1-10-2026 Predestination, saved or not saved?

 

The word ‘predestinate’ is only used twice in the bible.  Once in the present tense (now) and the other in the past-perfect context (something which is still continuing but started in the past).

The first is predestinate -Romans 8:29-30 (G4309 proorizo), the second is predestinated  - Ephesians 1:5, 11 (G4309 proorizo) which means predestine, predetermine, ordain before hand, predestinated.  Yes, It is the same word.  So, does God truly declare us saved, no matter what we do or say, before we are born?  If so, why do so many people endeavor to let Jesus into their heart?  What would be gained?

God is not slack, as we consider slackness, but He is long suffering that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  Perish (G622 acaph) is to relieve, destroy, leave behind, bluntly – not to have anymore.  If God has already determined that we will be with Him, why bother to let Jesus into our lives?  God does have a condition on our eternal status?  God requires our obedience as to what He has told us over the centuries, millennia (John 14:15, Psalm 3:8, 62:1, Isa. 12:2, Jonah 2:9 as well as John 3:16, Acts 4:12) so we can be with Him, forever.  With all this, there is no salvation without repentance which is metanoia (G3341- reversal of guilt, repentance).  We have to turn from not abiding in God to abiding in Him.

God called numerous prophets in the Bible to deliver His messages, including major figures like Joseph (Gen. 50:18-21), or Moses (Exod. 3:4-10), Samuel (1 Sam. 3 4-21), David (1 Sam. 16:7-13, Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-2, 8-16), Elisha (2 Kings 2:11-15),  Isaiah (Isa. 6:8), Jeremiah (Jer. 1:4-5), Ezekiel (Ezek.1:128),  Daniel (Dan. 10:9-12) ,  and John the Baptist, alongside many others like the Minor Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, etc.) and women such as Miriam (Num. 12: 6—16) and Anna (Luke 2:34-39).  Al of whom are recognized for speaking God's word and/or doing what God had told them, often through direct encounters or divine visions.  Let’s not forget Paul as he encountered Jesus as he travelled to Damascus (Acts 9:1-18). 

Thus, we might say that all of these men and women of the bible were ‘predestined’ to their calling and, in a sense, we would be correct.  Each of these people mentioned here were obedient and faithful to the Lord and Father blessed them with specific tasks.   So do we get hung up on people who have been faithful and doing mighty works are ‘predestined’ to perform that which they did?  It wasn’t the works that got them into eternal relationship with Father.  It was their faithfulness to the Lord which enabled them to do what they did which opened their door to eternity.  Yet God had a plan for each of them, but each had to be obedient to the Lord for that plan to come into fruition. 

Faith is things hoped for but the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1).  Read the list of faithful people in Hebrews chapter eleven.  They all believed and trusted in God and His coming Messiah.  Today, we believe the Messiah (Jesus) has already come and we await His return, to bring all who believe on Him, home.  The Jews knew the prophetic word of the coming Messiah but didn’t but, apparently, didn’t realize that the Messiah would first have to suffer (on the cross) and die for our transgressions (Isa. 53:1-2).  These two facts never seemed to register with Hebraic thinking.  They did believe that the Messiah would set up God’s kingdom here on earth.  Without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin (Heb. 922).  Here, remission is the Greek word aphesis (H859) which is pardon, forgiveness or remission.  We find this in the Old Testament as well “The life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls.  For it is the blood makes atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:11).    

God has predestined all to come into His kingdom, but Father has given us all freewill.  Just because we’re ‘predestined doesn’t mean all will enter into God’s Kingdom.  Too many have and do exercise that freewill by telling God “no”!  Israel is an example when Moses challenged them at the golden calf and 3000 men fell by the sword (Exod. 32:25-28).  How about when Joshua challenged Israel as to whom they would serve (Joshua 32:14-25).  Jesus also asks us to choose Him to gain eternity (John 12:23-27).  So even though God desires all to come into His kingdom, He knows not all will accept His offer of life.  In order to abide in this gift of eternal life, we must first receive it and that eternal life is in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:11-12).

In the Old Testament, man’s ‘salvation’ was based on being obedient to the Law.  Jesus reprimanded the religious order saying that even though they knew the Law they didn’t abide in it (Matt. 23:25-28). Today, salvation is based upon receiving Jesus into our hearts as the true Messiah thus obtaining the power to show our love for Him by being obedient to the Law in what we say, do or think (John 14:15).

Jesus speaks about healing and other miracles.  Jesus tells us that “What things you desire, when you pray, believe you receive them and you shall have them” (Mark 11:24).  When we ask in faith, don’t waver, for when we waver, we are like waves of the sea and are tossed about (James 13:6-7).  When we have faith and do not doubt we can do what Jesus did… believe and receive (Matt. 21:21-22).  Jesus also encourages us when He said that he (us) who believe on Him shall do the works He did and greater because He goes to the Father. “Whatever you ask in My name, I will do that Father is glorified in the Son”. (Matt. 14:12-15).  Ask anything in My name and I will do it!  So if you love Me, keep My Commandments (John 14:12-15).  And what are His commandments? Love the Father with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and the second is like it – love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:29-31, Matt. 22:37-40).

So, we get benefits and have obligations with our relationship with the Lord to fulfill our ”pre-destination”.

One last example.  We buy ‘Johnny’ the toy which he has desired above all other toys.  We give it to him but we tell him that he must abide by our rules to keep it and enjoy it.  Should Johnny disobey our rules, we take his beloved toy from him for a while until he has ‘atoned’ for his disobedience.  Then we give him the toy back.  Should Johnny never make amends for his disobedience, it would be possible that he might never get the toy back.      

Are we predestined to be with the Lord?  Yes.  God said that He would (desires) that none would perish (2 Peter).  But, like with Johnny and his toy, when we continue in our disobedience, we may discover we will never enter into God’s kingdom.  His peace.  His love. 

Our predestination is not a blank check!  Can we get or do anything we want just because God loves us?   Of course not!  God is love and as we abide in His love, we are obedient to His will.  So through love and obedience, our ‘check’ becomes a secure thing.  Should we stray, repent and come back to Father seeking forgiveness?  We can receive God’s forgiveness.  Like the wayward child in Luke (Luke :15:18-24) we can be restored into that anticipation of abiding in the Lord forever.

We are predestined for eternal existence with Our Lord.  Yet not all will enter in.   We have the free choice to tell Him ‘no’ and miss out on the eternal love, joy and which peace which He offers.   Or we can freely choose to abide in God’s love with the promise of our eternal fellowship with Him.  And with this, we also have the free choice to operate any ‘special’ calling which He may have chosen us for.

Amen