Reference: Predestination
Easton
This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Ac 4:28; Ro 8:29-30; 1Co 2:7; Eph 1:5,11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events.
This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guide, we must accept this doctrine with all its mysteriousness, and settle all our questionings in the humble, devout acknowledgment, "Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight."
For the teaching of Scripture on this subject let the following passages be examined in addition to those referred to above; Ge 21:12; Ex 9:16; 33:19; De 10:15; 32:8; Jos 11:20; 1Sa 12:22; 2Ch 6:6; Ps 33:12; 65:4; 78:68; 135:4; Isa 41:1-10; Jer 1:5; Mr 13:20; Lu 22:22; Joh 6:37; 15:16; 17:2,6,9; Ac 2:28; 3:18; 4:28; 13:48; 17:26; Ro 9:11,18,21; 11:5; Eph 3:11; 1Th 1:4; 2Th 2:13; 2Ti 1:9; Tit 1:2; 1Pe 1:2. (See Decrees of God; Election of Grace.)
Hodge has well remarked that, "rightly understood, this doctrine (1) exalts the majesty and absolute sovereignty of God, while it illustrates the riches of his free grace and his just displeasure with sin. (2.) It enforces upon us the essential truth that salvation is entirely of grace. That no one can either complain if passed over, or boast himself if saved. (3.) It brings the inquirer to absolute self-despair and the cordial embrace of the free offer of Christ. (4.) In the case of the believer who has the witness in himself, this doctrine at once deepens his humility and elevates his confidence to the full assurance of hope" (Outlines).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
so that if the Lord should suffer it to last, no man could escape: but he will not suffer the time to last long, out of regard to his elect.
the son of man indeed must die, as it was decreed: but wo to that man by whom he is betrayed.
all those whom my father gives me, shall come to me; and I will not reject any that come to me.
it was not you that chose me, but I that chose you, and establish'd you, that your travels may be fruitful, and your fruit be lasting: so that whatever ye shall ask of the father for my sake, he will give it you.
for thou hast given him power over all men, that he might give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
I have displayed thy name among those whom you have chosen out of the world for me: thine they were, and you gave them me; and they have kept thy word.
"It is for them I pray: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, because they are thine.
thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy by thy presence."
but thus it is that God has accomplished what he had foretold by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer.
to effect what thy power and thy wisdom pre-determined to be done.
to effect what thy power and thy wisdom pre-determined to be done.
when the Gentiles heard this, they received the word with joy, glorifying the Lord: and as many as were dispos'd to eternal life, believed.
he he has deduced all mankind from one parent, to inhabit the surface of the whole earth, having pre-establish'd the appointed periods, and the boundarys of their dominions:
for whom he before approv'd, he predispos'd to follow the example of his son, who was to conduct them all as their elder brother; but whom he predispos'd, he calls: and whom he has call'd, he justifies: and whom he has justified, he glorifies.
for before they were born, and had done neither good or evil, that the distinction which God had purposed to make might appear to be, not in consideration of their actions, but of his own free call,
thus some he pursues with his favours, and abandons others to their obduracy, according as he thinks fit.
is not the potter the master of his own clay, of the same mass to make one vessel for use and ornament, and another for a meaner purpose?
in like manner at this time there is also a remnant chosen by the divine favour;
having predetermin'd to adopt us by Jesus Christ to be his children, according to the good pleasure of his own will,
It is by him, that we have a share in the inheritance, which was before allotted to us, in consequence of his design, who executes the whole plan, as he himself had contriv'd it:
in pursuance of that dispensation which he made to former ages by Christ Jesus our Lord:
being firmly attach'd to, and founded upon him: establishing yourselves in the faith you have been taught, and being thankful for the improvement you make therein.
and gives the expectation of eternal life, which the God of veracity promised so many ages ago;
attach'd to the truth, that has been taught him, that he may be able to teach others sound doctrine, and to convince those who oppose it.
