Predestination

God's foreordination of all events and circumstances for the good of his people and the glory of his name.

Predestination depends on God's sovereignty

He is the Creator of all things

Jeremiah 32:17–19 See also Genesis 1:1; Job 38:1–4; Isaiah 44:24–28, Isaiah 45:12–13, Isaiah 48:12–14

“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You! You show loving devotion to thousands but lay the iniquity of the fathers into the laps of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of Hosts, the One great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are on all the ways of the sons of men, to reward each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.

He rules over nature and history

Proverbs 16:4 See also Genesis 18:10–14; Psalm 67:4; Proverbs 16:9, Proverbs 16:33, Proverbs 21:1; Matthew 8:23–27 parallels Mark 4:35–41, Luke 8:22–25; Matthew 10:29–30; Acts 17:26

The LORD has made everything for His purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.

His will is perfect

Genesis 18:25 See also Exodus 33:19; Deuteronomy 32:4; Job 8:3; Psalm 119:137; Daniel 4:37

Far be it from You to do such a thing — to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

God's predestined purposes cannot be thwarted

Human beings cannot stand against his will

Romans 9:19–21 See also Psalm 2:1–4; Proverbs 19:21, Proverbs 21:30; Isaiah 14:24–27, Isaiah 46:10–12; Daniel 4:35

One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?” But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?

False gods are impotent before him

Psalm 115:3–8 See also Isaiah 44:8–20, Isaiah 45:20, Isaiah 48:14

Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear; they have noses, but cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel; they have feet, but cannot walk; they cannot even clear their throats. Those who make them become like them, as do all who trust in them.

He brings good out of evil

Genesis 50:20 See also Genesis 15:13–16, Genesis 45:4–8

As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this— to preserve the lives of many people.

Predestination undergirds biblical prophecy

It explains the prophets' confidence

1 Kings 22:17–28 See also 1 Peter 1:10–12

It is demonstrated in the fulfilment of prophecy

1 Kings 22:29–38 See also Matthew 1:22, Matthew 2:15, Matthew 2:23, Matthew 4:14, Matthew 8:17, Matthew 12:17–19; Acts 2:17–25, Acts 3:22–25, Acts 13:27–30, Acts 15:15–18

The life and ministry of Jesus Christ was predestined

In that it was predicted by the prophets

Isaiah 9:6–7 See also Isaiah 11:1–10, Isaiah 52:13–53:12; Jeremiah 23:5–6; Acts 3:18; Galatians 4:4–5

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

In his sufferings and death

Acts 2:23 See also Matthew 16:21; Luke 18:31–32, Luke 22:22, Luke 24:25–27, Luke 24:44–45; John 13:1; Acts 4:27–30

He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.

In the outcome it achieved

Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

God's purpose in predestination is to bless his people

In the path their lives follow

Romans 8:28 See also Psalm 139:14–16; Jeremiah 29:11; Matthew 10:29–31 parallel Luke 12:6–7

And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

In their salvation

Romans 8:29–30 See also Genesis 12:1–3; Matthew 11:25–27; Mark 4:11; John 6:37–44; Acts 13:48; 1 Thessalonians 5:9

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

In their assurance of salvation

Romans 8:31–39 See also John 10:27–29, John 17:2; Ephesians 1:3–14 Predestination is basic to Christian certainty.

Regarding final perseverance

Philippians 1:6 See also Psalm 138:8; John 6:37–40; Philippians 2:12–13; James 5:11

being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Regarding God's call to righteousness

Ephesians 2:10 See also Jeremiah 1:4–5; Acts 22:10; Galatians 1:15–17

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Regarding future inheritance

John 14:2–3 See also Matthew 25:34; Romans 8:30

In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.

God predestines judgment

Isaiah 65:11–12 See also Genesis 6:17 the flood; Exodus 7:13, Exodus 9:13–18; Joshua 11:20; 2 Kings 19:25–26; Isaiah 14:24–27 judgment on Assyria; Isaiah 19:12–14, Isaiah 23:9 judgment on Tyre; Jeremiah 49:20, Jeremiah 50:45 judgment on Babylon; 1 Peter 2:6–8; Isaiah 8:14–15

But you who forsake the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”

Predestination does not set aside human responsibility

Philippians 2:12–13 See also John 6:37, John 6:40; Acts 13:48

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.