Lesson 25
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THE STUDENT will perhaps have asked the question, Why did God choose only certain ones to be the chosen line, the bearers of redemption? Why did God permit some to die without salvation? Is not God all-powerful so that He could save every man if He so desired? Why did God choose Abraham? Why did He love Jacob and hate Esau? (Malachi 1:2-3.) Why, indeed, did God permit man to fall into sin, and, if God truly is almighty why does sin exist? These questions will perhaps have been raised in the minds of each thoughtful student who has studied the book of Genesis. They bring us to the Scripture doctrine of predestination, which we shall now briefly examine.
At this point a word of caution must be injected. Predestination is an exceedingly sacred, mysterious, and yet comforting doctrine, and is not to be treated lightly nor irreverently. It has been grossly caricatured and misrepresented by its opponents, but, nevertheless, it is clearly taught in the Bible. There are those who say that if God foreordained everything, then prayer is of no avail, or, if God has elected only certain ones to be saved, then how can we account for the fact that the Bible says that whosoever will may be received? There are some who become so enraged at. the doctrine that they will not think it through nor study it carefully. They hate it with all their hearts. Surely, such an attitude shows a lack of true humility of spirit. It is true that there are difficult problems connected with this sacred doctrine, but we shall truly be blessed if we study just what has been revealed in Scripture and leave aside the speculation of man.
With these introductory words, then, we urge the student to work carefully through this important section on predestination. Above all, let him study each Bible reference prayerfully, earnestly, and carefully. Furthermore, let him remember that God is love, God is holy, and does not will that any should perish. God is not evil, nor is God the Author of evil. With these thoughts in mind, let us turn to our study. Under this topic, "Predestination," we shall study the following:
- God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
- Man is not a puppet, but a free agent.
- Out of the mass of sinful, fallen mankind, God in infinite mercy, elected some to everlasting life.
- Those whom God did not elect to everlasting life, He ordained to dishonor and wrath,
- All who believe on Christ will be saved.
- All who are lost will be lost because of their sin.
- Predestination and free agency are both taught in the Bible.
- What attitude shall we adopt to these two apparently contradictory teachings?
I. GOD HAS FOREORDAINED WHATSOEVER COMES TO PASS. This simply means that whatever happens, happens because God decreed that it should. There is nothing new for God. He is not daily being surprised by the things that men do, for everything has been decreed by Him in advance. That this is the plain teaching of the Bible may be seen from the following passages: Ephesians 1:11; Isaiah 45:6-7; John 1:3; Colossians 1:16-17; Romans 11:36; Acts 2:23; Revelation 4:11; Daniel 4:35; Isaiah 40:26; Psalm 135:6; Isaiah 55:11.
EXERCISES
- Does the Bible say that God worketh ALL things after the counsel of His will? Cf. Ephesians 1:11.
- Does the Bible say that God makes peace and creates evil? Isaiah 45:6, 7.
- Did Christ make ALL things? Cf. John 1:3.
- Does ANYTHING happen apart from Christ? Cf. Colossians 1:16, 17.
- Are ALL things through God? Cf. Romans 11:36.
- Does God do what He will on earth? Cf. Daniel 4:35.
- After studying the above Scriptures, do you think that God could be an ALMIGHTY God, if anything could happen which He had not foreordained?
II. ALTHOUGH GOD HAS FOREORDAINED WHATSOEVER COMES TO PASS, YET MAN IS NOT A MERE PUPPET, AS THE FATALISTS SAY, BUT IS A FREE, RESPONSIBLE AGENT.
This most certainly appears to be a contradictory statement. We may ask, if God has foreordained everything, how can we be held responsible for what we do? The Bible does not answer this question, but simply teaches that we are responsible. This question will be dealt with more at length later. At this point we ask the student to study carefully the following references: Ezekiel 18:20-21, 24, 26-28; 33:13, 18-19; Romans 2:1-12; Psalm 62:12; Isaiah 3:10-11; Matthew 16:27; Revelation 21:27; Romans 6:23.
EXERCISES
- Does the Bible teach that if a soul sins, it will die? Cf. Ezekiel 18:20.
- Does a man die for the iniquity that he has done? Cf. Ezekiel 18:26.
- Will men be judged according to their works? Cf. Matthew 16:27.
HYMNS FOR STUDY
No. 146: "I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord."
No. 167: "Jesus Shall Reign."