Fausets
(See ELECTION.) Ac 2:23; 4:28, "whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done" (proorisen). God has "predestinated" believers "unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace." "He hath chosen us in Christ" out of the rest of the world, "predestinated" us to all things that secure the inheritance for us (Eph 1:4-5,11). "Predestination" refers to God's decree, embodied in God's "election" of us out of the mass; His grand end. in it being "the praise of the glory of His grace" (Eph 1:6,12,14). It is by virtue of our union to Christ, "foreordained before the foundation of the world" (1Pe 1:20), that we are "predestinated" (2Ti 1:9).
Believers are viewed by God before the world's foundation as "IN CHRIST" with whom the Father makes the covenant (Re 13:8; 17:8; Eph 3:11), "according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." In 2Th 2:13 the Greek for "chosen" (heilato) means rather "taken for Himself"; He adopted them in His eternal purpose; "in (Greek) sanctification of (i.e. by) the Spirit" (by consecration to perfect holiness in Christ once for all, next by imparting it to them ever more and more). There was no doubt or contingency with God from the first. All was foreordained. God's glory and the believer's salvation are secured unchangeably. All pride on man's part is excluded; all is of God's unmerited grace. Yet the will of man is, in the sense of preserving our reponsibility, free. God alone knows how the two harmonize, His predestination and our freedom; it is enough for us they are both distinctly revealed.
At the same time fatalism is excluded, for God who predestinated believers to salvation as the end predestinated them to be conformed to the image of His Son as the means. We must make as sure of the means as of the end. Not to have the Spirit of Christ is to be none of His. Yet God's predestination is not founded on the believer's character, but the believer's character results from God's predestination (2Th 2:13; Ro 8:9,28-30). God the Father gives us salvation by gratuitous election; the Son earns it by His blood-shedding; the Holy Spirit applies the Son's merits to the soul by the gospel word (Calvin): Ga 1:4,15; 1Pe 1:2; the element IN (Greek) which we are elected is "sanctification of (consecration once for all by) the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" (the end aimed at by God as regards us).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by means of the wicked, have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up,
to effect what thy power and thy wisdom pre-determined to be done.
you are not in such a state, but in a spiritual one, provided the divine spirit dwell in you. now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
We know too, that all things co-operate for the good of those who love God, who, pursuant to his purpose, has now called them: for whom he before approv'd, he predispos'd to follow the example of his son, who was to conduct them all as their elder brother; read more. but whom he predispos'd, he calls: and whom he has call'd, he justifies: and whom he has justified, he glorifies.
that he might deliver us from the vices of this present age, according to the will of God, even our father: to
but when it pleased God, who ordained me from my birth, and called me by his especial favour, to reveal his son to me,
according as he had chosen us in himself before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, free from vice, and devoted to virtue. having predetermin'd to adopt us by Jesus Christ to be his children, according to the good pleasure of his own will, read more. to display the glory of his grace, which has render'd us acceptable by his beloved son:
It is by him, that we have a share in the inheritance, which was before allotted to us, in consequence of his design, who executes the whole plan, as he himself had contriv'd it: that we should celebrate his glory, who were the first that plac'd our hopes in Christ.
and this is the pledge of our inheritance, being given for the deliverance of his peculiar people, to the display of his glory.
in pursuance of that dispensation which he made to former ages by Christ Jesus our Lord:
As for you, my brethren, the favourites of the Lord, we are oblig'd to render perpetual thanks to God, for having chosen you from the beginning, in purifying you by his spirit, upon your believing the gospel.
As for you, my brethren, the favourites of the Lord, we are oblig'd to render perpetual thanks to God, for having chosen you from the beginning, in purifying you by his spirit, upon your believing the gospel.
who has saved us, and by the gospel hath called us to holiness, not in consideration of our works, but in pursuance of his own resolution, and the favour, which having been promised us by Jesus Christ several ages ago,
who was destin'd before the creation of the world, tho' 'tis of late only that he has appear'd, upon your account:
all that dwell upon the earth will worship him, whose names are not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the lamb, that was slain.
the beast that thou sawest, was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, shall wonder when they behold the beast that was, and is not, but shall be.
