of a “bad seed” (gene) expresses the same globally accepted “truth” that, due to circumstances beyond one’s control, one has turned out to be what one was predetermined to be.  “Proof” of the above is often lifted from the Holy Bible to explain why “bad Bruce” has always been bad and will always be bad.  After all, his father is also bad.  You know, like father–like son.

And then there are those who have always been “good” and, in the opinion of all who know them, always will be good.  “Sally is just a saint.”  And as it often turns out, so is her mother, and so was her grandmother.

Which begs the question: are we human beings prejudged before we are born?  Has God already decided who will be what in terms of character before we have a chance to obey or disobey Him?  Because of a misunderstanding of the Biblical teaching on predestination, some people believe the answer to be “Yes.”  How else do you explain bad Bruce and saintly Sally? who, as it sometimes turns out, are brother and sister.  Consensus holds that there can be only one explanation for this situation–DIVINE INTERVENTION.  Is it true that God leaves human beings no choice as to whether they will become saints or sinners?

Let us study God’s Word in search of the answer to that question.  Let us begin with Deuteronomy 30:19 where God is speaking to the children of Israel whose descendants make up the majority of His true church today: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE ….”  Just as He did for their (our) original ancestors in the Garden of Eden, He gave Israel (and later the Gentiles) the choice of living or dying, being blessed or cursed.  Adam and Eve chose death, as have the vast majority of their Israelite and Gentile descendants.  Every human being is either a biological Israelite or a biological Gentile.  God goes into intricate detail concerning his promises of life and death in the future as well as blessings and cursings in the present.

Man has a free will; he is not a string puppet on the stage of life.  “Whosoever will” says it all.  First John 3:6,8,9,10 identifies those who will and will not.  Please read those verses carefully for they define the “whosoever” who will spend eternity with the Lord.  Note that “whosoever” makes the ultimate decision.  No one can state the mind of the Lord like the Apostle John.  No delicate language; no attempt to stroke the ego–just the Sword of the Spirit straight to the heart.  If one refuses to believe John, one is in deep trouble.  If I were to be placed on an island and allowed to take only one Biblical chapter with me, it would be the third chapter of First John.  Each time I read those precious Words they remind me of God’s will for my life–to walk in agreement with Him.  He asks: “Can two walk together unless they agree?” (Amos 3:3).  When one submits one’s will to His will, one shows agreement with Him.  Notice that the key word is “WALK,” not believe (faith).  James graphically distinguishes between the two in 2:10,14,17,18,24,26.  A great, life or death gulf separates believing and doing.  Whether one does what one believes depends on one’s will.  True saints submit their will to the Lord’s will.

The perfect example of will submission was demonstrated by Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane when preparing for the ordeal He was about to face.  Being a man like all other men, He had a human will like all other men.  However, unlike most other men, He submitted His will to God’s will by saying: “… not My will but Your will be done” (Mat. 26:39).  That decision made, He then FULFILLED THE FATHER’S WILL.  HE DID WHAT GOD WILLED.  Let it be known to one and all: JESUS COULD HAVE FAILED TO FULFILL HIS COMMISSION.  From childhood until the moment of His death, He had decisions to make as I prove Biblically in the series titled Jesus of Nazareth: God, Man or God-man.  Key word–God-man.  In Matthew 26:41 we find Him talking to His disciples about such decision-making: “Watch (stay vigilant) and pray (for power) so that you will not give in to temptation, for the (man’s) spirit is indeed willing, but the (man’s) flesh is weak.”  Everyone has a choice whether to obey the flesh or the spirit.  Note that Jesus was talking to those who had committed themselves to following Him.  Adam and Eve chose the first option and their descendants, with the exception of God’s tiny remnant, have followed in their spiritual footsteps.  Even among His disciples, one gave in to the flesh.  Read Persecution to understand why billions have chosen to follow the call of the flesh.  Recall that the first human being described as “righteous” was martyred (Mat. 23:35).

Jesus said that choosing to reject one or all of His and His Father’s Words proves that one despises both Him and His Father (Lk. 10:16).  Read Romans 6:22 for a mind-clearing, Sword of the Spirit Truth relative to God’s command for obedience.  In that those who disobey God and Christ prove that they despise Them, would they not also despise those who obey Them?  Jesus said they would (Lk. 6:22/ Jn. 16:18).

Were Adam and Eve predestined to walk in sin and die?  Was Jesus predestined to walk in holiness and live?  Are we predestined to obey or disobey the Lord?  In one sense–no.  In another sense–yes.  L.J.