The topic of predetermination, or predestination, is debated amongst Christians. At the core of the debate is whether God has predetermined all events and individuals’ destinies ahead of time or if humans have free will to make their own choices. There are verses in the Bible that can support both perspectives. Ultimately, there is mystery around how God’s sovereignty and human free will interact.
Some key Bible verses often cited regarding predetermination include:
- Ephesians 1:4-5 – “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”
- Romans 8:29-30 – “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
- Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
These verses point to the idea that God, in his sovereignty, predetermines certain events and destinies. The Ephesians verse specifically mentions that God “predestined us” according to his will. Romans 8 discusses foreknowledge and predestination. Jeremiah highlights how God knew and had a plan for him before he was even born.
On the other side, there are also verses that indicate humans have free will to make their own choices:
- Deuteronomy 30:19 – “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.”
- Joshua 24:15 – “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
- John 7:17 – “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.”
These verses point to humans having the ability to make choices – to “choose life”, to “choose whom you will serve”, to will to do God’s will or not. This implies free will rather than predetermination.
There are good arguments on both sides of this debate. Here are some key perspectives:
Predetermination Perspective
Those who believe God predetermines all things highlight verses about God’s sovereignty, omniscience, and plans made since the foundation of the world. Some key beliefs from this perspective include:
- God is completely sovereign over all that happens. Nothing can thwart his perfect will and plans.
- God has foreknowledge of all events that will ever occur. He exists outside of time and has already seen the future.
- God predestined some for salvation and others for condemnation for his glory.
- God’s choices and will supersede human free will.
This perspective emphasizes God’s complete control and that he works all things according to his will (Ephesians 1:11). Supporters of this view may point to verses about God hardening people’s hearts or determining people’s days before they existed (Romans 9:18, Psalm 139:16). They claim individuals have no ultimate power to resist God’s sovereign decrees.
Free Will Perspective
Those who believe in human free will highlight the verses about choice and human responsibility. Some key beliefs from this perspective include:
- Humans can make real choices – we are not just puppets acting out a script.
- God has given us the ability to choose to obey or disobey his commands.
- Our choices matter and impact our destiny.
- God, in his sovereignty, allows human free will rather than overriding it.
This view emphasizes that a loving God would give his creation real choice, rather than preprogramming them like robots. Supporters highlight verses urging people to choose obedience, repent, or “not harden your hearts.” They claim humans can either accept or reject God’s offer of salvation through their free will choice.
Middle Ground Perspectives
Many Christians acknowledge there is mystery in how God’s sovereignty interacts with human responsibility. Some hold middle ground views, suggesting:
- God predetermines some events, but not all. He allows significant human free will.
- God predetermines the end result, but not all the specific details and individual choices involved.
- God transcends time, so he can foreknow human choices without determining them.
- Humans have limited free will within the boundaries God has set.
There are also differences amongst Christians in terms of what God predetermines if one holds that view. For example, some believe God only predetermines events related to salvation and human destinies. Others believe he predetermines even mundane daily choices and happenings.
Therefore, even amongst those who believe God does predetermine, there is a spectrum in terms of what and how much. Christians have proposed differing theories like single vs double predestination and different types of election and will.
Key Bible Passages on Predetermination
Below are some key Bible passages that provide insight into predetermination and related topics:
Ephesians 1:3-6
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
This passage highlights God’s choosing and predestining believers in Christ for adoption before the foundation of the world. It indicates advanced planning and intention to bless and adopt those in Christ.
John 6:35-40
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
This passage indicates that everyone the Father gives Jesus will come to him. Jesus repeatedly mentions he came to do the will of the Father. There seems to be predetermination by God regarding those given to the Son for salvation.
Acts 4:27-28
For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
This verse overtly mentions predestination in the context of Jesus’ crucifixion. It indicates that the people involved were gathered to do what God’s hand and plan predestined to take place.
Romans 8:29-30
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
This popular passage mentions foreknowledge preceding predestination preceding calling preceding justification preceding glorification. It suggests God foreknew and predestined believers to salvation in Christ.
2 Peter 1:10-11
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Peter encourages believers to confirm their calling and election. If God wholly predetermines all things, there would seem to be no need to confirm election. This implies human responsibility.
Revelation 13:8
And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
This verse references names written in the book of life before the foundation of the world. It again points to possible predetermination by God regarding salvation and eternity.
Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live
Moses urges the people to “choose life”. The choice seems to be presented as theirs to make. This passage is commonly cited regarding free will.
Joshua 24:15
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua calls on the people to make a choice that day regarding who they will serve. The decision to follow God or other gods appears to be theirs to make.
James 4:7-8
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James calls his readers to submit to God, resist the devil, draw near to God, cleanse their hands, and purify their hearts. His audience seems to have responsibility in responding to this call.
Synthesis and Conclusions
In synthesizing the various passages on predetermination and free will, some key conclusions emerge:
- There is mystery in how God’s sovereignty interacts with human responsibility that may not be fully comprehensible to our finite minds.
- God seems to predetermine some events, especially relating to salvation, but also allows meaningful human freedom.
- Our choices matter, even if God foreknows them. His foreknowledge does not necessarily mean predetermination.
- Predetermination of events does not absolve humans of the responsibility to follow God’s commands.
In the end, Christians need not land definitively on one side of this debate. There is wisdom in acknowledging the tension between predestination and free will present in Scripture.
We can have assurance that God is sovereign, trust his plans are good, and make choices each day to follow him without fully comprehending how it all works together. God’s sovereignty can provide comfort, while human responsibility reminds us that our choices matter and we are accountable.
This complex biblical topic will likely remain debated until Christ returns. In the meantime, Christians can thoughtfully interact with the various perspectives while ultimately focusing on loving and obeying God.