Hastings
The English word 'predestinate' in the AV is, in the few cases in which it occurs (Ro 8:29,36; Eph 1:5,11), exchanged in the RV for 'foreordain,' a return to the usage of the older Versions. The Gr. word (proorizo) conveys the simple idea of defining or determining beforehand (thus, in addition to above, in Ac 4:29; 1Co 2:7). The change in rendering brings the word into closer relation with a number of others expressing the same, or related, meanings, as 'foreknow' (in pregnant sense, Ac 2:23; Ro 8:29; 11:2; 1Pe 1:2,20), 'determine' (Ac 17:26), 'appoint' (1Pe 2:8), 'purpose' (Eph 1:9), in the case of believers, 'choose' or 'elect' (Eph 1:4 etc.). In the OT the idea is expressed by the various words denoting to purpose, determine, choose (e.g. Isa 14:24-27; 46:10-11), with the ahundance of phrases extolling the sovereignty and immutability of God's counsel in all the spheres of His operation (see below; so in NT). The best clue to the Scripture conception will he found in tracing it as it appears in these different spheres of the Divine action.
1. In its most general aspect, foreordination is coextensive with the sphere of God's universal providence, is, in fact, but another name for the eternal plan, design, purpose, counsel of God, which executes itself in providence. The election of believers, to which 'predestination' is sometimes narrowed, is hut a specific case of the 'purpose' of Him 'who worketh all things after the counsel of his will' (Eph 1:11). It is in this wider regard, accordingly, that foreordination must be studied first. It cannot be reasonably doubted that all Scripture
See Verses Found in Dictionary
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? yet not one of them shall lose its life independently of your father, by whom the very hairs of your head are all numbred:
him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by means of the wicked, have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up,
thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy by thy presence."
to effect what thy power and thy wisdom pre-determined to be done. and now, Lord, behold their threatnings: and enable thy servants to deliver thy word with freedom,
he that does all these things, is the Lord himself that has said it." for the works of God are all known to him from the beginning of the world.
for by the holy spirit it seemed good to us, to lay no greater burthen upon you, than these necessary injunctions;
he he has deduced all mankind from one parent, to inhabit the surface of the whole earth, having pre-establish'd the appointed periods, and the boundarys of their dominions:
for whom he before approv'd, he predispos'd to follow the example of his son, who was to conduct them all as their elder brother;
for whom he before approv'd, he predispos'd to follow the example of his son, who was to conduct them all as their elder brother;
for whom he before approv'd, he predispos'd to follow the example of his son, who was to conduct them all as their elder brother;
for as it is written, "for thy sake we are sacrificed every day; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter:"
What do we say then? is there injustice in God? God forbid. for he saith to Moses, "I will show favour to whom I will show favour, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." read more. so that this is a matter not dependent on him that wills or runs, but on God, who shews mercy. for 'tis said in scripture to Pharaoh, "even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth."
for 'tis said in scripture to Pharaoh, "even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth." thus some he pursues with his favours, and abandons others to their obduracy, according as he thinks fit. read more. But you will object, why does he then find fault? for "who can resist his will?" nay, but, O man, who art thou, to raise a dust against heaven? shall the pitcher say to him that formed it, "why hast thou made me thus?"
nay, but, O man, who art thou, to raise a dust against heaven? shall the pitcher say to him that formed it, "why hast thou made me thus?" is not the potter the master of his own clay, of the same mass to make one vessel for use and ornament, and another for a meaner purpose?
is not the potter the master of his own clay, of the same mass to make one vessel for use and ornament, and another for a meaner purpose? if the divine Being has patiently bore with those objects of his displeasure, that had been working out their own destruction, why may he not reveal himself to make them feel his vindictive power,
if the divine Being has patiently bore with those objects of his displeasure, that had been working out their own destruction, why may he not reveal himself to make them feel his vindictive power,
if the divine Being has patiently bore with those objects of his displeasure, that had been working out their own destruction, why may he not reveal himself to make them feel his vindictive power, and display his infinite goodness to such objects of mercy, as he had prepared for glory?
