4/3/2015

WhatIsPredestinationandElection?|Salvation|Calvinism

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Whatispredestinationandelection?
ChristianApologetics&ResearchMinistry

byMattSlick(/mattslick)
PredestinationandelectionarebothBiblicalteachings.TheEnglish"predestination"is
translatedfromtheGreekwordproorizowhichmeans1)topredetermine,decidebeforehand
2)intheNT,ofGoddecreeingfrometernity3)toforeordain,appointbeforehand.1
Predestination,then,isthebiblicalteachingthatGodpredestinescertaineventsandpeople
toaccomplishwhatHesodesires.ThewordproorizooccurssixtimesintheNewTestament
eachtimedemonstratingthatGodistheonewhoisforeordainingandbringingaboutcertain
events:
1. Acts4:28,"todowhateverYourhandandpurposepredestinedtooccur."
2. Rom.8:29,"ForwhomHeforeknew,Healsopredestinedtobecomeconformedtothe
imageofHisSon,thatHemightbethefirstbornamongmanybrethren
3. Rom.8:30,"andwhomHepredestined,theseHealsocalledandwhomHecalled,these
HealsojustifiedandwhomHejustified,theseHealsoglorified."
4. 1Cor.2:7,"butwespeakGod'swisdominamystery,thehiddenwisdom,whichGod
predestinedbeforetheagestoourglory."
5. Eph.1:5,"HepredestinedustoadoptionassonsthroughJesusChristtoHimself,
accordingtothekindintentionofHiswill."
6. Eph.1:11,"alsowehaveobtainedaninheritance,havingbeenpredestinedaccordingto
HispurposewhoworksallthingsafterthecounselofHiswill."
YoumustalsonotethatGodpredestinespeopleasRom.8:30andEph.1:5,11demonstrate.
Thereis,however,controversyastothenatureofthispredestination.IntheReformed
(Calvinist)camp,predestinationincludesindividuals.Inotherwords,theReformeddoctrine
ofpredestinationisthatGodpredestineswhomHewantstobesavedandthatwithoutthis
predestination,nonewouldbesaved.ThenonReformedcampstatesthatGodpredestines
peopletosalvationbutthatthesepeoplefreelychoosetofollowGodontheirown.Inother
words,inthenonReformedperspectiveGodisreactingtothewillofindividualsand
predestiningthemonlybecausetheychooseGodwherebycontrasttheReformedposition
statesthatpeoplechooseGodonlybecauseHehasfirstpredestinedthem.

Election
Theword"election,"or"elect,"comesfromtheGreekwordeklectosandoccursabout25
timesintheNewTestament.Itsignifies"topickout,choose,topickorchooseoutforone's
self,achoosingoneoutofmany."1Theonewhodoesthechoosing,theelecting,isGod.

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WhatIsPredestinationandElection?|Salvation|Calvinism

1. John13:18,"Idonotspeakofallofyou.IknowtheonesIhavechosenbutitisthat
theScripturemaybefulfilled,HewhoeatsMybreadhaslifteduphisheelagainstMe."
2. Eph.1:4,"HechoseusinHimbeforethefoundationoftheworld,thatweshouldbeholy
andblamelessbeforeHim."
3. 1Tim.5:21,"IsolemnlychargeyouinthepresenceofGodandofChristJesusandofHis
chosenangels,tomaintaintheseprincipleswithoutbias,doingnothinginaspiritof
partiality."
Again,thereisdebatewithinChristianityastothemeansandpurposeofGod'selection.
SomesaythatGodelectsindividuals,andotherssayHeonlyelectsnationsand/orgroupsof
people.IfGodelectsindividuals,thismeansthatGodispredestiningthem,electingthem
intosalvation,andHeisnotelectingothers.ThisdoesnotsitwellwithmanyChristians.On
theotherhand,someChristiansstatethatGodelectsbaseduponaforeknowledgeofwhatan
individualwilldo.
Whicheversideyoubelieve,rememberthatpredestinationandelectionareBiblicalconcepts.
Youmustalsorememberthathowyoubelieveornotinpredestinationand/orelectiondoes
notaffectyoursalvation.Therefore,youshouldbegracioustootherChristianswhodiffer
withyouonthissubject.

1.

Strong,J.,Strong'sExhaustiveConcordanceoftheBible,electroniced.,Ontario:WoodsideBibleFellowship,
1996,GK4309.

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AboutTheAuthor
MattSlick(/mattslick)isthePresidentandFounderoftheChristian
ApologeticsandResearchMinistry.

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