Is predestination biblical?

Question #113
Is predestination biblical?

John 6:65 says, “And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.”

I’ve struggled with this ever since becoming a Christian.  My question is did we choose to follow after God, or did God choose us to follow Him?  I know we can do nothing good on our own, we require the Holy Spirit to even recognize the Saviour, Jesus Christ.  But, we also have free-will.  So, do we choose to be Christians or were we chosen to be Christians?  It’s just something that I’ve always been uncertain of but never really investigated.  Thank you brother as always.

ANSWER:

This is one of those verses that can be difficult to understand. Many like to use this passage to affirm predestination, but then that cannot be true in that we are all allowed to make our own decisions in life. Still, the Father knows the end from the beginning as per Isaiah 46:9-10, and He knows either path we will follow and what happens at the end of each. Some will break the curse most families find themselves under and walk in the light of truth. For example, both my wife and I were raised in a Catholic household. We also have a long line of Catholic ancestors. But we broke the mold and followed a better path when we became aware of Jesus Christ and His truth outside Babylon as the Lord said many will do in these last days in Revelation 18:4.

What I find is the Lord will give His entire message of truth only to those who have walked in accordance with the light they understand. It doesn’t have to be much light as the thief on the cross proved, but they do have to see it as right and act accordingly. Once they respond well to the test, the Father will recognize them as true and faithful in accordance with the standard He put forth in His Word. Those that find favor with God will then be placed in a position in life that others gave up, who having the light and knowledge as they did, but choose not to walk in the way of the Lord, and so forfeit the blessing. In other words, the ranks will not be weakened in God’s plan. There is always someone that will walk with the Lord no matter how evil the world gets.

Over the years I’ve learned that each one of us has a testing time before and after we meet Christ. Some of these tests may last for years or repeat over the years due to our stubbornness to learn as well as the longsuffering of our Lord. He wants us to make the right decision in these tests. When we do decide to walk in the Light given, the test is passed and we move on. If we continue to fail, and then reach the grave before passing the test of faith, we are then eternally lost. I honestly believe this is why some very powerful and evil men seem to live so long. I believe some of these evil men live in to their 90’s, not because they’re healthy, as many of them indulge in all sorts of decadence which poisons the flesh. I believe the Father’s patience and longsuffering is that He gives extra years and many opportunities to repent so they won’t die in sin. He loves them that much. We see the Lord crying out to Israel in Ezekiel 18:31 where he says through the prophet, “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

In other words.. as we walk through life we come to many roads of decision. Once we decide to follow the proper path laid out by the Holy Spirit, it is then we are worthy of the Lord, and His Spirit further prods the heart to make that final decision to accept Christ as Lord and Saviour. No, I am not saying we are glowing in the dark sinless beings who can finally walk up to Jesus in perfect faith. No not at all. We come to Him as wretched sinners. In fact, even when man looks at himself or others, he sees nothing but sinful flesh worthy of the fires of hell. However, the Father looks at the heart and makes His decision on whether or not we are sincere in loving Him and wanting to be truly saved from damnation, not because we fear the flames, but because in our heart we know it is the right thing to do. Hence, the thief on the cross; he was a very sinful man indeed. So much so everyone knew just by looking at the guy that he was one disgusting criminal worthy of death by the civic standards of the day. But the Father knew the thief’s heart was ready to meet His precious Son as Saviour. So, He made sure he met Him that very day. Yes, the meeting was brief and very intense to say the least. But, that’s exactly what that thief needed to further prod his heart towards our Saviour. Some may say, that’s cruel, why did the Lord have to allow the man to die? Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”

In my life I’ve come across many situations in my life that blessed me in major ways. More often than not it always seems to be the hardest lessons that bring about the greatest blessings. The Lord knew if He approached the thief as he was at a meal, walking down a road, or even in the midst of a crime, that it would not work with him. The Lord knew the only way to get this man’s attention was to place him on that cross. Yes, some may say that’s cruel. But look at the end result. That man will be in Heaven for all eternity! Was dying to get there worth it? That is indeed an understatement as far as I can see.

BOTTOM LINE:

The Lord calls ALL to salvation. Jesus said in John 12:32, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” If all are predestined as some assume, why does Jesus seek to draw them to Him? Fact is, we have free will and it is up to man with free will to CHOOSE. For it is also written in Deuteronomy 30:19, “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, that both thou and thy seed may live:”

That one verse alone proves predestination to be a lie.