God hath not discarded his people whom he formerly approv'd. don't you know what the scripture says of Elias? how he complain'd to God against Israel,
O the depth of the divine goodness, wisdom, and contrivance! how impenetrable are his decrees, and his ways past finding out! for who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counsellor?
according as he had chosen us in himself before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, free from vice, and devoted to virtue.
according as he had chosen us in himself before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, free from vice, and devoted to virtue.
according as he had chosen us in himself before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, free from vice, and devoted to virtue. having predetermin'd to adopt us by Jesus Christ to be his children, according to the good pleasure of his own will,
having predetermin'd to adopt us by Jesus Christ to be his children, according to the good pleasure of his own will,
for he has discover'd to us the secret of his will, that out of his meer good pleasure, he had purposed in himself,
It is by him, that we have a share in the inheritance, which was before allotted to us, in consequence of his design, who executes the whole plan, as he himself had contriv'd it:
It is by him, that we have a share in the inheritance, which was before allotted to us, in consequence of his design, who executes the whole plan, as he himself had contriv'd it:
It is by him, that we have a share in the inheritance, which was before allotted to us, in consequence of his design, who executes the whole plan, as he himself had contriv'd it:
When you were in that destructive state of transgression and sin, in which you formerly liv'd, influenc'd by the customs of this world, and by the prince of the aerial powers, the spirits that now actuate the incredulous: read more. of which number we all have formerly been, leading our dissolute lives in gratifying the desires of our sensual imaginations: and were indeed obnoxious to the divine displeasure, as other. Gentiles were: then it was that God, who is rich in mercy, thro' his great love, wherewith he loved us, did raise us all, who were in that deadly state of sin, to life by Christ, for by grace ye are saved: he hath raised us up together, and made us partakers of his heavenly kingdom. that in the ages to come, he might shew the immense riches of his gracious kindness towards us, through Christ Jesus. for by grace are ye saved, thro' faith (and that not from us:
You husband, love your spouse, even as Christ loved the church, and laid down his life for her: to sanctify and purify her by the ablution of his word, read more. that he himself might make her appear illustrious to his own eye, a church without spot, or any thing like a defect; so as to be holy and irreprehensible.
being firmly attach'd to, and founded upon him: establishing yourselves in the faith you have been taught, and being thankful for the improvement you make therein.
As for you, my brethren, the favourites of the Lord, we are oblig'd to render perpetual thanks to God, for having chosen you from the beginning, in purifying you by his spirit, upon your believing the gospel.
be stedfast therefore, and firmly maintain the doctrine I have delivered to you, either by word of mouth, or by my letter.
PETER an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the foreigners dispers'd thro' Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, whom God the father has chosen in pursuance of his decree,
and which the architects rejected, will be an occasion to the incredulous of their stumbling, and bruising themselves thereby:
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth: unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins by his own blood, who hath made us kings and priests to his God and father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
"thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou hast created all things, by thy WILL they subsist, and were created."
They cried with a loud voice, "salvation from our God who sits upon the throne, and unto the lamb.'
THEN I looked, and I saw a lamb on mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his name and his father's name writ on their foreheads. and I heard a voice from heaven, which was like the noise of many waters, or like a great thunder-clap: I heard too a sound like that of a harp, when touch'd by the hand of a musician. read more. and a new song was sung before the throne, and before the four animals, and the elders: and no one could learn that song, but the hundred forty four thousand, who were ransom'd from the earth. these are they who were not defiled with women: for they are virgins: these are they who follow the lamb wherever he goes: these were ransom'd from among men, being the first fruits unto God, and to the lamb. in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without defect. Then I saw another angel fly in the mid-heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those that dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, province, and people, crying with a loud voice,
Watsons
PREDESTINATION, according to some, is a judgment, or decree of God, by which he has resolved, from all eternity, to save a certain number of persons, hence named elect. Others define it, a decree to give faith in Jesus Christ to a certain number of men, and to leave the rest to their own malice and hardness of heart. A third, more Scripturally, God's eternal purpose to save all that "truly repent and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel,"